Raised in India, young Sara embarks on a voyage to New York to begin life at a prestigious boarding school. Welcomed by the formidable headmistress, Miss Minchin, she is introduced to the grandeur and strict discipline of the school, where she makes new friends and notices the quiet presence of Becky, a servant girl.
When Sara’s mother departs, her treasured necklace is confiscated in accordance with school rules. Undeterred by the rigid environment, Sara’s rich imagination and vivid stories of India soon captivate her classmates. However, a sudden phone call alters her world irrevocably: her mother falls gravely ill, school fees can no longer be paid, and Sara is stripped of her status and relegated to a servant’s role.
Finding comfort in her friendship with Becky, Sara continues to share her stories from the attic room they inhabit together. Her loyal friends secretly gather to listen and, in an act of solidarity, attempt to recover her necklace. When it is discovered missing, Sara is unjustly accused of theft.
Will she find the strength to rise above her circumstances?
This moving production by The London Ballet Company celebrates resilience, friendship, compassion, and the enduring power of imagination expressed through dance. Performed alongside the TLBC Associates, whose dedication and perseverance mirror the themes of the work, the company extends its sincere thanks to all parents and friends for their continued support.
Director’s Note
This ballet explores how identity and inner strength can endure even when external circumstances change beyond our control. Sara’s journey is not one of escape, but of empowerment – a quiet refusal to be diminished by hardship or injustice. Through movement, we aim to show how imagination, kindness, and solidarity can become acts of resistance.
In bringing this story to the stage, we have focused on the contrast between rigid authority and expressive freedom, allowing the dancers’ physical language to reflect both constraint and liberation. We are especially proud to be joined by the TLBC Associates, whose dedication and resilience echo the themes of the work itself.
We extend our sincere thanks to the parents and supporters whose encouragement makes this journey possible, and we hope this performance inspires audiences to believe in the strength found within community, creativity, and compassion.
This is a guest event presented by an independent organisation or individual and is not part of Jacksons Lane’s core programme; please note that any regular Jacksons Lane discounts or offers don’t apply to this event.
