The Royal Ballet Insights, Royal Opera House

A perfect performance is one that creates the illusion of effortless magic and transports the audience to a higher plane. The Royal Ballet are very good at creating that illusion; but the company are also keen to lift the veil a little to give audiences a greater understanding of the everyday work behind the magic.

That’s what Insights are for. Every season a series of events in one of the Royal Opera House’s smaller venues gives an in-depth look at particular ballets and individual artists.

There will be four Insights programmes in the coming Spring period, all suitable for ages 14+.

– Newly-minted Principal Dancer Yasmine Naghdi is featured in the first. At 25-years-old Naghdi is very much one of the Royal Ballet’s up and coming British stars. She will talk about her lightning rise to the top and what she describes as her ‘hugely rewarding’ profession.

At the Linden Studio Theatre, Royal Ballet School (across from the Royal Opera House on Floral Street) on 6 March 2018 at 19:30. Approx. Dur.: 1 hour and 15 minutes, no interval.

– The second of the Spring’s Insights focuses on MacMillan’s powerful ballet, Manon. Company staff and artists will be on hand the explain and discuss this extraordinary work.

At the ROH’s Clore Studio on 7 March at 19.30. Approx Dur.: 1 hour and 30 minutes, no interval.

– The Royal Ballet in rehearsal is the subject of third in the Insights series, where company dancers and coaches will give the audience a glimpse of the work that culminates in perfect stage performances.

At the Royal Ballet School Linden Studio Theatre on 4 April at 19.30. Approx Dur.: 1 hour and 15 minutes, no interval.

– The fourth and last of the Spring Insights is called Ballet and the Body: dancers and students at different stages in their careers will debate the demands this art form puts on practitioners' bodies.

At the Royal Ballet School Linden Studio Theatre on 10 April at 19:30. Approx Dur.: 1 hour and 30 minutes, no interval.

General Booking for the ROH Spring Season opens 31 January at 09:00am.