For the last couple of years, The Royal Ballet School’s parent-teacher association (PTA) has had to put their annual Summer Fair on hold. Restrictions due to the Covid-19 pandemic meant the popular event was off limits after its last appearance in 2019. But this year, on Saturday June 18, the School once again went all out in a celebration of music, dance, and summer fun as the Fair returned to Richmond Park in London.
Prosecco, Stalls, and Fun for All
Set in the iconic grounds of White Lodge, home to the School’s younger pupils, the event gave guests the opportunity to see the students perform a varied programme of repertoire, as well as enjoy all the fun of a traditional fair with a raffle, stalls, games and crafts, face painting, tombola, and more.
Taking place all Saturday, from 11 am until 5 pm, students, staff, families, and friends had plenty of time to enjoy the festivities. Alongside the many family-friendly activities on offer, visitors browsed stalls from local food and craft artisans and dancewear and accessories suppliers and took full advantage of the ice cream van[CM1] . There was plenty of food and drink to choose from, including pizza, cakes, and crêpes, and adults enjoyed the Prosecco bar.
This year’s special guest was Reece Clarke, an alumnus of the School who was recently promoted to Principal at The Royal Ballet. As he opened the Fair, Clarke shared that he had many “happy memories”[CM2] of his time at White Lodge and that one of the highlights of his school year was performing at the PTA Summer Fair.
Alongside the School’s photographer and videographer, the internationally acclaimed dance company BalletBoyz[CM3] filmed at the event. The company’s founders are celebrated former Royal Ballet dancers Michael Nunn and William Trevitt, who make dance more accessible through their various stage, television, and outreach projects. During the Summer Fair, BalletBoyz worked on an exciting documentary to celebrate the School’s centenary.
Exploring Ballet History
The setting for the Summer Fair, White Lodge, sits in the heart of Richmond Park and has served as the School’s home to students aged 11 to 16 since 1955. Originally commissioned as a hunting lodge for George I, the building represents several hundred years of British, royal, and ballet history.
Usually closed to the public, this year’s summer event offered guests the rare chance to step inside the grounds of the historic site. The School’s Head of Special Collections, Anna Meadmore and other Royal Ballet School staff led interested parties on regular tours throughout the day so they could learn about the site’s rich history.
Impressive Performances
The annual Summer Fair would not be complete without live performances from students of the School. Pupils from Years 7 to 11 took to the stage three times throughout the day for half-hour shows. Though the Summer Fair traditionally means these take place outdoors, this year the Great British Weather proved unpredictable and there was some unwelcome drizzle. Fortunately, in the case of wet weather, the Margot Fonteyn Theatre provides an alternative venue to showcase the students’ talents, and the PTA moved the dancers and audience members inside so the show could go on.
Students danced beautifully during the day’s three performances, with programmes featuring repertoire from the popular classical ballets Swan Lake, Coppélia, and The Sleeping Beauty. Young dancers also treated audiences to performances of Irish, Scottish, and character dances, not to mention student choreography developed throughout the academic year. The three original pieces were:
- Waiting to Breathe, from Lauren Godfrey, created for the Kenneth Macmillan Emerging Choreographer programme 2022, and performed by Year 10 students.
- Venture Into a Fairy Tale, from Sasha Dobrynin-Lait, created for the Ninette de Valois Emerging Choreographer programme 2022, and performed by Year 9 students.
- The Silver Ants, from Aurelia Ingleson Laur, created for the Ninette de Valois Emerging Choreographer programme 2022, and performed by Year 8 students.
Raffle Prizes
Another unmissable feature of The Royal Ballet School Summer Fair is the raffle, which raises money in support of the students’ world-class education and offers guests a chance to take home incredible, exclusive prizes. This year, there were 27 impressive gifts on offer, including:
- Signed memorabilia and photographs from stars of The Royal Ballet, including Gina Storm-Jensen, Matthew Ball, Yasmine Naghdi, and Marianela Nuñez.
- Luxury hampers, including the £100 “Piccadilly” hamper from Fortnum & Mason.
- Photoshoot sessions with Kate Frost Photography, Nikita Alba Photography, and GB Dancestars.
- Exclusive experiences, including a luxury hotel stay, a paddle boarding session for two, online dance classes, and tickets to the Rugby World Museum Tour.
- Private Zoom lessons with Hannah Martin, The Greatest Dancer star and Birmingham Royal Ballet apprentice.
- Hundreds of pounds in gift vouchers for premium brands, including Freda Silk, Freed of London, and International Dancewear Supplies.
- Fresh flower arrangements, dancewear, art prints, jewellery, and more.
Supporting Students of The Royal Ballet School
The Summer Fair is not only a fantastic day out for students, families, and friends, but it also represents an important fundraising opportunity for The Royal Ballet School. Organised by the PTA, a generous group of volunteers who work throughout the academic year to raise funds for the School and nurture staff-parent relationships, this year’s Fair proved a huge success, raising more than £18,000. This money will provide invaluable for the students’ education and training and will go towards important facilities, equipment, and boarding experiences.
The Royal Ballet School thanked the PTA for their “tireless work” [CM4] in pulling off another successful Summer Fair. The School also gratefully acknowledged those who generously donated their time and the raffle prizes, which went a long way to raising the amazing donation total, and the students and staff who contributed to making the Fair such a wonderful day.
About The Royal Ballet School
The Royal Ballet School is one of the world’s leading centres for training students in classical ballet and nurturing young dance talent. Founded in 1926 by British ballet icon Ninette de Valois, the School has produced dancers and choreographers of international fame for generations. Former students include ballet legends past and present, such as Margot Fonteyn, Darcey Bussell, David Wall, and Marianela Nuñez.
The Royal Ballet School is a registered charity, and 84% of students rely on financial support to attend. The School bases admissions entirely on talent and potential and doesn’t consider academic ability or personal circumstances. Through the support of generous individuals, trusts and foundations, corporate sponsorships, events by the PTA, and more, students can fulfil their dreams of becoming professionals in the world of ballet. Young dancers go on to enjoy exciting careers with The Royal Ballet, Birmingham Royal Ballet, and other renowned UK and international dance companies.
