The Royal Ballet School and American Ballet Theatre Studio Company reunite in London

The partnership between The Royal Ballet School and American Ballet Theatre Studio Company continues this Spring - the latest development of a long term educational exchange programme launched between both organisations in 2003.

The last collaboration was in March 2011 when Royal Ballet School graduate students travelled to New York to take part in a series of collaborative masterclasses and training sessions, culminating in a joint performance at the Alvin Ailey Citigroup Theatre.

This latest phase saw 15 ABT Studio Company dancers joining Royal Ballet School students in daily class, given by teachers from both organisations including Franco de Vita, Principal of the Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis School at ABT, and Gailene Stock AM, Director of The Royal Ballet School.

On Saturday 10 March, ABT Studio Company gave its first public performance of the trip, performing Bournonville’s ‘Napoli’ Act 3 for the capacity audience at the 2012 Young British Dancer of the Year competition at the Linbury Studio Theatre.

The public was treated to a two joint performances at the Linden Studio Theatre at the Upper School on 13 and 14 March. The ABT Studio Company dancers performed Antony Tudor’s ‘Soirées Musicales’, the pas de deux from Vasily Vainonen’s ‘Flames of Paris’ and Susan Jaffe’s ‘We Insist’.

Students from The Royal Ballet School performed the pas de deux from Kenneth MacMillan’s ‘Concerto’, John Neumeier’s ‘Yondering’ and the programme culminated in Parrish Maynard’s ‘Fractals’.

This ongoing exchange is generously supported by Ricki Gail Conway, Vice Chair of The Royal Ballet School and ABT Honorary Trustee.

Pictured: ABT Studio Company in ‘Napoli’ Act 3

Photo: Erin Baiano