The Royal Ballet School’s Summer Intensive 2023
Over the past five weeks, from 17 July to 18 August, the School has welcomed aspiring young dancers from all over the world to our White Lodge and Upper School studios for this year’s Summer Intensive.
Our Summer Intensive aims to introduce dancers to The Royal Ballet School’s System of Training while also providing the opportunity to receive world-class coaching from the School’s Artistic faculty and renowned special guests.
This year, we welcomed several special guests to the School, who taught a diverse range of classes alongside our Artistic staff. These included classical ballet, character, contemporary, creative, repertoire, stagecraft, variations, Pilates, and strength and conditioning classes, of which all were accompanied by Royal Ballet School pianists and guest musicians.
Highlights from the Intensive
During the Intensive, students had the opportunity to learn a wide variety of repertoire from enchanting ballets such as Swan Lake, Sleeping Beauty, Don Quixote and Rhapsody. Our teachers, many of whom have performed the repertoire themselves, generously shared their insights and experiences with the students, providing them with valuable advice and inspiration.
Amidst their busy schedule of classes, White Lodge students participated in Q&A sessions about life at The Royal Ballet School with Leanne Cope and Liane McCrae, and about life as a Royal Ballet dancer with Tara Bhavani. Our Upper School students also had the privilege of chatting with several dancers from The Royal Ballet who candidly shared advice and inspiration, including Lauren Cuthbertson, Matthew Ball, Mayara Magri, Steven McRae and Itziar Mendizabal.
Artistic Manager for Intensive Courses and Auditions Paul Kay reflected on our 2023 Summer Intensive:
It has been wonderful hosting over 600 students across White Lodge and Upper School for our Summer Intensive over the past five weeks. The students have worked very hard, and it was amazing to witness the enthusiasm and dedication they have applied to their training. I extend my gratitude to the School’s Artistic staff, guest teachers, pianists and musicians who kindly shared their insights and expertise with our students. It has been a very successful intensive, and I look forward to next year.
Upper School teaching faculty
Our Upper School classical ballet, pas de deux, repertoire, solos and stagecraft classes were taught by:
- Members of The Royal Ballet School Artistic faculty, including Zhan Atymtayev, José Carayol, Ricardo Cervera, Jessica Clarke, Daria Klimentová, Paul Lewis and Nicola Tranah
- Matthew Ball
- James Barton
- Deirdre Chapman
- Lauren Cuthbertson
- Elena Glurjidze
- Layla Harrison
- Sarah Kundi
- Mayara Magri
- Steven McRae
- Itziar Mendizabal
- Erico Montes
- Stuart Winter
- Valentino Zucchetti.
Students also had the opportunity to attend character classes with Justine Berry and Kate Swainston, and contemporary classes led by Oliver Chapman, Estela Merlos and Didy Veldman. Additionally, Pilates and strength and conditioning classes were taught by Jenna Finkelstein and Leire Ortueta. Creative classes were delivered by Charlotte Edmunds, Georgie Rose and Stina Quagebeur, where students worked on developing new choreography.
White Lodge teaching faculty
Our White Lodge classical ballet, pas de deux, repertoire, solos and stagecraft classes were taught by:
- Members of The Royal Ballet School Artistic faculty, including José Carayol, Belinda Hatley, Valeri Hristov, Liane McRae, Carol Anne Millar, Nicki Katrak and Kenta Kura
- Larissa Bamber
- Tara-Brigitte Bhavnani
- James Butcher
- Leanne Cope
- Sabina Cox
- Julia Ellis
- Layla Harrison.
Our White Lodge students took contemporary classes with Oliver Chapman, Estela Merlos and Didy Veldman. Anna Buckmaster and Leire Ortueta led Pilates and strength and conditioning classes, while Justine Berry and Kate Swainston taught character classes. Students also had the opportunity to learn about the history of ballet from Andy Granville and take a jazz class with Stuart Winter. Choreographers Charlotte Edmonds and Rhian Robbins worked with our White Lodge students in creative classes to develop and workshop new works.
Thanks to our staff, guest teachers, musicians and students for a wonderful Intensive. It was a pleasure to have you with us over the summer.
