Like Water for Chocolate: student performance perspectives
Several of our Pre-professional and Year 8 students performed in Christopher Wheeldon’s Like Water for Chocolate with The Royal Ballet this autumn. These professional performance opportunities offer our students invaluable exposure to the realities of company life while they pursue their studies.
Students and alumni played an integral part in the creation of this work in 2022. Choreographer Christopher Wheeldon attended both White Lodge and Upper School before joining The Royal Ballet, and the majority of the original cast also consisted of alumni: Francesca Hayward as Tita, Marcelino Sambé as Pedro, Laura Morera as Mama Elena, Mayara Magri as Rosaura and Matthew Ball as Dr. John.
Pre-professional student Julian played a Ghost Man in this year’s production, allowing him to experience the rapid pace of performance life, including grappling with last-minute casting changes. ‘It was an amazing opportunity to watch the Company dancing up close and to interact with them on stage. It was also a great insight into the Company’s speed and independence, which is different from School. In the Company, you can be thrown on stage with only a few minutes notice.
For example, we were doing our grocery shopping when we received a call from the Company asking us to be at the Opera House in 5 minutes because someone was injured mid show. We had to bike back to the Opera House and immediately prepare to go on stage.’
Fellow Pre-professional student, Anna, played a Knitter and Bride alongside the other ladies in her class. She found being in close proximity to the professional dancers deeply inspiring. ‘I really enjoyed the rehearsal process, being in the Company environment on-and-off stage and watching the main characters dance during the performance to the auditorium full of people cheering. Standing on that stage will always make me grateful and emotional. Being in the rehearsal room and practicing even at the back of the studio was really inspiring. My favourite memories were all the full calls with the principals!’
Left: Julian and friend backstage dressed in their Ghost Man costumes; right: Anna and other Pre-professional ladies dressed as Brides .
Our students continue to gain valuable insights and experience in Company productions, including La Fille mal gardée and The Nutcracker this term. It is wonderful to see several generations of students and alumni collaborate in the creative process.
Header photo: Alum and Principal of The Royal Ballet Francesca Hayward pictured with Year 8 student Ariella. Courtesy The Royal Ballet, photo by Foteini Christofilopoulou
