Summer Gala

The Royal Swedish Ballet School's annual Summer Gala takes the stage at the Royal Opera House to celebrate the season of light. Here, students from all grades of the school perform pieces in classical ballet and contemporary dance that have been developed in collaboration with the school's own teachers and international dance profiles. This year, the spectacular piece Stabat Mater to music by Giovanni Battista Pergolesi will be performed.

As part of a dance tradition spanning over 200 years, the Royal Swedish Ballet School offers Sweden's only professional training for dancers. Here, in addition to the usual school subjects, students also receive dance on the schedule from fourth grade up to high school, where they can choose between the line for classical ballet and contemporary dance.

Act 1

A Tribute to Summer — A classic parade in four parts, performed by the school's younger students (grades 4-6) and choreographed by Mia Stagh, Bartek Dybowski, Kerstin Simes and Pirjo Blomkvist.

Pas de quoi? — A work that reflects the technical and artistic qualities that characterize today's dancers and gives them a clear opportunity to take their place and express their artistry. Choreographed by Brendan Collins.

Stabat Mater — A timeless piece of contemporary dance choreographed by Sir Robert Cohan and performed this year as a tribute to the Martha Graham Dance Company's 100th anniversary.

Interval

Act 2

Echoes of the Roaring Twenties — A journey to the jazz age of the 1920s in three parts to the music of George Gershwin and Sidney Bechet. Ballet performed by the school's students grades 7-9 and choreographed by Karin Sundgren, Anders Hammar, Kusi Castro and Anne-Sophie Birabent Placier.

Bach Suite — KSB's high school and international students perform ballet to selected parts from Cello Suite No. 1 in G major by Johann Sebastian. Choreographed by Arsen Mehrabyan.

Photo: Royal Swedish Ballet School