I have always adored the ballet since I was a young child and it is my love of the ballet that inspired the French Sole brand. I sponsor ballet dancers at both the English National Ballet and the Royal Ballet School and it is here that you can read about my dedicated work with both of these companies.
Greetings reader! Unusually for me, I am enjoying a very different kind of Christmas this year out in sunny L.A. I am always passionate about this time of year and usually wild horses wouldn’t drive me from my glorious, traditional Christmas with family and friends at home in the Surrey countryside……but this year I am basking in a different kind of warmth!
I was invited by the English National Ballet to a spectacular night at The Dorchester Hotel on March 12th to watch performances to raise money for this wonderful Ballet Company.
This week saw me once again at the ballet, this time it was as a VIP guest for the English National Ballet’s second-time-round presentation of Derek Deane’s Strictly Gershwin. Last summer the company performed this strangely gleeful “ballet” at The Albert Hall and the reviews were mixed. This time, back on home ground, safe on the stage of the delicious, ice- creamy coloured and beautifully restored Coliseum Theatre, the English National Ballet almost took a back seat at this burlesque all American “revue” show by Derek Deane. The music was sublime and the orchestra were brilliant - but this was not strictly ballet!
Today I took a party of 30 children and their families from my Starlight charity to see a performance by the English National Ballet of The Nutcracker - my second visit in a week and I am seeing it twice more before it finishes the run on December 30th - the day was perfect and magical.
It just wouldn’t be Christmas without seeing a ballet and what better event to go to than the Gala First Night of the English National Ballet’s amazing production of The Nutcracker…
May 21st 2013