World premiere of new dance work by Didy Veldman

A Screen Apart, a new dance work by choreographer Didy Veldman featuring dancers from The Royal Ballet School and five other international ballet schools, has premiered as part of the inaugural World Ballet School Day. The piece explores the theme of physical restriction, and is now available to watch on Vimeo.

At the start of lockdown, The Royal Ballet School invited San Francisco Ballet School, Canada’s National Ballet School, Paris Opera Ballet School, The Royal Danish Ballet School and the Dutch National Ballet Academy to join a creative choreographic challenge for ballet students. The dancers worked in six groups and created and rehearsed with Veldman over Zoom.

A Screen Apart, choreographed by Didy Veldman.

Training in dramatically different environments, in 23 different countries from Denmark to Australia and the USA, the dancers faced a range of logistical challenges during the creation process. The finished piece features solo performances in locations all over the world, recorded by the students themselves. Veldman with Michael Nunn and William Trevitt of BalletBoyz have created this film presenting the group’s work.

This project was supported by The Royal Ballet School Young Philanthropists.