From ballet classics to bold new work, some of the dance world’s brightest new talents take centre stage at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland this week.

The Modern Ballet Graduation Performance, from May 15-17, sees all three year groups of the degree programme deliver a stunning programme of classical and contemporary choreography.

It also acts as a grand finale for the third-year students who will graduate in July.

Kerry Livingstone, Head of the School of Dance at RCS, said: “We have a wonderful balance of existing repertoire, which challenges all of the students and gives them an opportunity to showcase their skills.

“We also commission choreographers to make new work on each of the year groups, which I believe makes us unique in the UK – working with choreographers is something that most schools aren’t able to offer all their year groups.

“We have new pieces by Lorna Scott, who worked with the first years, Jessica Fyfe, a principal at Scottish Ballet, has created a new work for the year two women, and Daniel Davidson has made a contemporary piece with the first years.

“We also have a new work from RCS lecturer Diana Loosmore for the third years, which is amazing, and we’re also really fortunate to have a piece from Chicago choreographer Kia Smith, who worked with the students before Christmas.”

The show will also feature works by renowned choreographer Christopher Bruce, formerly Artistic Director of Rambert, and Steven Brett, Rambert’s Associate Artistic Director, who spent a week at RCS to work with the students on Rooster, Bruce’s electrifying dance work set to music by The Rolling Stones.

“Christopher spent a week with the students and the level of detail he was able to pass on about the work took it to a different level,” said Kerry.

“To dance such classic works, as students, is incredible.”

We asked three graduating students, Anna Bremner, from West Lothian, Scotland, Elsa Cloutier from Montreal, Canada and Francis Thomas, from Harrogate, England, to share their thoughts on their time at RCS, what they’re looking forward to about the show, and their plans after graduating.

How are you feeling about the graduation performance and what are you looking forward to?

Anna: “The graduation show is a big deal for us as third years, because it’s our final show together before going on to professional life. I’m really excited to perform the work that we’re doing, because it’s at a very high standard choreographically. To be trusted as students is a big responsibility and obviously you want to do it justice.

Christopher Bruce came up and taught us pieces from Rooster – it will stay with me forever. Our big ballet piece this year is In Light and Shadow and it’s stunning, it’s like nothing I’ve ever seen before, so I’m really excited to dance it.

Elsa: I remember my first show, which was quite nerve-wracking as we saw the pieces the third years were doing, and the volume of the work involved, but it was nice to know we had that to look forward to. And now it’s here, it doesn’t really feel real!

I’ve enjoyed soaking up the last moments with my peers but feels bittersweet as it will be the last time we’re together. We have a really tight, unified year, and everyone gets along so well.  We all want to support each other and see everyone go on and succeed.

In Light and Shadow is exciting because there’s so much happening at once. We’re also wearing costumes from the Scottish Ballet production, which feels really special. Little Red Rooster (from Rooster) is so different and it’s amazing to be dancing to the Rolling Stones – it’s fun to merge ballet to rock music.

To have been able to work with Christoper Bruce and have him give us notes and talk to us about his process when he was creating the piece was surreal! We’re going to remember that for a while!

Francis: All of the rep we’re doing is so varied, and we’ve worked with amazing choreographers on pieces that are really challenging but I’m looking forward to performing them.

What have been some of the highlights of your time at RCS?

Anna: I love the graduation shows each year and working with choreographers is so inspirational. To have these opportunities while still in training is incredible. Every choreographer is so unique in how they work so you need to bring lots of different skills each time.

Our year is great – we all get along really well; there’s so much communication and teamwork. Valuing the people around you is very important, especially in dance because it’s such a human art form.

Elsa: I think it’s the people – it has been so nice to be in an environment where everyone is looking out for each other, encouraging each other, and just the day-to-day energy in class. I feel like you don’t necessarily get that everywhere, so we are very lucky. I’ll miss it for sure.

There are all the performance opportunities too – we did Glassworks with an orchestra, and I worked with one of my friends, who is a second-year composer, on the Plug festival, and I also did it last year. It’s great to work with so many talented people from the school and being able to merge disciplines is something special.

Francis: The choreographers that we’ve worked with have been incredible and have led to opportunities in my professional career. That’s something really special about RCS.

I also joined Scottish Ballet on The Nutcracker tour for three months, along with five RCS students. Being on stage with a company gave us so much experience. It was invaluable.

The work ethic that I’ve learned here is amazing. All the experience that I’ve had performing and working with choreographers has really set me up to know how to be in a professional environment.

What are your plans after graduating in July?

Anna: I’m doing a postgrad training programme in France, which offers an extra year before going off to a company. I love Scotland but I’m excited about the move.

Elsa: I was injured this year and I’m still recovering so my audition season didn’t exactly plan out as I wanted it to. I’ve decided to do a two-year training programme in Vancouver. I did a summer intensive last year and loved it.

Francis: I have an internship with Yorke Dance Project on a performance that will tour across the UK until March. It includes a world premiere from Christopher Bruce.

Interested in studying dance at RCS?

Visit the BA Modern Ballet homepage to find out what’s involved in this three-year degree that’s delivered in partnership with Scottish Ballet.

Images © Andy Ross