I have always enjoyed the challenges of working with young people and Merle Park’s invitation to make a piece for the junior end of the Royal Ballet School in 1988 resulted in En Bateau, danced to Henri Busser’s orchestration of Debussy’s Petite Suite. Inspired by Seurat’s Sunday Afternoon on the Island of La Grande Jatte and Bathers at Asnieres the ballet depicts a boating party and all things aquatic by, in and on the Seine.

The original eight dancers included a very young Sarah Wildor and Robert Tewsley.