Elmhurst Alumni Spotlight: Rosanna Ely.
Born in Lancaster, Rosanna Ely trained at Elmhurst Ballet School from 2007 to 2014. During her time at the School, she performed extensively with Birmingham Royal Ballet, beginning in her very first term of Year 7 as a child in Edward II.
She went on to appear in Giselle soon after, and then The Nutcracker, first as a child in the party scene and later, in her graduate year, as a Maid, Snowflake and Flower. While in Upper School, Rosanna also danced with the Company in The Prince of the Pagodas, Les Rendezvous and Elite Syncopations.
Rosanna joined Birmingham Royal Ballet as an Artist in 2014 and was promoted to First Artist in 2023.
We caught up with Rosanna to reflect on her time at the School and her professional journey so far.
When did you begin dancing, and what was your journey to Elmhurst?
I actually started dancing quite late for a girl- I was about six or seven. I began at an after-school dance club before joining my local dance school. There wasn’t any grand plan behind it; some of my friends went along and it sounded fun. There wasn’t much else to do, to be honest! I tried a bit of everything. Ballet, tap, modern and I just really enjoyed it.
Later, I was accepted onto the Junior Associates programme at The Royal Ballet School, travelling to Manchester every couple of weeks. It was through that experience that auditioning for vocational dance school was suggested to me. At that point, I’d only really heard of White Lodge.
When I started looking into Elmhurst Ballet School, I felt immediately drawn to it. It was closer to home and just felt more like ‘me’. I remember going to the audition, seeing the building and the facilities, and thinking it was amazing and my parents felt the same, which was important. Before I knew it, I was heading off at 11 years old, which feels completely bonkers to me now when I look at 11-year-olds!
What was your experience like at the School?
It was a really positive experience. The ballet training was excellent. It must have done something right, because I’m here now! But beyond that, it was the level of care that really stood out. When you train at Elmhurst, you truly grow up there, and in many ways, it became my childhood.
The environment was incredibly caring and nurturing, with so much happening all the time. Alongside the ballet training, I was also able to fully immerse myself in the academic side of school life, which I really enjoyed. Overall, it was an experience I look back on very fondly.
What are some of your favourite memories from your time there?
Most people might immediately think of their graduate end-of-year show, but ironically, I didn’t do mine! I joined Birmingham Royal Ballet early- in November of my graduate year at Elmhurst. David Bintley was Director at BRB then, and he practically asked me if I could start the next day! I’d already been working with the Company throughout that year leading up to the offer, so it was an incredible, whirlwind experience.
One memory that stands out goes right back to my first day at Elmhurst. We were auditioning for BRB’s Edward II, which had two roles for children- a young boy and a young girl. Marion Tait, then Assistant Director, lined us up by height and cut everyone except the six smallest children- I was probably the shortest! After the audition, I was cast in the part, and I remember thinking, “Do I have to pay for this? What is happening?”
For the first half-term, I wasn’t even at school because I was performing with BRB. I toured with them for six weeks straight. At the time, I didn’t fully understand what I was stepping into, but being thrown straight into that professional environment was amazing and a memory I’ll never forget.
What do you remember about dancing in The Nutcracker as a child in the party scene?
It was in my second year at Elmhurst that I first performed in The Nutcracker. I was so short that I blended in with all the younger children! Because I’d already had the experience of performing in Edward II with Birmingham Royal Ballet, I was really excited to be going back and already knew how special it would be- though The Nutcracker is a whole different world altogether.
Spending three solid weeks at the theatre with that group of people was incredible. You just absorbed everything that was going on around you, and it felt genuinely magical. Seeing young Elmhurst students performing in it now really brings everything full circle for me.
As a child, you hope these things might happen, but you don’t always believe they really will. Being able to tell those children that I once stood where they are- and that I now dance Clara- feels very special. I hope it helps them believe that they can achieve it one day too.
How did it feel to return in The Nutcracker a few years later to work with the Company in your graduate year?
By that point, I’d already spent about a year working with Birmingham Royal Ballet. I started in January of Year 13, performing in The Prince of the Pagodas on the early Spring tour, and then in May I joined the mid-scale tour, dancing in Les Rendezvous and Elite Syncopations. Honestly, it felt like a year-long audition!
Then, that November, I returned to The Nutcracker, but this time not as a child! I was thrilled to continue working with the Company. By then, I felt like I’d found my groove a bit. Observing as a student teaches you so much about what life in the Company is really like, and it starts to make it feel tangible. I also began making friends with the dancers, which made the experience even richer.
Returning to The Nutcracker specifically felt like a full-circle moment. Even as a Maid, standing at the back and making sure the props were in the right places… well, I did drop quite a few props, but thankfully, that didn’t stop me from getting the job!
You graduated straight into Birmingham Royal Ballet- what have been some of your career highlights so far?
