UK’s top dance schools Unite for Ukraine

Six of the UK's top dance schools will unite in support of young people who have been affected by the war in Ukraine with a special gala performance, Unite for Ukraine at London's Sadler's Wells on Sunday 15 May. Proceeds from the event will go to the Disasters Emergency Committee, Ukraine Humanitarian Appeal.

Students from Central School of Ballet, Elmhurst Ballet School, English National Ballet School, Northern Ballet School, Rambert School of Ballet and Contemporary Dance and The Royal Ballet School will come together to perform a range of classical and contemporary works.

The programme for the evening's performance will include excerpts from works by Frederick Ashton, Kenneth MacMillan's The Sleeping Beauty, Scottish Dances by Sir David Bintley, Grace & Gravity by Andrew McNicol, Being by Peter Leung, and more to be announced shortly. 

Having seen the impact that the war in Ukraine continues to have on people, the six schools have come together to help raise much-needed funds and awareness about young people in the country who have seen their lives and studies turned upside down since the start of the war.

Artistic Director of English National Ballet School and Director of Unite for Ukraine, Viviana Durante said:

We have all seen the shocking images and been moved by the harrowing stories coming out of Ukraine. By coming together with six of the UK's leading ballet schools we hope to use our art form to raise awareness of young people who have been adversely affected by the war and much needed funds for the DEC Ukraine Appeal to help provide essential support for those in Ukraine and neighbouring countries.

All schools, their associated artists and choreographers have donated their services for free and Sadler's Wells has provided the theatre for free.

Sadler's Wells, Sunday 15 May, Performance at 7.30pm.

www.sadlerswells.com

Gramilano( Editor )

Graham Spicer is a writer, director and photographer in Milan, blogging (under the name ‘Gramilano') about dance, opera, music and photography for people “who are a bit like me and like some of the things I like”. He was a regular columnist for Opera Now magazine and wrote for the BBC until transferring to Italy.

His scribblings have appeared in various publications from Woman's Weekly to Gay Times, and he wrote the ‘Danza in Italia' column for Dancing Times magazine.