Company Gala to be attended by their Royal Highnesses the Prince of Wales and the Duchess of Cornwall

25 February 2010

Birmingham Royal Ballet is pleased to announce that the performance of the Company's 20th Anniversary Gala, 20 Years Celebration, on Wednesday 10 March at 7.30pm at Birmingham Hippodrome, will be attended by Their Royal Highnesses The Prince of Wales, President of Birmingham Royal Ballet, and The Duchess of Cornwall, Patron of Elmhurst School for Dance, the Birmingham-based vocational school in association with Birmingham Royal Ballet.

2010 marks Birmingham Royal Ballet's 20th year in the City of Birmingham since the Company (then Sadler's Wells Royal Ballet) moved from London in 1990, a move the press at the time described as 'the arts coup of the decade'.

20 years on and Birmingham Royal Ballet is delighted to celebrate two decades of success with an exciting array of productions, kicking off with three celebratory galas at the Company's home theatre, Birmingham Hippodrome.

Sponsored by Bullring Birmingham, 20 Years Celebration will highlight excerpts from Birmingham Royal Ballet's most memorable repertoire. Along with multimedia presentations that will commemorate the Company's local, national and international achievements over the last two decades, excerpts from The Nutcracker, Romeo and Juliet, Carmina burana, and Ballet Changed My Life: Ballet Hoo! will be included, along with performances from students of Elmhurst School for Dance and the Royal Ballet School.

Birmingham Royal Ballet's Director David Bintley said: 'It's our 20th anniversary so it's a celebration of the past 20 years, and looking towards the future. I'm trying to tell the story of the whole Company, not just the people who appear on stage, but also all the parts of the Company that people really don't know very much about. I hope that everyone who comes would leave at the end with a better understanding of Birmingham Royal Ballet.'

Louise Hamer-Brown, Marketing Controller for Bullring commented: 'To produce a ballet requires such a vast range of skills and talents united to create a work of art, from set design and costume design, choreography to lighting and of course, the dancers. This year at Bullring we're celebrating all that makes people feel happy, so collaborating with Birmingham Royal Ballet which brings delight to all who watch and take part in it, seemed a natural unity. We are proud to sponsor an organisation that brings this exquisite performance art to Birmingham.'

ENDS

Birmingham Royal Ballet 20 Years Celebration at Birmingham Hippodrome:

Tuesday 9 March at 7.30pm & Wednesday 10 March at 2pm and 7.30pm

Tickets: 0844 338 5000 or www.birminghamhippodrome.com

Notes to Editors:

SUPPORTED (2010) by Bullring, Birmingham:
20 Years Celebration is sponsored by Bullring, the heart of the Birmingham’s shopping experience with 160 exciting shops including Selfridges and an abundance of restaurants to explore, all just a stone's throw away from Birmingham Royal Ballet’s home at Birmingham Hippodrome.

2010 has seen Bullring launch the Bullring Art Project, where everybody is invited to become the artist. Videos, photos, poems, lyrics, music and scripts can be shared at www.lifefeelsbetter.co.uk for all to enjoy and may be selected to be exhibited in unique displays at Bullring throughout the year. Ballet lovers, dance enthusiasts, all those who embrace performance art can share their skills, memories, photos and experiences with the Bullring Art Project.

Birmingham Royal Ballet brief history:

1987
Birmingham Hippodrome and Birmingham City Council invite Sadler's Wells Royal Ballet to re-locate to Birmingham.

Richard Johnson, Director of Birmingham Hippodrome and on behalf of Birmingham City Council meets with Sadler's Wells Royal Ballet's Director Peter Wright and General Manager Christopher Nourse. They discuss the proposed plans for a move, to be helped by local funding and improved facilities at Birmingham Hippodrome.

1989
Relocation announced at a press conference on 12 January. In June, Dame Ninette de Valois lays the foundation stone at Birmingham Hippodrome to commemorate new studios and facilities.

1990
Sadler's Wells Royal Ballet moves to a new home in Birmingham and changes its name to Birmingham Royal Ballet.

1995
Sir Peter Wright retires. David Bintley becomes Artistic Director.

1997
Birmingham Royal Ballet becomes independent of the Royal Opera House.

2004
Elmhurst School for Dance moves from London to Birmingham and becomes the Associate School of Birmingham Royal Ballet.

2005
Christopher Barron joins Birmingham Royal Ballet as Chief Executive.

2010
As the Company prepares to celebrate 20 years in the City of Birmingham, Birmingham Royal Ballet's Director David Bintley wins the South Bank Show Dance Award and an Olivier nomination for E=mc².

ENDS

For further press information please contact:
Simon Harper, Media and PR Manager, on 0121 245 3562; Email: SimonHarper@brb.org.uk
or Claire Lishman, Media and PR Officer, on 0121 245 3549 Email: ClaireLishman@brb.org.uk

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