An Evening with Ashton
23 January 2023 | dancers of Birmingham Royal Ballet | coached by Lesley Collier
presented by the Frederick Ashton Foundation in association with Birmingham Royal Ballet and Elmhurst Ballet School
This event comprised a masterclass on the Rhapsody pas de deux given by original cast member Lesley Collier with dancers Freida Kaden and Oscar Kempsey-Fagg (BRB2), and a showing of Lynne Wake’s film Frederick Ashton: Links in the Chain.
Ashton Rediscovered: Awakening pas de deux from The Sleeping Beauty (1968)
15 October 2023 | dancers of The Royal Ballet | coached by Anthony Dowell
sponsored by Meaghan Grace Hinkis and the Marchesi Incisa Winery
This event comprised an introduction to the ‘Awakening’ pas de deux from The Sleeping Beauty from Jane Pritchard (Curator of Dance at the V&A), followed by a showing of film footage of the pas de deux, and a masterclass given by Anthony Dowell, with dancers Melissa Hamilton and Reece Clarke (The Royal Ballet), and Senior Benesh Choreologist Gregory Mislin. A discussion led by Jane Pritchard followed.
Jane Pritchard, introduces Frederick Ashton’s Awakening pas de deux, with film of Antoinette Sibley and Anthony Dowell in the pas de deux followed by film of Anthony Dowell dancing the Prince’s Variation from Act II. Before that, Christopher Nourse, Executive Director of the Frederick Ashton Foundation, introduces the masterclass, and talks about the Foundation’s series of Ashton Rediscovered masterclasses:
Anthony Dowell coaches Melissa Hamilton and Reece Clarke in the Awakening pas de deux, followed a Q&A led by Jane Pritchard with Anthony Dowell, Melissa Hamilton, Reece Clark and Gregory Mislin (Senior Benesh Choreologist):
Ashton Rediscovered: Thaïs (1971)
18 February 2024 | dancers of The Royal Ballet | coached by Anthony Dowell
This event comprised an introduction to the Thaïs pas de deux from Jane Pritchard (Curator of Dance at the V&A), followed by a showing of film footage of Ashton rehearsing the pas de deux, and a masterclass from original cast member Anthony Dowell with dancers Sae Maeda and Leo Dixon (The Royal Ballet), and Benesh Choreologist Daniel Kraus. A discussion led by Jane Pritchard followed.
Anthony Dowell coaches Sae Maeda and Leo Dixon in the Thaïs pas de deux:
Jane Pritchard introduces leads an ‘in conversation’ on Thaïs, with Anthony Dowell, Sae Maeda, Leo Dixon and Benesh Choreologist Daniel Kraus, followed by film of Ashton rehearsing Antoinette Sibley and Anthony Dowell:
Ashton Rediscovered: La Fille mal gardée (1960)
30 April 2024 | dancers of Birmingham Royal Ballet | coached by Carlos Acosta and Sandra Madgwick
presented in association with Birmingham Royal Ballet and Elmhurst Ballet School
The masterclass on variations and a pas de deux from La Fille mal gardée was given by Carlos Acosta and Sandra Madgwick, with dancers Beatrice Parma and Max Maslen (Birmingham Royal Ballet).
Carlos Acosta coaches Max Maslen in Colas’s Act I (farmyard) solo; Sandra Madgwick coaches Beatrice Palmer in Lise’s Act II (cornfield) solo; together, they coach the dancers in the Act III (kitchen) pas de deux: