Let's Dance! at Elmhurst Ballet School

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Sun 02 Mar 2025

A historic ballet school in Birmingham is to open its doors to the local community as part of a new national initiative aimed at encouraging people to have a go at dancing. Let’s Dance! is a new initiative, spearheaded by former newsreader Angela Rippon CBE, which is all about raising awareness for the benefits of dance on both physical and mental health. It aims to bring people together through dance and encourage those who don’t usually dance to give it a go.

As part of this new national initiative, Elmhurst Ballet School in Birmingham will be inviting participants to take part in a Royal Academy of Dance Silver Swans class on Sunday 2 March in a change to its usual students. The class is a specially designed ballet session aimed at over 55s to help improve mobility, posture, and coordination, as well as boost energy levels.



Elmhurst, which was founded in Surrey in 1923, will host three levels of class; beginner, intermediate and advanced, to ensure that all abilities are catered for. Classes will be held in the ballet school’s state-of-the-art studios and taught by RAD Silver Swans' qualified staff. Elmhurst, which moved to the Edgbaston area of Birmingham in 2004, forming a close association with Birmingham Royal Ballet. was one of the UK’s first vocational dance schools.

Denise Whiteman, Director of Dance Training at Elmhurst Ballet School, said: “Let’s Dance! is about encouraging everybody, from older people to teenagers, to embrace the joy and benefits of dancing. The more we dance, the better we will all be - as individuals, and as a society. Whether you’re an experienced dancer, have briefly dabbled, or are a complete novice, we warmly invite anyone to come along to Elmhurst Ballet School on Sunday 2 March to try our Silver Swans classes. Let's get the nation dancing!”



Angela Ripon CBE found more recent fame as a contestant on BBC's popular Strictly Come Dancing show which highlighted to her the incredible benefits of regular dancing. She said: "This all started after my appearance on Strictly Come Dancing, revisiting my roots in dance, where I had the chance to feel the benefits myself. It's this that sparked my mission to get the nation dancing, in the hopes of helping more people access the health and social benefits of dance. So please join us! Let’s come together and make 2025 the year of dance."

The RAD Silver Swans programme comes with the royal seal of approval, as Elmhurst’s Patron, Her Majesty The Queen, is a Silver Swan herself. She has been a Patron of Elmhurst Ballet School since 2006.

Let’s Dance! at Elmhurst Ballet School takes place on Sunday 2 March from 10.30am to 1.30pm. The cost of the event is £15, which includes a 90-minute ballet class with a member of RAD Silver Swans qualified staff and a light lunch.

For more information and to book a place visit: [LINK https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/lets-dance-tickets-1203042465399?aff=oddtdtcreatorhttps://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/lets-dance-tickets-1203042465399?aff=oddtdtcreator]

More information about Elmhurst Ballet School can be found by visiting: elmhurstballetschool.org or follow the school’s social media channels.

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