In Conversation with LAURA DAY … (via Zoom)

Photo credits: Headshot from Australian Ballet, Nutcracker from BRB

DATE :  Monday 31 July 2023 at 7pm 🇬🇧  

INTERVIEWER : BRANDON LAWRENCE, principal of BRB and Zürich Ballet

▪️Biography from Australian Ballet website … https://australianballet.com.au/people/laura-day

Originally from Cheltenham in the United Kingdom, Laura was a Soloist with Birmingham Royal Ballet before she was invited by Carlos Acosta to join the ballet staff as Principal Character Artist and Assistant Répétiteur, a role specially created for her. 

Laura's roles as a dancer show an impressive range of versatility and included the coveted roles of Clara in Sir Peter Wright'sThe Nutcracker, Vera in Ashton's A Month in the Country, Vickey Hobson in Sir David Bintley's Hobson Choice, Dumpy in Bintley's Cinderella, and Lady Capulet in MacMillan's Romeo & Juliet. As a Répétiteur, she has rehearsed works such as Coppelia, Don Quixote, Seventh Symphony and The Nutcracker, and led Birmingham Royal Ballet in their performance at the 2022 Commonwealth Games. As a choreographer, Laura has created works for Birmingham Royal Ballet and Elmhurst Ballet School.

Laura began dancing at age 4, taking on tap, classical and modern dance, channelling her energetic personality into the artform. Laura was guided towards studying classical ballet and joined the Royal Ballet School at age 14 before joining Birmingham Royal Ballet in 2012. 

In addition to an impressive dance career, Laura also holds a certificate of Higher Education in Business Management and Leadership and is about to complete a bbodance level 5 Diploma in Dance Teaching. 

Laura joined The Australian Ballet in 2023 as Corps de Ballet Repetiteur for the production of Don Quixote.

▪️Farewell announcement from Birmingham Royal Ballet … https://www.brb.org.uk/stories/farewell-to-laura-day

After over ten years with the Company, Principal Character Artist and Répétiteur Laura Day is leaving the Company to move to Australia. Here Laura reflects on her time with BRB and tells us of her plans:

“I leave Birmingham Royal Ballet this month after a momentous 11 years with the Company to start my next adventure in Australia with my fiancé Jonathan Lo (previous BRB conducting fellow) as he takes up his position as Music Director of the Australian Ballet. I’m delighted to be starting my next chapter joining The Australian Ballet as Ballet Mistress for the corps de ballet for Nureyev’s Don Quixote.”

“My journey at Birmingham Royal Ballet began thanks to the wonderful Sir David Bintley. I’m hugely grateful for all the fantastic characters I was given to dance over the years in his productions - Vickey Hobson in his last season as director was a real highlight amongst many others. Working with David in the studio, finessing the details of these roles, is something I shall always treasure. I must also thank David for his encouragement with my choreography and the opportunity to create ‘Spring’ in Seasons in Our Worldin 2019.”

“I am proud to have been a part of the history of such a heritage company, and I shall treasure for ever working with such legendary figures such as Sir Anthony Dowell, Marguerite Porter, Marion Tait and Sir Peter Wright. As well as working with Sir Peter as a dancer, I have also had the privilege of working alongside him on the ballet staff in rehearsing his Coppélia and Nutcracker. I must also make a special mention of Marion, whose passion and dedication over the years has been a real inspiration and something I will certainly take with me as I continue my work as Ballet Mistress.”

“My thanks go to Carlos and Dominic for giving me the position of Assistant Répétiteur, it has been a fantastic opportunity as I moved into the next part of my career in ballet. Being entrusted with rehearsing Carlos's Don Quixote to begin my career as artistic staff was a real honour.”

“Birmingham Royal Ballet has played such a huge part in my life and I have friends that have become like family members to me. This Company will always have an immense place in my heart and I shall treasure all the wonderful memories so very much.”

We wish Laura and Jonathan all the very best in their future endeavours.

▪️YouTube video of Laura teaching one of Clara’s variations from The Nutcracker, February 2021 Class and Clara’s Act 1 variation

▪️YouTube interview about choreography for a Van Gogh exhibition at Birmingham Hippodrome from July 2021 Choreography for Van Gogh

________________________________

*** This event is FREE to LBC members ***

Non- members may join the Zoom interview by booking below.