In conversation with the next generation of choreographers  

At our Summer Performances, several of our students’ choreographic creations were selected as part of the repertoire. Seeing their inventive pieces danced on the stage was a real reflection of their creative talent, and we were proud to watch their work come alive. We spoke to three of our young choreographers about their experience in bringing their pieces to our biggest performances of the year.

Bringing ideas to life

It’s a journey for our students to turn their initial thoughts and ideas into a complete piece ready to be performed before an audience. As part of the Ursula Moreton Choreographic Programme earlier this year, our 2nd Year students choreographed their own works which they showcased at a performance evening in May. Three of these pieces were chosen to be performed at our Summer Performances; we asked our young choreographers about what the process has been like and how it feels to have their work selected:

It’s amazing. I did not think that something I was creating in my living room in the summer would somehow go to Opera Holland Park. Even having it performed at the Ursula Morton Performance was incredible, and I’m so proud of my dancers and all the work they’ve put into bringing my vision to life. To be in my piece in this round of performances is actually fantastic. The feeling I have, knowing that it’s mine and knowing that the people around me have really committed to it just makes me so proud. It’s a humbling feeling because I wouldn’t have thought that my piece would be here, but it’s honestly a blessing, and I’m excited to perform it. – Rebecca Stewart, 2nd Year

I choreographed my piece on two of my classmates. To be able to watch them perform the piece that I created is really cool. I get to go on at the end to bow, which is a nice feeling. I originally created the piece for the Ursula Moreton Choreographic Programme. My teacher Mikaela Polley helped us to work on our pieces and supervised our choreography. She was really helpful in allowing us to be creative. I think it’s really amazing to have the opportunity to create the piece. It’s a wonderful opportunity to be able to explore a different side of us. The fact that my piece was chosen for the end-of-year performances is just incredible. – Maia Rose Roberts, 2nd Year

I was very fortunate that my piece was selected for the Summer Performances at both the Next Generation Festival at the Linbury Theatre and Opera Holland Park. I’m in my piece, so it’s been great to be a part of it. I began choreographing my work in February, and we performed it in May, so it doesn’t feel like it’s been long since it was first created. I’m excited to bring it to the stage. – Tom Cape, 2nd Year

Overcoming doubt

It can be daunting putting your own choreography out there, and there are always challenges when staging your work. Our students told us about the difficulties and nerves that they’ve confronted:

I’m a bit nervous about the way that it’ll feel. I think we practice it so many times in the studio, so obviously, adjusting to such a big stage can sometimes be a little bit disorienting with the lighting and everything. Especially because at the Linden Theatre, it was a smaller stage, so coming onto the bigger stage, we have to really make our movements larger so we can project to the audience. This is really important, but that might be a little bit nerve-wracking because it’s new. But it’s a good way to adjust how we move our bodies and how we carry ourselves so we can really show ourselves. – Rebecca

Before the Ursula Moreton Performance evening, I felt stressed because I wasn’t sure if my piece was there yet. I wasn’t sure if it was ready or if we’d rehearsed it enough. But on the night, it was so special, it even made me cry. I was amazed to see how much we’d achieved in such a short space of time. I hope it’s the same for the Summer Performances. – Maia

At Opera Holland Park, the biggest challenge has been the lighting, as it’s very different in an open-air theatre. I didn’t initially choreograph my piece for such a large stage, so that’s also taken some adjusting. I felt unsure when we started rehearsing it here at Opera Holland Park, but everyone’s been reassuring me. I’ve been gradually enjoying it more, and it’s been an amazing experience working on my piece here. – Tom

Looking to the future

We want our students to feel free to experiment creatively during their time at the School through our choreographic programme. We talked to our students about how they might use their choreographic knowledge in the future:

Being a choreographer is never a thought I’d given much attention to. But now that I know that I am able to choreograph and I’ve had that experience, it’s definitely a good feeling. – Maia

I think choreography is a good thing to explore. It’s useful to experiment, even if you don’t want to go into choreographing in the future. You never know what you’ll end up doing, and if you get asked to choreograph later in your career, it’s good to have trialled those skills from early on. It gives you a taste to see if you like it, and I’ve definitely found that I do. I’m glad I’ve had this experience. – Tom