Island Movements, Royal Opera House

As part of its free Live at Lunch series of performances in the Paul Hamlyn Hall, the Royal Opera House hosts Island Movements, a short ballet which tells the story of the Windrush generation.

Choreographed by the first Black British graduate of the Royal Ballet School, Darren Patton, alongside Patrick Williams of the Alvin Ailey and Paris Opera companies, Island Movements explores the impact of that generation's experiences on their families, communities and the wider society. The story begins in the aftermath of World War II when a young Caribbean RAF pilot comes to Britain, marries and settles down, and follows him and his family through their life in the UK until the recent Windrush scandal.

This work is performed by four Black British dancers to original music by performance youth group Kinetika Bloco, which blends reggae, calypso and contemporary Black British music.

Island Movements, which will subsequently be performed in libraries and public spaces, is the centrepiece of the Black British Ballet project, which aims to change the way in which ballet is perceived and operates in Britain, particularly regarding the participation of Black artists. It is based on the PhD work of its director, Dr Sandie Bourne, whose field of research specialises in the historic underrepresentation of Black professionals in British ballet institutions.

Project partners include the three major English ballet companies: The Royal Ballet, Birmingham Royal Ballet and English National Ballet.

You will find all details of the Black British Ballet project and its future plans here.

Age Guidance: 7+