In January, 20 students from our Dance Society took part in a unique curated dance workshop exploring The Royal Ballet's Swan Lake, backstage at the incredible Royal Opera House.
Access to the arts is major priority of the students’ union. We want to break down barriers to participation and make UCL a place where all students, regardless of background, can develop the creativity, innovation, and confidence that engagement in the arts provides.
Our new partnership with the Royal Opera House will help give our students opportunities we hope will inspire them on their journey into the arts.
The visit to the ROH started with a dance workshop led by former Royal Ballet Dancer, David Pickering. David danced with the Royal Ballet for 23 years, including appearing in Swan Lake. Started with a warm-up and introduction to some of the basic choreographic shapes associated with Swan Lake, the group then moved into exploring the idea of ‘flight’, and how we can express flight through the body.
Students worked with David to create various stages of flight using the choreographic frameworks established in this current production of Swan Lake. Within these frameworks, the students discovered all sorts of universal themes around imprisonment and freedom, hopes and dreams. Afterwards the group presented two wonderful choreographic pieces that captured the swan breaking free.
Afterwards, students were able to put their questions forward, and listen to a discussion, from a panel including Zenaida Yanowsky (ex Royal Ballet principle dancer, who danced Odette in Swan Lake), David and ROH pianist Kate Shipway.
Zenaida spoke about her practice and the art form of ballet more generally, the history of Swan Lake, and how recent directors have reinterpreted it, as well as the quest for a purity of collaboration during performance, and the relaxation that all performers are searching for. Kate spoke about the rehearsal process, and push pull between the music and the dancer – the music adapts to the dancer, and the dancer adapts to the music. David spoke about the themes of Swan Lake and the unique way in which dance captures these. Hearing from expert practitioners of this level is a rare opportunity, but it’s crucial in helping students visualise the kind of skills and experience required to work in professional arts roles.
After the panel, students then went on a backstage tour, visiting the costume department and meeting Janet Steiner, the Hats and Jewelry Manager, as well as visiting the extraordinary auditorium and rehearsal studios. A real highlight was the chance to observe principle dancers in rehearsal with their second cast counterparts in one of the rehearsal studios.
“We just don't quite realise how complicated the whole backstage processes is, so just being able to meet the people to go in the studios was amazing and we had amazing opportunities to see dancers really in the act”
What next?
The cohort will now work with award-winning professional Movement Director and Choreographer, Monica Nicolaides, for three weeks to create a brand-new piece of work in response to their Swan Lake experience day. This piece will then be performed as part of Dance Society’s Triple Bill on 10th and 11th February, visit Dance Society’s website to find out how to get involved.
The partnership continues with UCL Dance Society members given priority access to 300 special tickets to the Young ROH Takeover performance of Swan Lake on 21st March. The initiative is specifically targeted at UCL students who haven't connected with ballet before. This initiative will then continue with the ROH's much anticipated brand new production of Carmen, later in the year.
