Ready for some pliés? Following its success in offering free online classes during lockdown – receiving more than four million views so far – the Dutch National Ballet is launching a new series to celebrate World Ballet Day.

Artistic coordinator Ernst Meisner said that while the public had an insight into a dancer’s daily life during lockdown, the company had seen a demand for beginner level exercises.

‘In recent years, ballet fans all over the world have followed our online ballet classes,’ he said. ‘Many of them made online requests to have simpler classes, at a level more suited to beginners. So this is a great opportunity for everyone who’s always wanted to try ballet but never got around to it!’

The series will start on November 2, and will feature lessons by former dancers Simona Ferrazza and Dario Elia, now teachers at the National Ballet Academy.

On World Ballet Day itself, there will be a ballet class with junior company dancers Kate Myklukha, Louisella Vogt, Luca Abdel-Nour, Koko Bamford and Mila Nicolussi Caviglia demonstrating the moves.

It will also feature a pas de deux duet performed by principal dancer Olga Smirnova and soloist Victor Caixeta, who generated worldwide headlines when they left Russia to join the Dutch National Ballet earlier this year after the invasion of Ukraine.

The ballet classes will be available to view on the Dutch National Opera & Ballet’s YouTube channel.