Birmingham Royal Ballet are back at the newly renovated Birmingham Rep with some of their breathtaking Ballet and the most spectacular music from Royal Ballet Sinfonia.
We headed to the Family Music and Dance session today (Friday 13th May) and they have another session tomorrow (Saturday 14th May). You can book tickets here: BRB Tickets.
BRB’s Family Music and Dance is a wonderful introduction to the orchestra and ballet for everyone aged 4 and above. It was nice to see as I looked around the audience, children from about the age of 3, to adults in their 80s. This show really is for everyone who wants an introduction to the finest arts.
Shireenah Ingram and conductor Phil Ellis introduced us to the instruments of the 60-strong Royal Ballet Sinfonia. We discovered the likes of the Violins, Violas, Cellos, Double Basses, Flutes, Oboes, Clarinets, Bassoons, Horns, Trumpets, a trombone, a harp, a timpani and percussion. All played beautifully by the most talented musicians. We also saw BRB’s elegant dancers and were introduced to some of the developing talent from Elmshurst School of Ballet.
You heard the excitement of the younger audience as they were greeted with Cinderella on the stage. Beautifully danced by students of Elmshurt Ballet School. Laura Day choreographed this incredibly well and definitely deserved the recognition she received at the end of the show.
We enjoyed pocket-sized performances of classic moments from The Sleeping Beauty and La Fille mal gardée (my absolute favourite ballet).
Rory Mackay played the role of Widow Simone in La Fille mal gardée incredibly well. Such precise movements all whilst wearing clogs. The audience loved him and you heard plenty of chuckles and sounds of glee as he danced. Hamish Scott has perfected the role of the cockeral.
Sleeping Beauty had the audience in silence. Watching the Bluebird pas de deux between Beatrice Parma and Shuailun Wu was breathtaking. The poise and posture perfect. Beatrice Parma continually gives epic performance after epic performance and her time on the stage today was no different. Graceful, smooth and fluent movements. Shuailun Wu was the perfect partner, matching the performance of Beatrice.
When you attend the ballet and love it as much as I do, you tend to find you have favourite ballet dancers. Tzu-Chao Chou is mine. So you can imagine my excitement when he appeared during Majisimo alongside other favourites including Lachlan Monaghan and Karla Doorbar. The dancing from everyone in this section was second to none. Every step perfect, in time and performed elegantly.
This Family Music and Dance performance was brilliant. Interactive, informative and a joy to watch. Highly recommend for anyone who wants an introduction to the orchestra and ballet. At 75 minutes long it is a great tester if you have never been before.
Disclaimer: I was invited along to the performance by Birmingham Royal Ballet. All thoughts and opinions are entirely my own.