During World Ballet Day on 4 October 2016, we invited audiences across the globe to start their day by dancing along with The Royal Ballet during morning class, streamed live via Facebook. If you missed the live broadcast, you can now watch the video on-demand via our YouTube channel.
The film offers a unique window into the daily life of a dancer at The Royal Ballet, showing the dedication and athleticism required for every step, as well as allowing viewers a unique look inside the Company's rehearsal studios.
As well as showing a typical daily class, the session, introduced by Darcey Bussell and Gethin Jones, offers a 'dancer's eye view' on rehearsal, through the GoPro camera strapped to Principal dancer Steven McRae.
'Ballet class is the hardest part of everyone's day, that's where the real work takes place,' Steven explains.
Viewers also hear from Darcey and Gethin throughout the session as they interview dancers and offer commentary on the different stages of class.
'I enjoyed class so much,' Darcey explains, speaking from her experience of dancing with The Royal Ballet. 'It was about perfecting each move and improving, and seeing if you could test yourself, challenge yourself, and see if you could hold something for a bit longer and then catch up.
'I love watching these unbelievably physical bodies,' she adds. 'They're all like athletes now. Ballet in the past wasn't as physical as this. They weren't as supple and as strong!'
We'll be releasing further highlights from the full broadcast over the next few weeks.
Subscribe to the Royal Opera House YouTube channel to be notified when we upload further highlights from World Ballet Day:
