Today is a very special day for us… it is World Ballet Day, the one day of the year that everyone on the planet is urged to press pause on their everyday activities and watch ballet!
American writer and dance critic Edwin Denby (4th February 1903 – 12th July 1983) said: "You don't have to know about ballet to enjoy it, all you have to do is look at it" and the Ballet Papier team agrees with his declaration. Simply witnessing ballet dancers do what they do best is enough to inspire admiration for ballet's athleticism, aesthetics, artistry and amazing history and culture.
As part of today's global celebration, World Ballet Day LIVE 2018 is inviting us inside some of the world's most prestigious professional ballet companies to watch the dancers' daily class. Viewers will also have the chance to see rehearsals of upcoming performances; take a sneaky peek behind the scenes at costumes and pointe shoes; and participate in special interviews with dancers, choreographers and company directors via social media.
The leading ballet companies participating in World Ballet Day LIVE 2018 are: The Australian Ballet in Melbourne, Bolshoi Ballet in Russia and The Royal Ballet in London.
Guest companies and esteemed ballet schools from all over the globe are also getting involved in the event.
The guest companies in Australia and Asia are: The National Ballet of Japan, West Australian Ballet, Queensland Ballet, Royal New Zealand Ballet.
The guest companies in Mainland Europe are: Norwegian National Ballet 2, The Royal Danish Ballet, Bayerisches Staatsballett, Das Stuttgarter Ballett, Wiener Staatsballett, Ballet de l’Opéra de Paris, Dutch National Ballet, The Royal Swedish Ballet School, Teatr Wielki – Opera Narodowa.
The guest companies in the United Kingdom are: Scottish Ballet, Birmingham Royal Ballet, English National Ballet, Royal Academy of Dance, Northern Ballet.
The guest companies in America and Canada are: Ballet Concierto De PR, Acosta Danza, Houston Ballet, Pacific Northwest Ballet, Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater, Les Grands Ballets Canadiens de Montréal.
The footage is being broadcast on Facebook Live but will also be available on-demand. Watch via each participating company’s Facebook page or visit http://worldballetday.com/.
How are you celebrating World Ballet Day 2018?
Please let us know by tagging #balletpapier in your posts on social media!
By Georgina Butler
Georgina Butler is a journalist, dance writer and dance teacher in the UK. She is a First Class Honours graduate of the Royal Academy of Dance and a graduate of the London School of Economics and Political Science.
Visit https://georginabutler.co.uk/ to read more of her work and follow her on Twitter @GeorginaLButler and Instagram: @glbdancewriter