By Emb Hashmi
Eager to introduce Ballet to the South Asian community the Birmingham Royal Ballet has visited schools in Saltley, Small Heath and other parts of North Birmingham to showcase the fine art of ballet to Asian children, who would never normally experience it.
‘Dance Track’ the weekly dance and movement training project created to introduce six to sixteen year olds to ballet will have already delivered workshops to over 2,500 children and teenagers through directly engaging with 40 schools across the city, with the aim to reach at least 10,000 Birmingham children by 2017.
There are 41% of students on the Dance Track programme during 2012-13 from black and minority ethnic groups. September 2012, 40 students were selected to start classes at Queensbridge School in Moseley which has a high density of pupils from the south Asian community, the programme also went to Al-Furqan school, were young ladies are normally veiled and not encouraged to dance.
Asian World were invited to the home of Birmingham Royal Ballet and interviewed the pioneers of this ground breaking intuitive, from an organisation more associated with the upper middle class people of society.
Asian World Newspaper spoke to Pearl Chesterman and Simon Harper about this initiative.
Please describe Ballet to those who are not familiar with this art?
Ballet is an artistic dance form, using technical movements’ steps and gestures. It is performed to music played by an orchestra, and has beautiful scenery and costumes. Some ballets tell a story through the movement but others are based on a theme or abstract idea.
What is BRB doing to change this stigma?
BRB reaches out into communities in Birmingham, nationally and internationally introducing ballet to communities that would not usually engage with the art form. Participants are encouraged to explore the story, steps and choreography as creators, performers and audiences.
Please tell me about 2 projects the BRB are working on to introduce Ballet to the Midlands south Asian community?
Dance Track. BRB’s Dance track programme works with 40 primary schools in Birmingham to offer children the chance to dance. Dance is a fun form of exercise for girls and boys and it helps co-ordination, strength and concentration.
Each spring, Dance Track visits the schools and all year 1 children have the opportunity to participate in dance workshops. 80 talented children identified at these workshops are invited to join a 12 month programme of free weekly dance classes.
We are currently working with 4 Birmingham Schools Satley, Small Heath, Golden Hillock and The International School all of which have a high proportion of South Asian pupils, these young people will work with BRB for 8 weeks creating their own dance pieces inspired by Aladdin.
The project will give the students an opportunity to meet and work with professional artists and to perform in a professional theatre environment.
How many children you have from the South Asian community on your Dance Track project?
There are 7 students currently on the Dance Track programme who have stated their ethnic origin as south Asian.
Does BRB offer free tickets to deprived families to come and watch the ballet to open their mind to a new art?
Students on the Dance Track programme are offered free tickets and families have a reduced price offer to encourage them to come and watch the company perform.
