Our Story
The Company
Dance Artists of tomorrow, being created today.
The Birmingham Ballet Company was founded to enable young dancers the opportunity to perform Classical Ballet and Contemporary Works.
The Company stands alone in providing young dancers the opportunity to perform with a live orchestra. We are proud to provide this to our company associates, male and female, starting at 9 years of age.
Production structures rotate, ranging from full-length ballet productions, short sharp contemporary pieces and evenings of 'three short works'.
The Company strives to provide regular performance opportunities at prestigious venues such as The Ruddock Performing Arts Centre, The Elgar Concert Hall and The Crescent Theatre, Birmingham.
The programme constitutes of three main strands, Classical Ballet, Contemporary Dance and Repertoire. We believe a balance of these areas quantifies a well-educated and informed dance artist.
Students wishing to apply to the company must complete an application and audition successfully to become an Associate of The Birmingham Ballet Company.
Accompanied by a string orchestra, our next production, 'Recital 2023' will be an evening of Music and Dance. We will perform three works, a Classical Ballet piece, a Contemporary Work and a Classical Character Narrative piece. This will be created around the skill set of the associates to be premiered at the Ruddock Performing Arts Centre.
ROYAL BALLET SCHOOL ATAP AFFILIATE TEACHER
RAMBERT GRADES
RAD & ISTD REGISTERED TEACHER
After being invited to work with The English Symphony Orchestra, I realised the immense benefit for aspiring dancers to work creatively alongside live musicians in a professional company environment.
I believe this is an intrinsic element of performance that should be available to dancers who live and breathe the art form. Therefore, I founded The Birmingham Ballet Company to create a platform for aspiring dancers to work collaboratively with guest artists, industry professionals and world renowned musicians resulting in professional performance opportunities.
This summer intensive performance project is designed to deepen the dancers' appreciation of company repertoire whilst expanding their creative and artistic expression through performance. We aim to stretch the boundaries and find freedom through classical ballet and contemporary dance.
I am immensely proud of the project and the opportunities it provides, with many alumni moving forward into the professional world.
PENELOPE FROST
ARTISTIC DIRECTOR
THE ASSOCIATE GROUPS
JUNIOR COMPANY ASSOCIATE
We use the following as a guide...
Years / 9-11
Academic Year / 5-7
Current Ballet Grade / G1-3
MID COMPANY ASSOCIATE
We use the following as a guide...
Years / 12-14
Academic Year / 8-10
Current Ballet Grade / G4-6
SENIOR COMPANY ASSOCIATE
We use the following as a guide...
Years / 15+
Academic Year / 11+
Current Ballet Grade / INTER-ADV
ABOUT
RECITAL 2023
'Recital 2023' is an evening of Music and Dance.
We will be accompanied by a beautiful string orchestra to perform 3 works throughout the evening; a Classical Ballet piece, a Contemporary work and a Classical Character Narrative piece, to be premiered at the Ruddock Performing Arts Centre, Birmingham.
We are passionate about providing young dancers male and female, the opportunity to perform with live musicians in a professional environment, from 9 years of age. We understand the importance, structure, correct delivery and development of every aspect of creating a dancer/performer of the future. Combining the art of classical ballet and contemporary dance with live classical music is where we excel.
To request an audition application pack for 'Recital 2024', click here.
All successful applicants will receive a detailed uniform list in their
'Associate Acceptance pack'.
All company associates will be required to wear the following uniform...
BBCo Company Gilet
BBCo Company Leotard
BBCo Company Skirt (female)
BBCo Company Tights (male)
BBCo Ballet Belt
Convertible Ballet Tights (female)
Canvas Ballet Shoes
It is essential that Associates dress accordingly upon arrival with female associates' hair dressed in a classical pancake bun - they are all ambassadors of the Company.
All BBCo uniform is bespoke and will need to be ordered from this website.
