Merle Park in Frederick Ashton’s La Chatte métamorphosée en femme (1985). Ph Joseph Düport
Sunday 31 May 2026
The Royal Ballet School, 46 Floral Street, London WC2E 9DA
2.30–5.30pm
Samara Downs (Principal, Birmingham Royal Ballet and trainee Ashton Stager) coaches Viola Pantuso (Soloist, The Royal Ballet) in La Chatte métamorphosée en femme—Ashton’s witty homage to a 19th-century divertissement created for Fanny Elssler, in which a woman who was formerly a cat can’t quite abandon her feline habits. We will be joined for the masterclass by Merle Park (former prima ballerina, The Royal Ballet and Director, The Royal Ballet School), who gave the premiere of the solo at a 1985 Viennese gala in Elssler’s honour. A drinks reception will follow.