Birmingham Royal Ballet in the Community 2024

Through its dedicated Learning, Engagement, Access and Participation (LEAP) team, working with BRB’s world-class dancers and highly skilled practitioners, BRB reaches out to adults, colleges, schools and individuals, providing opportunities across the West Midlands and wider UK to learn new skills, be active, gain confidence and, for some, to widen career aspirations in the creative industries.

As part of BRB’s ongoing community engagement it is delighted to announce the return of Freefall Dance Company who will perform an exciting Showcase of their dance work at Birmingham Hippodrome’s Patrick Studio on 14 and 15 November. Freefall Dance Company, a group of ten highly gifted dancers with learning disabilities, will be sharing two pieces from their repertoire: After Luna and Seaside Rendezvous.

After Luna, a creative response to BRB’s recent world premiere of Luna, is a choreographic piece for a 180 Virtual Reality film created earlier this year at Winterbourne House and Gardens, which provided an opportunity for the company to explore modern technology and expand the dancers’ choreographic skills.

In the weeks running up to these performances, Freefall dancers Hannah Clarke and the company’s newest recruit Luci Miles, with the skillful facilitation of Dance Artist Jenny Murphy, have worked over six sessions to bring After Luna to the stage featuring a new generation of dancers from Freefall’s founding partner Fox Hollies School.

Seaside Rendezvous, first performed in 2011 and again in 2017, is a favourite from the Freefall repertoire and is being revived with additional choreography for 2024, for new dancers.

Inspired by bygone holidays at the coast and the saucy postcards of Donald Mcgill, the piece captures some of the many experiences of seaside holidays - from amusement arcades to the fairground, via the ice cream sellers and fortune tellers.

Former BRB Soloist Lee Fisher, BRB’s Head of Creative Learning and Freefall’s Artistic Director, and Co-Founder said “I am so enormously proud of the Freefall dancers who have consistently shown commitment and real talent.

“We very much look forward to welcoming audiences to our November performances, which show just what can be achieved – a big thank you to everyone who has supported us.” 

Earlier this year Freefall celebrated its 21st anniversary and has since been actively teaching, filming and advocating for the role of dance and leadership development for people with  learning disabilities. In July Freefall led workshops with over 40 participants from local schools and community centres at BRB’s first summer residency at Birmingham Museum & Art Gallery, and also took part in the People Dancing symposium - Leadership In Action. In August Lee and Tom Rogers (BRB’s Creative Content Producer) shared Freefall’s story and most recent digital works with the African Dance and Disability Network JOMBA festival/colloquium in Durban, South Africa.

BRB’s acclaimed Dance Track project has been delivering workshops to primary school pupils in the city of Birmingham for over 25 years, reaching out to young talented children would not normally have the opportunity to access dance.

The programme offers weekly free dance classes, behind the scenes  access at BRB and free tickets to performances. The activities are designed to introduce the young participants and their families to ballet and to encourage an interest in the art form.

Previous Dance Track students are now part of the BRB professional company, including Artist Oscar Kempsey-Fagg and his brother Marlo who has recently been appointed as BRB Apprentice having trained at Elmhurst Ballet School.

This Christmas three current Dance Track students, including two more brothers, will be given the exciting opportunity to perform with BRB in the much-loved Sir Peter Wright’s The Nutcracker. Alex Chatt (Kings Heath Primary School) and twins Dan and Zak Beech (Colmore Primary School) will be taking to the stage at Birmingham Hippodrome in the sumptuous Christmas Eve party scene that opens BRB's magical festive production. 

Paul Reeve, BRB’s Interim Director of LEAP commented: “Through Dance Track we recruit over 80 school children aged 6-8 every year across nearly 50 schools. To see students develop through the project to become part of the BRB family is a testament to the work of the talented LEAP team and the dedication and passion of the young dancers.

“Alex, Dan and Zak have been attending Dance Track for five years and we are very proud to see them progress to the main stage in The Nutcracker, one of our most-loved ballet productions.”

This year also marks the first-ever Relaxed Performance of The Nutcracker on 3 December in partnership with Birmingham Hippodrome 

Relaxed performances are designed for individuals who may experience challenges in traditional theatre settings. These performances are supportive of people with conditions such as Autism Spectrum Disorder, learning disabilities, or sensory and communication differences, ensuring everyone can enjoy the experience in their own way.

As well as a Relaxed Performance there will be an Audio Described performance on 30 November 2.30pm and those attending will have the opportunity to take part in a Touch Tour at 12.30pm.

Finally, in the run up to The Nutcracker season BRB has partnered with Birmingham Hippodrome to offer families and shoppers a FREE day of events in the BullRing Grand Central on Saturday 16 November.  Exploring the themes of The Nutcracker, there will be dance workshops for children, the chance to watch a special performance by BRB’s professional dancers and more.

For further information on Freefall Dance Company and Dance Track go to www.brb.org.uk  

The Nutcracker opens at Birmingham Hippodrome on 22 November and runs through to 14 December. For tickets and information on access performances go to www.birminghamhippodrome.com