Visit to Elmhust Ballet School

VISIT - ELMHURST BALLET SCHOOL

23 June 2025

LBC members were welcomed by Artistic Director, Robert Parker. who outlined a full afternoon programme. This was largely focussed on rehearsals for the end of year performances.

There was time for questions - the complex scheduling mix of academic studies and ballet training; the challenge of recruiting more boys.

We started by watching part of class by Year 9 girls, led by Andrea Tredinnick, who had trained as a teacher after a long BRB career. Then we moved to the Errol Pickford Studio to see Year 11 students (15/16 year olds) rehearsing a shorter version of Études (choreography Harald Lander, music Carl Czerny) with Elmhurst teachers, Lee Robinson and Gloria Grigolato. Études is regrettably not performed much these days and requires co-ordination of both a precise corps de ballet and pas de deux elements. Year 11 finished with a practice of their section of the grand defilé of the whole school. All this, a week after sitting GCSEs!

After a short break, our group resumed in Elmhurst’s excellent theatre to watch the Upper School do a first run through outside the studio of their Voices and Virtues programme of 8 pieces.

This started with Swan Lake Act 2 swans in the Sir Peter Wright version. Of the other pieces, one was by a student, two by their own teachers, two by BRB’s Lachlan Monaghan and the others by Miguel Altunaga and Jessica Wright (studio Wayne McGregor). It is seen as important for students to get experience of working on new choreography. It is also a risk in letting in an outside audience see preparations for a show but there shouldn't have been any worries as the students showed they were more than capable.

So ended an intensive but enjoyable and well planned visit where most members had travelled some distance for the privilege.