IMAGES OF DANCE
Course Consultant:
|
Doreen Wells, Marchioness of Londonderry
|
Images of Dance, the first of the Studio's performing companies, was formed in 1991 in order to provide classical ballet students with invaluable performing experience and to bring all aspects of classical ballet to new and younger audiences. Its policy is to provide an insight into the work of British choreographers, presenting diverse programmes of new, innovative works, as well as revivals of the classical and romantic narrative ballets.
From the twentieth century repertoire, the company has danced Frederick Ashton's Façade, George Balanchine's Divertimento No 15, John Cranko's Pineapple Poll and Ninette de Valois' The Rake's Progress. The company has also performed The Kingdom of the Shades scene from La Bayadere, Act III of Raymonda, Dame Alicia Markova's production of Les Sylphides, Swan Lake Act II and Galina Samsova's production of Paquita. Matthew Bourne, Jack Carter, Geoffrey Cauley, Adam Cooper, Michael Corder, Jennifer Jackson, Darius James, Harold King, Ashley Page, Wayne Sleep and Christopher Wheeldon have all created new works for Images of Dance.
Senior principal dancers from major companies such as The Royal Ballet, English National Ballet and Rambert Dance Company rehearse the company and coach individual students. This enables them to study particular roles intensively, acquiring the performance skills that are essential to the professional dancer. Students collaborate with major choreographers in the creation of new ballets. This provides them with the ideal opportunity to understand the development of a professional production for the stage.
The tour completes the students' education as professional dancers, allowing them time to develop and sustain their roles in the programme of ballets that the company is presenting. The tour culminates in a final London performance, which acts as a showcase attended by artistic directors, choreographers and other potential employers.
Companies that students have joined include The Royal Ballet, English National Ballet; Scottish Ballet; Rambert Dance Company; K Ballet, Japan; Adventures in Motion Pictures; New Adventures; Ballet Ireland; City Ballet of London; Adonais; The Peter Schaufuss Ballet; Ballett der Deutschen Oper Am Rhein, Dusseldorf; Ballett der Buhnen der Landeshauptstadt, Kiel; Ballett der Staatsope, Dresden; Ballett Nurnberg; Malmo Baletten; The Zurich Opera House; The Israel Ballet; The National Ballet of Japan; PACT Ballet, South Africa and CAPAB Ballet, South Africa.