Chair’s Circle 2026 opens a landmark year of centenary performances
On Wednesday 21 January, our Chair, Natasha Kaplinsky OBE, welcomed a group of our most dedicated supporters to our centenary edition of the annual Chair’s Circle event. This performance is the first of our 2026 season and kicks off our year-long celebrations. Our valued Chair’s Circle supporters enable the School to nurture and train exceptionally gifted young dancers and are vital in securing our future for the next 100 years.
The evening was compèred by 2nd Year students Harry and Maria, who introduced each piece with humour and grace. The show opened with two classics: Liam Scarlett’s Waltz from Swan Lake, performed by 2nd Year students, and a solo from Marius Petipa’s Giselle, performed by Year 11 student Jolie.
Above: Anisha and her choreography Pulsation; below: Filippa and her choreography Downtown
The programme took a more contemporary turn with Year 10 student Anisha’s Formula 1-inspired choreography, Pulsation, featured in December’s Kenneth MacMillan Emerging Choreographer, followed by Lynn Seymour Award winner Ruben’s performance of Jerome Robbins’ Fancy Free Sailor Variation no. 3. These expressive student performances both drew amused reactions from the crowd.
Lettie, Year 7, read her poem Leaves, which won her the School Award for National Poetry Day. Her depiction of autumn weather included leaves and trees dancing like a disco. Following Lettie’s recitation were two evocative pas de deux: Frederick Ashton’s Rhapsody performed by Alecsia and Fabrizzio, also performed in the YGP Japan Gala last October, and Year 11 students Alex and Eva’s self-choreographed Letter from Heaven, which tells the story of a woman and her late lover’s ghost. Later, Upper School students demonstrated a pas de deux defilé, demonstrating the art of partnering across all three year groups.
Left: Ruben performing Jerome Robbins’ Fancy Free Sailor Variation no. 3; centre: compères Harry and Maria; right: Lettie smiling after reading her poem Leaves
Pas de deux, left to right: Alex and Eva in Letter from Heaven, Samantha and Ivan in Grand Pas Classique and Alecsia and Fabrizzio in Rhapsody
Midway through the show, Artistic Director Iain Mackay and CEO Patrick Harrison took a moment to acknowledge the significance of this year, reflecting on the past year of growth and thanking the donors in the audience for believing in the School’s mission. Harry returned to the floor with Maria and candidly expressed his own gratitude. ‘I don’t think we say this enough…thank you.’
The second half opened with 2nd Year student, Bella, performing Mikhail Fokine’s heart-wrenching Dying Swan variation before Year 11 student, Eita, lifted the mood with a lively Colas variation from La fille mal gardée. Year 10 student choreographer, Filippa, presented her vibrant 1960s inspired piece Downtown, featuring multicoloured tights and polka dot skirts. The show wrapped up with another waltz, this time from Rudolf Nureyev’s The Nutcracker, and a final pas de deux, Grand Pas Classique, performed with regal poise and incredible strength by Pre-professional students Ivan and Samantha.
Solos – Left: Eita in La fille mal gardée; centre: Jolie in Giselle; right: Bella in The Dying Swan
Natasha took to the stage to close the show with a few heartfelt words to the students: ‘We all think you are wonderful. You are the future of dance. You are at the centre of everything we do here at the School. Thank you.’
We are so proud of our students as performers, choreographers, poets and speakers for yet another inspiring, enthusiastic performance. Thank you to Natasha Kaplinsky and our Chair’s Circle for their transformational support and philanthropy to the School.
