Queen Camilla, patron of the English National Ballet, hosted a reception on Wednesday to celebrate the company’s 75th anniversary, said a statement released by Buckingham Palace.
The royal family’s Instagram account shared several photos and videos from the event hosted by the queen.
The statement said: “During the event, Her Majesty met with staff, dancers and supporters to recognize the company’s celebrated heritage, its innovative creation of new works and its program of learning and engagement.”
It said: “The Queen became royal patron of the English National Ballet in June 2024 and visited their east London home, the Mulryan Center for Dance, in September 2024.”
The wife of King Charles III hosted the reception in the Central Hall of Buckingham Palace, at which Aaron S. Watkin, artistic director of the English National Ballet, and Sir Rupert Gavin, president, spoke before principal ballerina Sangeun Lee performed “The Dying Swan.”
The palace said: “Her Majesty met Sangeun Lee as well as dance advocate and former president of the English National Ballet, Angela Rippon and Dame Arlene Phillips before meeting guests including the company’s Dance for Parkinson’s and ENBYouthCo programs.”
It said: “The company was founded in 1950 as London Festival Ballet by Alicia Markova and Anton Dolin, with the pioneering ambition of taking ballet beyond operas. »
