We adapted Classically British 2020 to the screen in collaboration with award-winning filmmaker Frank McGowan, featuring a prestigious mix of professionals and ex-students including Layton Williams, Nathan Geering, Bela de Souza, Paje Campbell, Mukeni Nel, & Sam Salter.

Words from CEO, Founder and Artistic Director Mr Mark Elie

‘I set up Classically British in 2003, the reason I set it up was I still thought we had a lack of diversity in Classical ballet in this country. I felt their wasn’t enough of black/ mixed race classical dancers, especially my former classical dancers that my young students at the Portobello dance school look up to. They would Go to the theatre and think I want to be just like her… And I also felt their wasn’t a representation of British classical dancers.

We did have Americans/Cubans but we didn’t have many black/mixed raced dancers especially ballerinas of English decent. So having heard young students at my school saying I went to the ballet and I didn’t see any black dancers like me. So this got me thinking to see if we could get something that they can look at and inspire towards. Especially the young black girls doing my ballet classes that had aspirations of becoming ballerinas.

So I set up Classically British to throw a spot light on the talent that we have here based in contemporary and classical dance. But my aim was to make sure that I had that British Classically trained dancer so my students at the school could see a role model and someone to inspire to. So that was the ultimate reason why I started Classically British. I felt we didn’t really know about the pioneers and the people that paved the way for people like myself to be doing and done what I’ve done

The work and the experience I got I brought forward and I thought right I want to make Classically British an event where people can be educated. We have the lovely dress rehearsal in the afternoon where over the years it’s really built up thousands and thousands of children and adults and university students have enjoyed to come along and participate in the dress rehearsal witch really gives the audience a chance to interact with the artist and be a part of the production.

Ask questions and learn about all these incredible people that have paved the way to where we are now, that is the importance of why I do Classically British, now in its 17th year… it’s gone from strength to strength. Along the way we have had so many amazing dancers and who know are leading west end stars and it’s so nice to see my young students looking up to them and knowing they to can be just like them.

Classically British is on in the month of October every year and last year I had to do it virtually and worked with an award winning film crew, the film was amazing and now available from the website.

This year 2021 we are back in the theatre…’

(Please visit Eventbrite for bookings and we hope you enjoy this years performance.’