On Thursday 15 May, His Majesty King Charles III and Her Majesty Queen Camilla visited Bradford to celebrate the region’s year as UK City of Culture.

Their Majesties attend rehearsal for Bradford 2025 City of Culture.

As part of this visit, The King and Queen met with some of the children, performers and leaders of Sing, Dance, Leap – a mass education project led by the Royal Ballet and Opera, Northern Ballet and Opera North.

Stopping by the recently refurbished Bradford Live, Their Majesties were treated to a rehearsal featuring local Bradford children from Riddlesden School performing alongside Principal Character Artist for The Royal Ballet, Thomas Whitehead and award-winning soprano and former Royal Opera Jette Parker Company Artist, April Koyejo-Auiger.

Thomas Whitehead, who was born and raised in Bradford, reflected on the Royal meeting:

“It felt very surreal and incredibly special to be back here in the middle of Bradford talking to Their Majesties about this project which, at its heart, is a celebration of the people and culture of this city.

“Being able to be back in my hometown to help the next generation of young Bradfordians find their own creativity has been such a great experience.”

After the rehearsal, The King and Queen met and spoke to Thomas and April alongside a group of Riddlesden School students, Riddlesden School classroom teacher, Claire McGuigan, and Director of Learning and Participation at the Royal Ballet and Opera, Jillian Barker.

Gonah and Areej, two students from Riddlesden School, said about the visit:

“When we found out [we were performing for Their Majesties] I was so excited that when our teacher told us, I rolled back!”

“I was so excited because of course the Queen and King are very important persons – VVIP!”

Sing Dance Leap is a new original ballet and opera project inspired and shaped by the hopes and dreams of children from across Bradford. Commissioned by Bradford UK City of Culture 2025, the project brings together the Royal Ballet and Opera, Opera North, Northern Ballet, international and local artists, and more than 2,000 Bradford children to perform an original piece of work together.

With music by Will Todd, words by Kadijah Ibrahiim, and choreography by Carlos Pons Guerra all being inspired by the experiences of Bradford’s young people, Sing, Dance, Leap will be a true reflection of the city’s cultural past, present and future.

Jillian Barker, Director of Learning and Participation:

“We all felt very proud to be able to give Their Majesties a sneak peek of all the hard work going into Sing, Dance, Leap and for them to experience firsthand the impact that creativity has on young people. Projects like this help to ensure that every young person across the country has the opportunity to be creative through the arts at school – something that we will continue to advocate for to be recognised in the national curriculum.  It has been a priviledge to work with Northern Ballet and Opera North on this Bradford City of Culture 2025 commission.”

Sing, Dance, Leap will take place at Bradford Live on 18 June 2025, featuring local and international artists performing alongside hundreds of Bradford students, and in front of an audience of more than 2,000 children from participating schools.