How To: Ballet Masterclass At The Royal Opera House

Whether you’re a long time fan or new to the art, the next ballet you see will be much enhanced by this informative and fun evening with Dame Monica Mason, former Director of The Royal Ballet Company.

Whether you’re a long time balletomane or new to the art, the next performance you see will be hugely enhanced by this informative and entertaining evening with Dame Monica Mason, former Director of The Royal Ballet Company. A step-by-step guide to the language of ballet will be illustrated by dancers from the Company. You will understand the background and appreciate the demands and the expertise required to make a performance look effortless.

Dame Monica Mason

The dancer-turned-Director’s career with the Company has spanned 54 years, both on stage and behind the scenes. Born in South Africa, Monica joined The Royal Ballet in 1958 as the youngest member of the corps de ballet before rising to the rank of Principal, acclaimed for her interpretations of major roles including Odette/Odile in Swan Lake and Princess Aurora in The Sleeping Beauty. She also famously created the demanding role of the Chosen Maiden in Kenneth MacMillan’s The Rite of Spring. On retiring from dancing, she joined the Company’s administrative staff, becoming Director of The Royal Ballet in 2002.