English Youth Ballet

English Youth Ballet
Name	English Youth Ballet
Type	Youth ballet company
Founded	1978
Founder	Derek Deane
Location	London, England

English Youth Ballet is a British youth ballet company that provides pre-professional training and performance opportunities in classical and contemporary ballet. It stages productions in London and tours nationally and internationally, working with choreographers, directors, and partners from institutions across the performing arts sector. The company has produced alumni who have joined major companies and engaged with venues, festivals, and schools across Europe and beyond.

History

English Youth Ballet was formed in 1978 during a period of expansion for British dance alongside institutions such as Royal Ballet, Sadler's Wells Theatre, Rambert Dance Company, English National Ballet, and Northern Ballet. Early collaborations involved choreographers connected to Royal Ballet School, Central School of Ballet, and directors from The Old Vic and National Theatre. During the 1980s the company performed at venues like London Coliseum, Royal Opera House, and regional theatres associated with Bristol Old Vic and Theatre Royal, Norwich. In the 1990s engagements included festivals such as Edinburgh Festival Fringe, Cheltenham Festival, and Brighton Festival. Tours and exchanges extended links to companies including Paris Opera Ballet, Bayerisches Staatsballett, Stuttgart Ballet, and schools like Vaganova Academy and Kirov Ballet School.

The 2000s saw partnerships with educational organisations such as Trinity Laban Conservatoire of Music and Dance, Guildhall School of Music and Drama, Royal Conservatoire of Scotland, and youth networks including Youth Dance England and Arts Council England. Productions incorporated works by choreographers associated with Sir Kenneth MacMillan, Margot Fonteyn, Frederick Ashton, Wayne McGregor, and contemporary makers linked to Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater and Martha Graham Dance Company influences. The company has adapted repertoire for venues tied to Barbican Centre and civic stages in Manchester and Birmingham.

Organization and Leadership

The company operates with artistic and executive leadership drawing from alumni and professionals active at institutions including Royal Opera House, English National Opera, Sadler's Wells, Royal Conservatoire of Scotland, and conservatoires such as Trinity Laban. Artistic directors and board members have been recruited from leadership ranks at Royal Ballet School, English National Ballet School, Northern Ballet School, and administrators with experience at Arts Council England, British Council, and charitable trusts like The Prince's Trust. Creative teams often include guest choreographers from Matthew Bourne's New Adventures, Christopher Wheeldon, Akram Khan Company, and designers associated with Royal Shakespeare Company and National Theatre. Management liaises with unions and professional bodies including Equity (British trade union), Dance UK, and funding bodies like Heritage Lottery Fund.

Training and Repertoire

Training incorporates techniques associated with schools such as Royal Ballet School, Vaganova Academy, Balanchine School, and methods influenced by Cecchetti, Bournonville, and modern practices linked to Duncan Dance. Syllabi reference works by composers whose scores are staples in ballet productions, like Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky, Igor Stravinsky, Sergei Prokofiev, and Dmitri Shostakovich. Repertoire includes full-length ballets and mixed bills featuring interpretations of Swan Lake, The Nutcracker, Giselle, Romeo and Juliet (Prokofiev), and contemporary pieces by choreographers with credits at Royal Ballet, Dutch National Ballet, New York City Ballet, and La Scala Theatre Ballet. Collaborators have included conductors and orchestras associated with London Symphony Orchestra, Philharmonia Orchestra, and BBC Symphony Orchestra.

Performances and Tours

Home performances have appeared at venues such as Royal Opera House, Sadler's Wells Theatre, London Coliseum, Barbican Centre, and regional hubs including The Lowry, Birmingham Hippodrome, and Liverpool Empire Theatre. International tours and exchanges have connected the company with festivals and houses such as Paris Opera, Bolshoi Theatre, Teatro alla Scala, Lincoln Center, Kennedy Center, and continental festivals including Avignon Festival and Munich Opera Festival. Touring activity has involved cultural partners like British Council and municipal arts departments in cities such as Barcelona, Berlin, Rome, and Vienna.

Outreach and Education

Educational outreach includes school workshops, community classes, and partnership programmes with institutions like Trinity Laban, Guildhall School of Music and Drama, Royal Conservatoire of Scotland, and local authorities in boroughs including Camden, Islington, and Tower Hamlets. Programmes have linked to national initiatives such as Arts Award, Youth Dance England, and schemes supported by Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport and charitable foundations like Paul Hamlyn Foundation and Jack Petchey Foundation. Collaborations also extend to health and social organisations such as NHS England and youth services connected to Youth Offending Team frameworks.

Notable Alumni and Alumni Achievements

Alumni have joined major companies and institutions including Royal Ballet, English National Ballet, Birmingham Royal Ballet, Northern Ballet, Scottish Ballet, Dutch National Ballet, American Ballet Theatre, New York City Ballet, and Paris Opera Ballet. Graduates have appeared in productions at Royal Opera House, Lincoln Center, and festivals like Edinburgh International Festival and Jacob's Pillow Dance Festival. Former members have moved into choreography, leadership, and teaching roles at Royal Ballet School, Trinity Laban, Guildhall School of Music and Drama, Rambert School, and cultural organisations such as Arts Council England and British Council.

Awards and Recognition

The company and its members have received recognition from awarding bodies such as Critics' Circle National Dance Awards, Olwyn Foundation, Theatre Royal Awards, and grants from Arts Council England and Heritage Lottery Fund. Individual dancers and choreographers associated with the company have earned nominations and awards from institutions including Laurence Olivier Awards, UK National Dance Awards, South Bank Sky Arts Awards, and international festivals like Varna International Ballet Competition and Jackson International Ballet Competition.

Category:Ballet companies in the United Kingdom Category:Youth organisations based in London