Let’s dance: Hortons’ sponsors ‘Birmingham treasure’

Hortons’ Estate Limited has announced the corporate sponsorship of Birmingham-based Freefall Dance Company, as it furthers its commitment to local and national good causes.

Freefall is Birmingham Royal Ballet’s own company of ten highly gifted dancers with severe learning disabilities and has been performing daring, innovative and award-winning dance since 2002.

Freefall meet weekly at Birmingham Royal Ballet studios where they are able to express their individuality, create new routines and practise existing repertoire.

Participants enjoy improved physical and mental health, as well as the opportunity to produce art, make new friends and become more independent.

For the last 20 years, Freefall has been extending its reach through innovative and collaborative dance development initiatives, including a disability awareness intervention and workshops with local schools. Alongside this, Freefall has developed relationships with local universities and teacher training colleges to deliver workshops to trainee physical education teachers.

It has also hosted public performances at Birmingham Hippodrome, as well as producing a series of internationally acclaimed performance films.

Hortons’ was introduced to Freefall through its contacts at Elmhurst Ballet School in Birmingham – one of the UK’s first vocational schools for dance – whom it has sponsored for several years.

Henry Horton of Hortons’ said: “Freefall is a wonderful programme that is nurturing talent and challenging stereotypes. The Freefallers are a talented group of dancers whose bravery and beauty of movement is profound and inspirational. They are true heroes of our community who touch the lives of many via their programme of work.

Freefall has been described as a ‘Birmingham treasure’ for the work that it has done in the twenty years since its inception and it continues to provide a safe space where anything is possible. As a business we are as determined as ever to put back as much as we can into our local communities and we believe that Freefall should be cherished and supported.”

Matt Freeman, Birmingham Royal Ballet’s Director of Development said: “At Birmingham Royal Ballet we believe that ballet is for everyone, everywhere. In this difficult time for the performing arts sector we are incredibly grateful for the generosity of companies such as Hortons’ whose support will allow us to continue to deliver Freefall and make such a difference to all who engage with it.”

For more information on Freefall Dance Company, please visit: brb.org.uk/freefall