- Program Cover, Tchaikovsky and his Ballets
David's efforts at community, touring, repertory classical dance theatre: for a time, Ballet for All was supporting the rest of Sadler's Wells Covent Garden.
- An historic momen
David stands with Alexander Grant, his predecessor at Ballet for All.
Ballet for All was “not a repertory ballet company in any ordinary sense but an ambulant, illustrated lecture on balletic history, a blend of entertainment with pedagogy.” (James Monahan, British Ballet Today, Stellar press, Hertfordshire, 1980) As such it was well-suited to David’s style. It was, according to him, a surprisingly successful touring company owned by the Royal Ballet.
He was offered the Artistic Directorship as his performing career with the Royal Ballet was closing. The opportunity excited him and he threw himself into preparation; recruiting dancers, digging costumes and sets out of the Royal Ballet’s storerooms and, naturally, choreographing.
As Artistic Director, David would stage the Tchaikovsky Gala. Despite the company’s success, it was apparently used as a cash cow by the mother ship. Disgusted with this lack of respect, David soon moved on.