Kevin O’Hare, Director of The Royal Ballet is delighted that the company is able to be involved with Derry-Londonderry’s year as UK City of Culture 2013. Royal Ballet dancers Yuhui Choe, Dromore born Melissa Hamilton, Ryoichi Hirano and Dawid Trzensimiech will appear in selected highlights from the Company’s repertory conducted by Londonderry born Paul Murphy. In addition to the pas de deux from Acts II and III of Swan Lake the dancers will perform Frederick Ashton’s 'Meditation from Thais' to music from Massenet’s opera of the same name and the pas de deux from the Second Movement of Kenneth Macmillan’s Concerto with music by Dmitry Shostakovich. The Royal Ballet owes its existence to the vision of Dame Ninette de Valois, Irish born dancer, choreographer and entrepreneur. The Company is based at the Royal Opera House in London’s Covent Garden, and is Britain’s largest ballet company. The company has a wide-ranging repertory showcasing the great classical ballets, heritage works including those of Founder Choreographer Frederick Ashton and Principal Choreographer Kenneth MacMillan, as well as new works by the foremost choreographers of today. Access is a key issue for the Company and its work is seen not just at the Royal Opera House but via televised and cinematic relays, outdoor Big Screen relays, international touring and through the work of the company’s education department.