Dance and cricket

Breaking boundaries

In 2017 we partnered with Marylebone Cricket Club on a new primary school project aimed at encouraging more boys to do ballet, and more girls to play cricket.

Over a six-week period, the project – dubbed ‘Dance Down the Wicket’ – used dance and sport to explore:

• coordination, respect, and fielding,
• agility, balance and batting, and
• communication, teamwork, and bowling.

Royal Ballet Principal, Alexander Campbell, is the RAD Ambassador for this project. One of the Royal Ballet’s brightest stars, Alexander is a talented cricketer and was actually faced with the difficult choice between a career in dance or cricket:

“As a passionate supporter of both ballet and cricket, it is with great excitement that I am to be involved as an Ambassador for this project. Cricket and ballet were a huge part of my life growing up, and continue to be a huge part of my life today. They are fun and engaging at all levels, and I am absolutely delighted to have the opportunity to introduce children to my favourite art form, as well as my favourite sport.”

Find out about Alexander’s love of cricket.

An Indian adventure

After attracting the attention of the British Council, the project is now being rolled out throughout schools in India – where encouraging gender equality is a key priority.

More information on this exciting programme will be published in mid-2019.