English National Ballet School was proud to return to the Next Generation Festival at the Linbury Theatre, Royal Ballet and Opera, for one of the highlights of our annual performance calendar.

Sharing the stage with our invited guests, John Cranko School from Stuttgart, the festival celebrated the artistry and excellence of two of Europe’s leading ballet schools, bringing together audiences, industry professionals and dance enthusiasts to witness the next generation of international talent.

For our Graduate Artists, the performances marked more than just another appearance on stage. As they enter their final week at English National Ballet School before beginning professional careers across the world, the festival represented a fitting celebration of everything they have achieved throughout their training.

This year’s programme showcased the breadth and versatility of our students, from the Romantic elegance of Pas de Quatre to two contemporary works that received an outstanding response from audiences and critics alike: Winter by Demis Volpi and Fleeting by Bridget Breiner.

It was a particular privilege to work with both internationally acclaimed choreographers. Despite demanding schedules and being based overseas, Demis Volpi and Bridget Breiner generously guided the students throughout the creative process, with many rehearsals taking place online via Zoom before travelling to London to see the works performed live at the festival. Their commitment and trust in our students made these performances all the more meaningful.

The festival also provided a wonderful opportunity to strengthen our longstanding relationship with John Cranko School. Sharing the stage with such an exceptional institution created an inspiring atmosphere of mutual respect, artistic exchange and celebration, highlighting the international community that exists within the ballet world.

The performances were warmly received by critics, who praised both the technical standard and artistry of the dancers.

Writing for Gramilano, the review described the dancers in Pas de Quatre as performing “with grace and style”, noting that “each statuesque group pose and arabesque were beautifully positioned, and their pointe work was impressive,” while praising the dancers’ “great expression and panache.” (Gramilano)

SeeingDance described the evening as “a fully professional showing”, recognising the high calibre of the performances presented by both schools throughout the programme. (SeeingDance)

Elsewhere, Bachtrack concluded that English National Ballet School and John Cranko School had “joined forces to deliver strong performances in a very diverse programme”, recognising the quality and range of repertoire presented throughout the evening. (Bachtrack)

For our students, performances like these are invaluable. They provide the opportunity to perform on one of the country’s most prestigious stages, collaborate with internationally renowned choreographers and perform alongside peers from another world-leading ballet institution, all experiences that prepare them for the demands of professional life.

As another unforgettable Next Generation Festival draws to a close, we congratulate every student who took to the stage and extend our sincere thanks to our faculty, répétiteurs, creative teams, Demis Volpi and Bridget Breiner, and our friends at John Cranko School for making this year’s performances such a memorable celebration of young artistic talent.

With Summer Performance now just around the corner, audiences will have another opportunity to see our students perform before our graduates take their final bow as members of English National Ballet School and begin the next exciting chapter of their careers.