De Valois Conference concludes at White Lodge

The long awaited first-ever conference dedicated to the life, work and influence of Dame Ninette de Valois drew to a close yesterday at The Royal Ballet Lower School, White Lodge in Richmond Park. A packed conference programme included tours of an exhibition, performances illustrating de Valois' work, demonstrations, screenings of rare film footage and the world premiere of a new documentary, together with learned papers, lectures and panel discussions.

Some 225 people, reflecting Madam's influence on the international dance community, attended the conference, held on the tenth anniversary of the death of de Valois, the founder of The Royal Ballet School and Companies.

Entitled Ninette de Valois: Adventurous Traditionalist the conference started on Friday 1 April at the Royal Opera House and on Saturday moved to the adjacent Royal Ballet Upper School, concluding on Sunday 3 April at White Lodge with an insightful and hugely moving tribute to de Valois by the Director of The Royal Ballet, Dame Monica Mason.

Conference materials will be published in due course.

Pictured: Conference delegates on the staircase of White Lodge's King's Building. Photo: Patrick Baldwin.

Copies of this commemorative photograph are available to purchase online from:

http://patrickbaldwin.photoshelter.com/gallery/DeValois-Conference/G00005MXiPRHvqhk