Ballet d’Jèrri, Jersey’s national dance company, has announced its move into the studio space at the Jersey Opera House.
This transition marks a significant milestone for the company, providing a dedicated home for its dancers and strengthening Ballet d’Jèrri’s role in Jersey’s cultural landscape.
As the company continues to grow, securing a permanent and professional rehearsal space has been a key priority. The move into the Opera House’s studio will allow Ballet d’Jèrri (BDJ) to further develop its artistic vision, rehearse its expanding repertoire, and enhance its ability to engage with the local community through performances, workshops, and open rehearsals.
BDJ has been granted an interim license to use a small part of the building, and the company is excited to work alongside the Jersey Opera House’s primary operators once the theatre is fully reopened. In the meantime, this opportunity allows BDJ to facilitate access to the space for the community, including the children in its school programme, giving them a chance to experience the newly refurbished venue.
The relocation comes at an exciting time for Ballet d’Jèrri, as the company prepares for its upcoming productions, including a triple bill of new choreographic works inspired by the history of the Witch Trials in Jersey.
“The conversation has become deeper than just the general narrative of arts education,” said BDJ’s Director of Youth Programmes, Helen Oliver, on the subject of tying in the company’s artistic programme with her work in schools. “We are seeing 10-year-olds having meaningful discussions about what it means to be oppressed, what it means to be an oppressor. And the physical nature of interpreting something through dance makes it so intrinsically relatable. The teachers have started to comment on the positive effect it is having on students’ behaviour.”
Photos credit: Rebecca Le Brun
