A warm welcome from Guernsey for Ballet d’Jèrrì
The Princess Royal Centre for Performing Arts (PRCPA) and
Guernsey Arts were thrilled to support the internationally acclaimed Ballet d’Jèrrì on 14 March. The 2 ballets, performed at the PRCPA on 14 March, marked the first staged professional ballet performance in the Island theatre since 2009.
Held at the PRCPA, the performance showcased the immense strength, artistry, and innovation of Ballet d’Jerri and was awarded a well-deserved standing ovation by the audience on Friday night. Beyond the stage performance, the company also engaged with the local community through ballet workshops on 15 March, including 2 sessions for young dancers at the PRCPA and a special outreach visit to Greenacres care home. These workshops provided a unique opportunity for both emerging local talent and care home residents to experience the beauty of the ballet first hand.
Eliza Webster (17) who attended both the performance and the advanced Ballet workshop at the PRCPA said “I really enjoyed this weekend, watching and participating in the Jersey Ballet workshop. I came away very inspired by all the talent and loved how the choreography was a bit different to what I’m used to. Thank you to everyone who made this incredible experience possible and I can’t wait to see if there will be more opportunities like this in the future".
The collaboration between Ballet d’Jèrri, Guernsey Arts, and PRCPA was made possible through dedicated coordination and funding efforts. Once contact was made with Ballet d’Jerri, all parties involved knew it was something they wanted to make happen and planning began. The PRCPA managers and technicians worked tirelessly to organise and ensure the event’s success - from providing the venue to re-rigging the lighting, setting the stage and working closely with all parties involved.
Guernsey Arts provided critical funding and support, recognising the significance of bringing professional ballet back to the island and in sharing it widely across the community. As a non-profit organization committed to supporting the arts in all forms, Guernsey Arts is dedicated to creating opportunities for world-class performances, community engagement and collaboration between the Channel Islands and beyond.
Following the success of this performance, both the PRCPA and Guernsey Arts hope to welcome Ballet d’Jèrri back to the island in the future.
The Ballet d’Jèrri, established in 2023, is the Channel Islands’ first professional dance company. As Jersey's National Ballet, they are a company of full-time professional artists and athletes, with a core of resident dancers who work 8-hour days five days a week, training and developing performances to share with Island audiences. They also perform on tour internationally, flying the Jersey flag and representing the culture of the island abroad.
Their mission is to create great art that represents and belongs to their island. Their double bill of Whiteout by renowned German choreographer Mark Goecke and Deliberate Mistake by BDJ resident choreographer Asier Edeso Eguia will also be performed in Jersey and Paris, making the inclusion of Guernsey very special.
As Guernsey's first multi-functional performance space and teaching facility, the PRCPA not only provides a base for the provision of The Guernsey Institute’s UAL Performing and Production Arts Courses, but also has 2 performance spaces that showcase a comprehensive diary of events including live broadcasts from the National Theatre, Royal Ballet and Opera House and RSC running alongside an exciting and innovative programme of shows from The Guernsey Institute’s own students, local and international theatre companies and schools.
For more information on upcoming events, theatre and screenings at the PRCPA, please visit www.guernseytickets.gg
For more information about Guernsey Arts and how to support future arts initiatives, please visit arts.gg or arts.gg/donate.
