Elmhurst Ballet Company’s Odyssey reflects and celebrates the journey taken by its members. Six very different short works showcase the skill and talent of these remarkable young people, and from pure, exquisite classical ballet to challenging, ground-breaking modern pieces, it seems there is no style of dance that they cannot master. 

The company features students of Elmhurst Ballet School, an institution which is something of a hidden gem. Thousands of people regularly pass its gates on the busy Bristol Road, and many may wonder what lies behind its walls. With strong ties to Birmingham Royal Ballet and working closely with many other organisations, the school offers young people a myriad of opportunities to develop a skill set in the world of dance. These opportunities are not just for those fortunate enough to earn a place to study at the school full-time with a professional career in their sights, but also for those in the wider community, through activities including outreach in local primary schools.

The dancers performing Odyssey are Year 14 students of Elmhurst Ballet School. Spending one year as members of the ballet company, these young school-leavers get to experience life as a fully fledged dancer, with daily classes, rehearsals and the opportunity to work with renowned professionals. Odyssey is Elmhurst Ballet Company’s graduate show, and impressive testament to the results that years of hard work and dedicated study can bring.

Particularly touching are the pre-recorded interviews with the dancers, projected on a screen above the stage. As they reflect on their time at the school, the students’ memories are full of warmth and gratitude for the experiences they have had and the friendships they have made. They speak, too, of the future, and their words are the perfect complement to the performances on stage.

The diversity of the six different works presented, each contributing to a beautiful, unmissable experience, is a genuine strength of this production. In Act One, two pieces by August Bournonville highlight the precision and grace of classical dance. The first of these, Dances From Napoli, is ballet at its most charming and delightful. The second, Le Conservatoire, depicts a ballet class, its participants working hard to perfect their craft. 

Act Two comprises four diverse modern pieces, including an excerpt from Entity by acclaimed choreographer Wayne McGregor, and a new work, Everyone’s Busy, by Alicia Wong, one of the members of Elmhurst Ballet Company. Music, lighting, sound effects, costume and video, everything is spot-on, and the versatility of the dancers is astonishing, as is their enthusiasm, precision and energy.

The glimpses into the life of a ballet school student and of a professional dancer add another, fascinating dimension to the show. 

Odyssey is a production full of enthusiasm, ambition and bright hopes for the future. A joyful celebration of the achievements of a group of talented young dancers, the show is a truly uplifting experience, and one that will surely live long in the memories of all who are lucky enough see it.

Five stars

Reviewed by Rachel Smith at Brmingham's Elmhurst Ballet School on Friday 6 March.