Winter Showcase 2023

08 December 2023

Central School of Ballet’s annual Winter Showcase was staged in our Gable Studio Theatre in Southwark to culminate the first term of this exciting year. With four performances across two days, the showcase offers the opportunity for friends, families and supporters of Central to see a vibrant collection of works from the degree students. The performances happened on Wednesday 6th and Thursday 7th December to a filled auditorium bursting with festive spirit, before the students ended the term for their well-deserved Christmas break.

Last week, Central was a hive of bustling excitement with students gliding effortlessly between tech runs, dress runs, costume alterations and casting decisions. The Winter Showcase is a wonderful opportunity for all years to perform in a variety of classical ballet and contemporary pieces. Staged performances are choreographed and arranged by Central’s artistic staff, who work to showcase the student’s talent and challenge their technique. This year’s showcase presented a stylish mix of classical and contemporary work, providing the audience with a polished insight into the training that Central students undertake.

Each year the Winter Showcase is a highlight in the school’s calendar. In their final performance with the school before they begin preparing for their Ballet Central tour, our final years presented arrangements from Swan Lake, Snow White and Don Quixote. The programme also included an extract from a new work choreographed by Jules Cunningham, as well as an arrangement inspired by Christopher Bruce’s Ghost Dances. When they return after the winter break, Ballet Central will begin building up to the greatly anticipated tour that sees them visit a variety of venues across the country.

Joining the final year, Central’s first and second years also took to the stage to present works from La Bayadere, Troy Game, Swan Lake and Flames of Paris. Kate Coyne, Central’s Artistic Director, shared her joy at seeing the student’s passion shine through on stage. Reflecting on the four performances as a “fantastic representation of the love and commitment that the students show through their dancing, alongside positive and professional attitudes that will prepare them well to pursue sustainable and successful careers.”

The Winter Showcase this year was held after the final day of the Big Give Christmas Challenge. We would like to thank all our generous donors for their contributions, which led to Central raising over it’s intended target of £10,000. After the match funding, where all donations were doubled, the total amount raised was £26,853. We are delighted to have exceeded our target and overjoyed to be using these donations towards providing pathways for a wider range of young people to engage with dance and to access the recreational and vocational training offered by Central School of Ballet.

We would like to wish all students a restful and warm winter break, and we look forward to welcoming them back in 2024!