Special Educational Project engages with students from four state schools

Last December, Dame Monica Mason DBE visited the Upper School to talk with 2nd Year students about the ballet ‘Les Noces’ as part of their BTEC National Diploma in Dance.

Dame Monica was joined by Christopher Newton who, like her, was a member of the original 1966 cast of The Royal Ballet’s production of this classic ballet.

Inspired by this event, Royal Ballet School 2nd Year students have created new work, based on ‘Les Noces’ as well as ‘The Nutcracker’ as part of their BTEC studies.

A Dance Partnership and Access initiative has added another layer of interest by linking The Royal Ballet School students with dance students in four secondary schools. Via a specially designed internet forum the students have discussed their thoughts on the two ballets and their ideas for choreography.

On Wednesday, 8 February 22 students from King Edward VI High School visited the Upper School to meet their Royal Ballet School partners for the first time face to face.

The Royal Ballet School students performed their own original choreographies inspired by both ballets, watched by their state school colleagues.

The project culminates on 25 March when all four partner schools Bispham High School (Blackpool), Churchfields Academy (Swindon), Dagenham Park C of E School (London) and King Edward VI High School (Bury St Edmunds), perform their own works inspired by the same themes.

Pictured: Royal Ballet Upper School students with students from King Edward Vl High School, Bury St Edmunds

Photo: Suzanne Mellor