Hugh Myddelton Care Home Residents Mark Remembrance Day with English National Ballet

Staff and residents at Barchester’s Hugh Myddelton House care home in Southgate were treated to a unique creative workshop from English National Ballet to commemorate Remembrance Day. The session incorporated the national two minute’s silence at 11am to mark the exact time the guns fell silent at the end of the First World War in 1918.

English National Ballet’s Associate Dance Artist, Richard Bermange, led a creative dance workshop for residents followed by a recording and insight into a special extract of Akram Khan’s work Dust, premiered in 2014 as part of ENB’s Lest We Forget programme, commemorating the First World War. ENB company dancer, James Streeter, provided some insight into this moving work. Bringing the event to a close, residents listened, danced and sang along to famous war time music performed by ENB Associate Musician, Matt Hartley-Stevens.

Fleur Derbyshire-Fox, English National Ballet’s Director of Engagement said: “We are delighted to be able to share the outstanding work of our talented dancers and musicians with Barchester’s residents and staff.  There was something for everyone in this session so it was a pleasure to be able to deliver it into all of the Barchester homes and hospitals on such a special day.”

General Manager, Ramona Stanciu, said: “Remembrance Day is so important for many of our residents so it was very moving for them to be able to join in with this workshop and mark the occasion in such a lovely way.  They especially enjoyed the singalong of wartime songs, it was a really special event.”