One that immediately comes to mind is performing the role of Clara in The Nutcracker at the Royal Albert Hall. The venue is so iconic, and Clara has always been a role I dreamed of dancing. It took nine years into my career before I finally had the opportunity. The anticipation, combined with a bit more performance maturity, made it even more special. Then, to perform it the following year at the Royal Albert Hall in front of 5,000 people… I honestly could have retired right after that! (I haven’t, of course.)
Another highlight has been touring internationally, especially to Japan. I’ve done that three times now with the Company. International tours are incredible: experiencing new places and seeing fans waiting at stage doors makes you feel like a real celebrity. It’s a completely different and unforgettable experience.
What challenges have you faced during your life as a dancer?
One of the biggest challenges was moving away from home at such a young age. At the time, it was probably just as hard for my parents as it was for me. Looking back now, I realise how difficult it was not being able to go home, see my mum and dad, or enjoy something as simple as a home-cooked meal. That said, it’s a real testament to Elmhurst, because they supported us so well and did everything they could to make it feel like home.
It’s funny- most people would say injuries are the hardest part, but I’ve actually never had an injury that’s kept me off for more than three days, which is amazing considering how clumsy I am! For me, the bigger challenge has been the emotional side of the profession: not getting the roles you want, or the ones you always thought you’d dance, and learning how to cope when your friends are cast and you’re not.
You have to learn how to be genuinely happy for other people, while also staying focused on your own path. That balance is hard. It’s also about learning to dance for yourself- which can sound selfish, but it isn’t. You only get one career, and you have to live it for yourself, not spend it trying to please the person at the top.
Do you think about what might come next when you eventually hang up your pointe shoes?
I think about it quite a lot at the moment- yes, definitely. I’m incredibly grateful that I trained at Elmhurst, because I was able to take A-levels alongside my dance training. That was really important to me and wouldn’t necessarily have been possible at other vocational schools. It’s what allowed me to study for a degree alongside my performing career.
I completed a Biology degree with The Open University, finishing two years ago after studying part-time for six years while dancing with Birmingham Royal Ballet. I think it’s essential to consider what comes next. You spend so long believing that dancing is the only thing you’ll ever do, and then you realise that your second career could be just as long- if not longer.
I’d love to use my Biology degree in whatever comes next, although I’m not yet sure in what capacity. There will probably be some retraining involved. I also enjoy teaching, so I imagine I’ll continue doing some of that, though probably not full-time. I’ve always been fascinated by the human body- and as a dancer, that curiosity feels like a natural fit.
Who have been the most influential mentors or teachers in your journey, and how did they support you?
First and foremost, my family. That has to come first. They’ve always made it clear that if there was ever a day I wanted to stop or come home, that would be absolutely fine. I’ve never felt that I had to keep going out of obligation, or because I somehow owed them after everything they’d invested in my training and career.
I know it wasn’t easy for my parents to send me to Elmhurst, especially as I have two siblings as well, but they never once made me feel that I owed them anything in return. Even now, they’ve always said that if I decide I don’t want to do it anymore, I’ve already done enough- I don’t need to prove anything. That level of support has been huge.
When it comes to teachers, it’s harder to single people out. I’ve never really had just one mentor- I think you have to be a bit of a sponge and take something from everyone. Different people offer different things, and they all contribute in their own way.
If I had to name one person, it would be Carmen Picqueres, who was Ballet Master at Birmingham Royal Ballet. She genuinely believed in me. I was covering a role, and she asked if I wanted to have a go. I said yes, and she then went to the ballet staff and said I needed a performance. That belief and advocacy meant a great deal to me.
How do you define success?
I think success changes over time. You move through different seasons of life where it means different things- whether that’s successfully auditioning to get into Elmhurst, landing a particular role, or being offered a commission.
For a long time, I tied success to specific outcomes: if I get this role, I’m successful; if I don’t, then I’m not. But I’ve come to realise it’s much broader than that. For me, success is choosing to live in a way that feels right.
If you’re getting up each day, going to work, and you feel that things are broadly where they should be- even if some days don’t go to plan- that feels like success. Making daily choices to grow, to improve things, and to stay true to yourself is, ultimately, what success looks like to me.
Finally, what advice would you give to current Elmhurst students?
One of the most important things is to learn how to genuinely congratulate others. Someone else will get the role, the job, the school place, or the better grade and that will happen again and again throughout your career. It becomes so much easier if you can truly share in that happiness, even if it doesn’t come naturally at first. You spend so much time with the people around you, and it’s honestly exhausting if you don’t learn to be happy for one another.
Another thing to remember is just how short this career really is. Speaking now at 30, I feel like I’m already approaching the later stages of my career and yet it still feels like I’ve only just begun. We dancers can moan and be pretty grizzly at times, but it’s important to stay humble. Choose joy. Actively look for the happiness in what you do.
Not many people get to do something they love every single day. I know that sounds a bit cringey, but it’s true and it’s something I still have to remind myself of too
