Yorkshire Ballet Seminars

27th July to 3rd August 2006

For many years a party of LBC members has attended the YBS and this year, as usual, a group of us arrived in York for this most enjoyable week of watching classes, demonstrations and seeing the sights of the beautiful city of York. Most of the group stayed at York S1. John College in comfortable rooms with catering facilities, and others stayed in nearby hotels and guest houses. During our stay we all converged on the reception area and ever open cafe/bar at college, where our Chairman Michael Ludgate, kindly hosted a welcome drinks reception. The college is situated just outside the City walls and it takes a moment to get from the campus to the ancient wall walkways with stunning views of the Minster, and to explore the historic streets and shops.

It is the second year of Marguerite Porter's Directorship of the Seminars, and we were delighted that she was able to find time to teach classes during our stay. The other celebrated teachers we had the privilege of watching were Kevin Haigen, Wayne Eagling, David Ashmole, Diana Vere and Christopher Tudor, who taught a contemporary class. It is fascinating to watch these inspiring ex -dancers pass on their art to young students from such varied backgrounds and encourage them with knowledge gained from their own great careers. The teachers were all quite different in style and approach in their teaching and gained an instant rapport with students from different schools and countries. Students came from the Royal Ballet School, Elmhurst, Rambert School, ENB School, Hammond School, Arts Educational, and from private schools around the country. Every year Kevin Haigen brings along a group of boys from the Hamburg Ballet School who have a high technical standard, and I noticed before and after classes some friendly rivalry between British boys and Hamburg boys in performing complicated steps for each other. Watching these wonderful students gives us the opportunity to do some "star spotting" in the classes, and it is surprising how many well known dancers have graduated into successful careers from the YBS.

Every year there are students from outside the UK and this year we had a large group of enthusiastic girls from Iceland with their teacher. They are taught the Vaganova method but seemed to find no difficulty in coping with the demands of teachers from a different teaching system. Their teacher said they really enjoyed the seminars and were having a wonderful time.

The LBC sponsors a student for a week at the seminars each year, who is chosen by the director of a different vocational school. This year our choice was Elmhurst School for Dance and the lucky student was Natasha Massie, who was in Group A. She is a charming girl and promising classical dancer and spoke to many of us during our stay. We wish her success with her studies.

As well as the great privilege of watching famous teachers give class every day, another big thrill for us is the opportunity to attend demonstrations given by visiting guests with a select group of students. This year we were delighted to watch a pas de deux class given by Gary Sherwood, Marguerite Porter taught Odette's Act n solo to Samara Downs - now with Birmingham Royal Ballet and a graduate of YBS , Anthony Dowell taught a group of boys the elegiac solo for the Prince from Act I of Swan,Lake, and Wayne Sleep produced a marvellous ensemble dance for students from all the groups which allowed each group a solo section. These wonderful demonstrations certainly made us appreciate how difficult it is to be a sensitive dancer who can interpret the music and the intentions of the choreographer, as well as doing the steps!

As our stay is from mid-week to mid-week it is possible to get further afield on Saturday afternoon to visit one of the great houses. close to York. This year I spent an afternoon at Castle Howard, which can be reached by local bus, and was a house I always wanted to see, with special reference to "Brideshead Revisited". .

The highlight of the LBC visit is the Annual Dinner at the Monkbar Hotel for members, their distinguished guests and faculty of the Seminars. Michael Ludgate in his speech was delighted to announce that Marguerite Porter has been offered, and accepted, Honorary Membership of the LBC. We look forward to many enjoyable visits to the YBS under her inspiring Directorship'

Jean McDonald, JointHon.Secretary