Birmingham Royal Ballet (BRB) has announced the success of a new collaboration with Birmingham City University (BCU).

Working with BCU’s Media Department, the collaboration aims to support and nurture students who want to make a career in dance photography. 

Hannah Beveridge, in her third and final year of studying for a photographic degree, was the first participant to be selected from a short list last year and for the last 8 months has attended photocalls and studio rehearsals at BRB.

Hannah said “I came to photograph The Nutcracker in November last year with very little knowledge of dance photography. The experience had a profound effect on me, and I knew I wanted to put my all into creating a future involving dance photography.” 

Hannah has had exclusive access to dancers at photocalls for Cinderella, The Nutcracker, The Sleeping Beauty and BRB2 which has also provided her with the opportunity to meet and chat to some of the most highly skilled professional dance photographers in the industry.

Joe Miles Hannah’s lecturer and BCU’s Course Director BA (Hons) Photography, said “We’re incredibly grateful to Birmingham Royal Ballet for their support and collaboration, which has played a key role in helping Hannah bring her vision to life.

 “At BCU, our Photography degree is designed to support and nurture each student’s individual passions and creative interests. In Hannah’s case, she has brilliantly combined her love of photography with her passion for dance, resulting in a striking and original body of work.

“Hannah has truly made the most of this experience. Through her hard work, consistent engagement with her tutors, professionalism, and commitment to developing her skills, she has produced an outstanding portfolio. We’re proud of Hannah and everything she has achieved.”

Tom Rogers BRB’s Creative Digital Producer and former BRB Soloist said “Dance photographers are vital to us here at BRB.  It’s a huge skill to be able to photograph the beauty, movement and majesty of dance which takes training and experience to capture each moment perfectly.

“We are delighted to have helped Hannah develop her skills, she has been hardworking and a joy to work with.  Although her tenure has ended with us, her photography talent has been noticed, and we have already invited her back to BRB on a professional basis.  We are confident that she will make a successful career in dance photography.”

Hannah is currently working towards her final degree show at BCU which will feature her images of BRB’s world class dancers. In the future Hannah would like to merge her love of portraiture and editorial photography with her newfound passion for dance photography.