Kingsway Park Students Experience Ballet for the First Time
Kingsway Park High School Students Experience Ballet for the First Time at Manchester’s Opera House
Students from Kingsway Park High School stepped into a world of snowflakes, sugar plum fairies and soaring orchestral music recently as they attended their first-ever ballet performance - The Nutcracker at The Opera House in Manchester.
For many of the students, it not only marked their first time seeing the Christmas classic, but also their first visit to a theatre of such grandeur. As they moved from the foyer into the auditorium, the scale and splendour of the historic venue made an immediate impression.
“When we first walked into the actual theatre from the foyer, Yara turned a full circle looking at the walls and ceiling and said, ‘I am low key in awe of this place,’” recalled Mr Kay who accompanied the trip.
The excitement had begun even before the curtain rose. When asked why he wanted to attend the ballet, student Muizz gave a thoughtful response: “Because I might not get this opportunity again.” His words reflected a wider sense among the group that this was a special experience - one to be embraced fully.
Seated mainly along a single row, the students quickly created a warm, shared atmosphere. Drinks, sweets, popcorn and even a single pair of binoculars were passed along from one end to the other. Teachers described a “genuinely collective feel” as the group reacted together to the magic unfolding on stage.
The performance, delivered by the Mergaliyev Classical Ballet company, also sparked moments of reflection. One particularly powerful instance came when a student noticed a dancer who looked like him.
“I overheard surprise from one of the two Black students sat together - ‘No way, that’s a Black dancer,’” the teacher shared. The reaction highlighted how ballet is often perceived as culturally inaccessible and underlined the importance of companies like Mergaliyev Classical Ballet featuring international and diverse performers. For some students, seeing representation on stage helped break down barriers about who belongs in the world of classical dance.
There were lighter moments too. Naveed, who stands at an impressive six feet tall, was completely immersed in the action. When the cannon fired during the battle with the Mouse King, he let out an unselfconscious scream - before glancing around sheepishly, as if to deny just how absorbed he had been.
Teachers said the trip was about more than just watching a performance. It was about widening horizons, creating shared cultural memories and showing students that spaces like The Opera House are for them too.
From awe at the ornate ceiling to gasps at dramatic stage effects, the evening left a lasting impression. For many of the Kingsway Park students, The Nutcracker was not simply a festive outing - it was the start of a new appreciation for the arts and the possibilities they hold.
