In Conversation with JULIE BOWERS and BRANDON LAWRENCE … (via Zoom)

Photo credits: 

Headshot of Julie Bowers ©️ H L Morton

Headshot of Brandon Lawrence courtesy of Ballett Zürich

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DATE :  Tuesday 16 January 2024 at 7pm 🇬🇧  

INTERVIEWER : Brandon Lawrence, principal at Ballett Zürich, former principal at Birmingham Royal Ballet, and Co-creator and co-producer of GradPRO 
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Julie Bowers, is Artistic CEO at bbodance and Executive Director and creator of GradPRO. 

She has had a successful professional dance career, joining the Royal Ballet Company in 1984 and performing works by Frederick Ashton, Kenneth MacMillan and David Bintley, including classics from Serenade and Penguin Cafe to Swan Lake. 

After her performing career, Julie embarked upon a BA (Hons) in International History and American Studies and later completed qualifications in Project Management, to support her in her endeavours in management and leadership roles.  Alongside this Julie retained her connection with the dance community, teaching and choreographing for Northern Ballet School and later as Deputy Head of Dance at the Hammond School in Chester.

As Regional Manager for the Royal Academy of Dance (RAD) she founded the Genée Dance Challenge, a competition now held across the globe as a precursor for the Fonteyn International Ballet Competition.  Julie joined the senior management team at bbodance in 2016 where she was also Director of Artistic Development – supporting the development of syllabi, qualifications, training initiatives for dancers and teachers and supporting and growing the bbodance membership. Throughout lockdown she worked tirelessly to provide online opportunities to support teachers and students including the Lockdown Challenge with Brandon Lawrence, Creativity Unlocked with David Bintley, a full CPD programme, Zoom support meetings for students and teachers, a Global Teachers Conference, and adult classes to support mental health and wellbeing.  

Julie served on the Board at Elmhurst Ballet School assisting in the move from Camberley to Birmingham and seeing the school flourish in their new home.  Julie founded the Staffordshire Youth Ballet and continues to support them as a Patron.  She is a Trustee  for London Vocational Ballet School and Chair of their Artistic Committee.

During Covid Julie recognised the need to support Vocational Dance Graduates affected by the pandemic and with Brandon Lawrence set up the Grad Pro initiative which has gone from strength to strength and is supported by wonderful donors including the London Ballet Circle. Grad Pro is about to enter its third year and many Graduates across the globe have benefited by the opportunities it provides.

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*** The ZOOM event is FREE to LBC members ***

Non-members are welcome to join by booking below.