As the lights went down in the Theatre Royal, the chatter took a little longer than usual to die down as friends and relatives, some who may never have set foot in a theatre before, waited in excited anticipation to see the result of their loved ones’ week-long foray into dance.
Last year, Nott Ballet was an experiment. The Renewal Trust brought Birmingham Royal Ballet to Nottingham for one week, supported by Dance4, to introduce a group of children and young people from Sneinton and St Ann’s to dance. Five days to coax a group of inexperienced and potentially reluctant kids into good enough shape to perform in public may seem like madness to some – anything could have happened. However, despite some initial hesitance, those children and young people went on not only to learn a few dance steps, but also to learn the true meaning of commitment, the importance of teamwork and the value of community spirit.
Happily not just a one-off, the partnership between The Renewal Trust and Birmingham Royal Ballet was revived for 2014 to give a whole new group of youngsters the opportunity of a lifetime. Renamed Nott Just Ballet, this year taking part were 8-16 year-olds from Nottingham Academy, Edale Rise Primary and Nursery School, and Bluebell Hill Primary School, along with a ‘company’ of students who supported in behind the scenes roles including wardrobe, PR, stage management, project management and music.
Pearl Chesterman, Director of Learning for Birmingham Royal Ballet, said: “It’s not about making the children want to be dancers, it’s about building their confidence for future life. The thing I have been most impressed by is the children’s openness. They are put in a room full of people and professionals and they just get on with it, which is great to see.”
Taking inspiration from Birmingham Royal Ballet’s touring production of La Fille Mal Gardee, the performance was set in the countryside and the youngest group of children took to the stage first. Their roles were chicks (the arms gave it away) and other farm animals and they bounced and twirled across the floor in a prettily choreographed routine.
Stormy weather was portrayed by older children in dark costumes moving more quickly. As they crowded together and broke apart, others danced in and out with umbrellas against a backdrop of woodland and cleverly lighted rain drops. Later, another group danced with ribbons before the very youngest returned to the stage as the weather improved and calm was restored.
At just 25 minutes, it was short, but it was very sweet and a real pleasure to hear the audience break into applause after each set of children did their bit and flitted offstage. Both children and audience clearly loved every second and I got the impression it wasn’t just the children who learned something.
Well done Birmingham Royal Ballet, well done The Renewal Trust and well done Dance4. Here’s hoping for Nott Just Nott Ballet (or something similar) in 2015.
Nott Just Ballet was a dance project that kicked off the In Notts We Love Dance festival, which is a partnership between Dance4, Experience Nottinghamshire, Nottingham City Council, Foundation for Community Dance and Youth Dance England. The festival runs until July 13.
Dance4 website
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