Dancing for diversity: Empower in Motion – A Ballet Inclusive
The Empower in Motion – A Ballet Inclusive fundraising gala, produced by Royal Ballet School alumni Ross Freddie Ray and Henry Dowden, took place at Sadler’s Wells on Wednesday 7 February. The event was a powerful demonstration of the potential of dance to shift narratives and create positive change, featuring show-stopping performances from disabled and non-disabled dancers.
The gala was held to celebrate 30 years of Children Today, an organisation committed to positively impacting the lives of disabled children and young individuals throughout the United Kingdom.
Empower in Motion
It was an honour to participate in such a meaningful evening and share the stage with inspiring performers from Propel Dance, Parabel Dance, National Youth Ballet All In!, Stopgap Dance Company, icandance and other guest artists.

Pre-professional Year students Emile Gooding and Tianie-Finn Granger performed Ode to a Love Lost, a delicate neoclassical piece which explored the intricate concept of love based on jealousy and possession. Ode to a Love Lost was choreographed by fellow Pre-professional Year student Maia-Rose Roberts, who created the piece as part of the Ursula Moreton Emerging Choreographer programme (now the Frederick Ashton Emerging Choreographer).


Alumnus of the School Joseph Powell-Main performed an enticing duet from Kristen McNally’s The Sleepwalker alongside Hannah Rudd and Passionately Defiant, a new choreography exploring Joseph’s journey back to dance. Stopgap Dance Company, whose mission is to create an inclusive world where diversity is not just accepted but pursued, performed two pieces – Tight Textures and Unplugged. The combination of spoken word with dance mesmerised the audience.

Audiences also enjoyed a world premiere of The Owl Falls, performed by Maria Kochetkova and Daniil Simkin and excerpts of Giselle, performed by Sangeun Lee and Gareth Haw, and Le Corsaire, performed by Daniil Simkin and Yaoqian Shang.
We were thrilled to be involved in such an impactful event alongside other school alumni, dance organisations and talented performers who work tirelessly to support an inclusive and diverse art form. Events like Empower in Motion are instrumental in driving forward the future of dance, making it an inclusive and diverse art form.