Ashton Rediscovered: Enigma Variations (1968)

19 October 2025 | dancers of The Royal Ballet | coached by Samara Downs, Christopher Saunders & Edward Watson

This masterclass on Enigma Variaions was given by Samara Downs, Christopher Saunders and Edward Watson, with Annette Buvoli, Téo Dubreuil, Harrison Lee and Aiden O’Brien (The Royal Ballet). An introduction and post-masterclass discussion were led by Jane Pritchard (Curator of Dance at the V&A).

Introduction to Enigma Variations from Jane Pritchard:

Edward Watson coaches Harrison Lee on the ‘Troyte’ variation, and Samara Downs and Christopher Saunders coach Annette Buvoli, Téo Dubreuil and Aiden O’Brien on the ‘Nimrod’ variation, followed by a Q&A led by Jane Pritchard with the coaches and dancers:

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Ashton Rediscovered: Scène d’amour (1959)

20 January 2026 | dancers of Birmingham Royal Ballet | coached by Samara Downs
presented in association with Birmingham Royal Ballet at the Patrick Studio, Birmingham Hippodrome Theatre

This masterclass on Scène d’amour was given by Samara Downs (Principal of Birmingham Royal Ballet, choreologist and current participant on the Ashton Stagers’ Programme) with Yaoquian Shang and Riku Ito (Birmingham Royal Ballet). It was followed by an ‘in conversation’ and Q&A led by Jane Pritchard (Curator of Dance at the V&A) with Samara and the dancers, Patricia Tierney (Répétiteur and Benesh Choreologist, Birmingham Royal Ballet) and Lachlan Monaghan (Birmingham Royal Ballet).