Our meeting on Tuesday 15^th March will be our annual one with our Royal Ballet School award winners from last season. They will be accompanied by RBS Ballet Teacher and former Royal Ballet First Soloist and Ballet Master Ricardo Cervera. We are delighted to welcome graduate year students Australian Meg Newton and Italian Francesco Venturi. Unfortunately, our third award winner, German Frieda Kaden is unable to attend as she is dancing with Birmingham Royal Ballet on their Don Quixotetour. Always a popular guest at our meetings and dinners, Ricardo needs no introduction. He will talk about his training as well as his career as a dancer, before talking about his role at the Royal Ballet Upper School. From very different backgrounds, Meg and Francesco will talk about their training in their home countries, before talking about their various experiences at the Royal Ballet School. These meetings with our award winners are always interesting and we look forward to following their careers. Many of our award winners have graduated into the Royal Ballet companies.

At our first meeting in May on Monday 9^th May we welcome our Patron, Royal Ballet Director Kevin O’Hare as our guest. Since his appointment as Director, Kevin has followed the example of his predecessor Dame Monica Mason in coming to talk to the Association every couple of years.  We are extremely grateful for this regular contact. Kevin will look back over the last couple of seasons as well as talking about the upcoming season and other plans for the future. Kevin last spoke to the Association via zoom in September 2020, so we have lots to talk about.

Unless otherwise stated, all our meetings this season will be at the American International Church, 79a Tottenham Court Road.It is next to Goodge Street tube station (Northern line). Turn left as you come out of the station. If you stand in Tottenham Court Road facing the front of the Church, you should go through the gate in the railings to the right-hand side (furthest side from tube station) and walk up the ramp. Entrance is through a door at the top of the ramp. The Sanctuary is on the left as you enter up 5 or 6 steps. There is a chairlift for disabled access. The Church is also within 10 minutes’ walk of Euston Square, Warren Street, and Tottenham Court Rd stations. The nearest bus stop is Goodge Street which serves routes 14, 24, 29, 73, 134, 390. Doors officially open at 7.00pm, although you may be able to enter a few minutes earlier at the discretion of the receptionist. Please wear a mask on entering the building, though once inside it is possible to sit socially distanced if you wish to remove the mask. 

Provisional dates for the rest of the season are Thursday 26^th May, Thursday 16^th June, plus dates in July and August tbc.  Meetings begin at 7.30 p.m. Entrance at the door is £5 for members, £4 for concessions, £9 for guests. You may pay in advance via our website if you wish at a slightly higher price to cover the site’s charges.