NYB All In! explores how ballet can be created and taught in a more inclusive way, allowing more young dancers to access this beautiful art form. Working in partnership with inclusive dance expert Parable Dance and national dance agency South East Dance, this collaboration focuses on a very specific need within ballet – for choreographers and teachers to learn the vital skills of inclusive practice to make ballet more accessible and offering young dancers from NYB and Parable Dance the opportunity to work creatively in the studio together.

In December 2022 we piloted our first R&D workshops joined by Beyond Ballet® choreographers and rehearsal directors, Parable dancers and South East-based local ballet teachers. We explored inclusive practice with expert practitioners who all brought lived experience of disability and included Vicky Malin (freelance artist and ex Candoco dancer), Joe Powell-Main (freelance artist and ex Ballet Cymru dancer), Zach Opere-Onguende (Chickenshed Theatre) and Millie Kingsnorth (Parable Dance).

In April 2023 we tested our model in a creative workshop led by Beyond Ballet® choreographers, Ross Black and Hannah George with NYB and Parable dancers to apply our learning about inclusive practice and explore inclusive skills development for dancers.

NYB Creative Director Jo Meredith and Parable Dance Co-Founder and Artistic Director Natasha Britton built on the learning from these workshops alongside NYB Ambassador Joe Powell-Main. They worked with the Beyond Ballet® choreographers to create an inclusive performance with NYB and Parable dancers inspired by Romeo and Juliet, during a four day residency which was performed at The Dance Space on Friday 1 September 2023.

This year, two dancers from the NYB All In! company performed at Sadler’s Wells Theatre as part of the Children Today Empower in Motion Gala. Six dancers also performed alongside NYB ambassador Joe Powell-Main in his own work Strength in Adversity, which was presented at the Royal Opera House, Next Generation Festival. 

Photos (c) Jules Renahan

NYB is delighted that this work has been supported by Arts Council England. As part of this project grant All In! includes:

• an inclusive ballet day at Elmhurst Ballet School, Birmingham

• a performance intensive at South East Dance with a performance at Sadler’s Wells Theatre
• new monthly inclusive ballet legacy classes at South East Dance
• a new inclusive digital performance project.

We are also excited to present our first relaxed performance of Evolving Visions at Crescent Theatre Birmingham on Thursday 22 August at 2.30pm. 

Photo (c) Jules Renahan

The development of NYB All In! is supported by a dedicated steering group of industry professionals and young dancers with and without disabilities, helping to shape and guide the direction of the work.  We hope to bring our performance intensive to more parts of the country in collaboration with other organisations.

Disabled and neurodivergent dancers are currently under-served by ballet. All-In! shows our shared commitment to make ballet a more inclusive and accessible dance form, to build a more inclusive talent pipeline, and to push the boundaries around the perception of ballet.

‘I enjoyed dancing with different people and seeing ballet in a different way’ NYB All in! Dancer

‘I liked the dancing, it was great.’  NYB All in! Dancer

Photo (c) Ciara Clayton

Watch our short film showcasing All In! 2023 featuring the talented cohort, ambassadors, choreographers, creative directors and more.

Hear from those in the room about what it’s really like to take part in All-In!, as we champion a shared commitment to make ballet a more inclusive and accessible dance form, to build a more inclusive talent pipeline, and to push the boundaries around the perception of ballet.

We are delighted to welcome you to our All In! photography exhibition. All In! Is an inclusive ballet collaboration between the National Youth Ballet of Great Britain and Parable Dance in partnership with South East Dance.

Photographers Jules Renahan and Ciara Clayton, captured powerful moments of the project and the final production of Romeo and Juliet at South East Dance.

You can find out more about this project and view the exhibition here.

Photo (c) Jules Renahan