Sir Peter Wright is living proof that doing what you love will sustain you. The ballet producer and artistic director turns 100 in November, but has been involved in recent revivals of his cherished productions of Giselle, The Nutcracker and Swan Lake for the Royal Ballet and Birmingham Royal Ballet. In this special episode of Why Dance Matters, we listen in as Sir Peter talks about his life and work to the RAD’s Patrons’ Circle (who support the RAD’s charitable work). He discusses the star dancers he worked with, and how ballet has changed during his remarkable life in dance.

Peter Wright made his debut as a dancer with Ballets Jooss during World War II. In 1961 he joined John Cranko’s new Stuttgart company, choreographing ballets and mounting his first production of Giselle. His productions of the classics now feature in the repertories of companies around the world. In 1977 he became Director of Sadler’s Wells Royal Ballet, supervising its transformation into Birmingham Royal Ballet (he became Director Laureate on retirement from the company in 1995). In 1990 he received the RAD’s Queen Elizabeth II Coronation Award, and a knighthood in 1993. He is a Vice-President of the RAD.

The RAD’s Patrons Circle https://www.royalacademyofdance.org/support-dance/#patron

Birmingham Royal Ballet celebrate Sir Peter Wright on 18 June https://www.brb.org.uk/shows/sir-peter-wright-centenary

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Serendipity is what happens when the universe smiles on you: a happy chance, a creative coincidence. It is also the name of the remarkable Serendipity Institute for Black Arts and Heritage. Led by the unstoppable Pawlet Brookes, it shifts the lens through which we see dance, putting art and artists from the African and African Caribbean diaspora at the heart of the conversation. Pawlet’s career embraces every aspect of the performing arts. With Serendipity, she has created the annual festival, Let’s Dance International Frontiers, and now a pioneering MA programme. She’s a powerhouse. But why does dance matter to her?

Pawlet Brookes MBE is the CEO and Artistic Director of Serendipity Institute for Black Arts and Heritage. Serendipity’s mission is to centre perspectives from the African and African Caribbean diaspora and present them as cultural experiences for all audiences. In 2011, Pawlet founded Let’s Dance International Frontiers, Leicester’s annual dance festival, which showcases high quality dance that celebrates diversity. A champion talent-spotter, Pawlet has brought countless international artists to the UK. Serendipity has a publishing wing, and is developing a digital archive called Unearthed: Forgotten Histories. Pawlet was awarded an MBE in 2022.

Serendipity Institute for Black Arts and Heritage https://www.serendipity-uk.com/

Let’s Dance International Frontiers 2026 runs from 29 April-9 May https://www.serendipity-uk.com/whats-on/lets-dance-international-frontiers/

MA Black British Dance and Performance

https://www.serendipity-uk.com/ma-black-british-dance-and-performance/

Why Dance Matters is a dance podcast featuring inspiring conversations with extraordinary people from the world of dance and beyond. Hosted by David Jays, editor of Dance Gazette, this podcast explores how dance shapes lives and why it matters to us all. Brought to you by the RAD, which inspires the world to dance, these insightful stories will surprise and delight. Tune in and discover more on our website.

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Jordan James Bridge is a sharp mover and thinker and an ambitious talent. Having danced for Company Wayne McGregor, his own choreography has made a splash on screen and in the Ballet Nights series of dance gigs. It all began for Jordan at school near Wigan, in the north of England, where he first discovered dance – where he returned last summer because the dance studio at Fred Longworth High School has been named after him. This full circle moment seems the perfect time to ask Jordan about forging his path, defying the gatekeepers – and why dance matters.

Jordan James Bridge is a multi award winning choreographer/performer for stage, screen and fashion. A longstanding dance artist of Company Wayne McGregor, he more recently appeared in Disney's The Marvels and walked for Moschino in Milan fashion week. Nominated for ‘Emerging Artist’ as both dancer and choreographer in the National Dance Award 2024, he has won multiple awards for his dance films Us, Locked Down and PARASITE. He made a ballet for Györi Ballet, Hungary, and is a consistent creative entity at Ballet Nights in London. He is a renowned lecturer in both Cunningham based technique and his signature Guided Improvisation method.

Jordan James Bridge https://jordanbridgedance.co.uk/

Jordan premieres two works in New English Ballet Theatre: Covent Garden Choreographics on 21 March (Clore Studio, RBO) https://www.rbo.org.uk/tickets-and-events/new-english-ballet-theatre-covent-garden-choreographics-details

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