We were recently invited to Tulsa Ballet: Made in America at the Royal Opera House, and we immediately jumped at the opportunity because, quite simply, we love ballet.

Not just ballet as performance, but ballet as discipline, artistry, storytelling, and physical expression. There is something incredibly moving about witnessing people dedicate years of their lives to mastering an art form in pursuit of creating something fleeting yet unforgettable for an audience.

For those unfamiliar, Tulsa Ballet is Oklahoma’s premier ballet company, founded in 1956 and currently led by artistic director Marcello Angelini. Over the years, the company has built a strong reputation across America for excellence in both classical ballet and contemporary dance, and after watching the performance ourselves, it is easy to understand why.

The evening opened with Classical Symphony by Yuri Possokhov, set to music by Sergei Prokofiev. The neoclassical piece drew inspiration from the choreographer’s childhood reverence for ballet and was dedicated to his teacher.

This was, without question, our favourite act of the evening. There was something incredibly emotional about it. The choreography felt expansive yet precise, and the dancers’ technical strength truly came alive here. Every movement carried clarity and intention, and you could genuinely feel the emotion pouring out of the performance rather than simply being shown choreography. It reminded us why classical ballet remains timeless.

The second act, Divenire by Nicolo Fonte, shifted the mood entirely. Inspired by both the serenity and power found within nature, the work unfolded against the beautifully cinematic compositions of Ludovico Einaudi. The movement throughout the performance felt fluid and atmospheric, almost meditative at times.

The programme closed with Remember Our Song by Andy Blankenbuehler — best known for choreographing Hamilton. Nostalgic and deeply touching, the piece followed the emotional realities of seven servicemen during wartime and their longing to return home to the people they loved.

All three performances were exceptional, but the first act remained the one we could not stop thinking about afterwards.

There is something profoundly inspiring about watching classically trained dancers push their bodies to such emotional and physical extremes in pursuit of live art. And honestly, even if ballet is not usually your thing, there is still so much to appreciate: the costumes, the music, the lighting, the storytelling, the atmosphere, the discipline, the sheer level of commitment required to perform at that level night after night.

For us at AJOSEPO, evenings like this always become about more than just the performance itself. They become reflections on creativity, refinement, craftsmanship, precision, discipline, beauty, and expression — all of which deeply influence how we think about jewellery, storytelling, and brand building, too.

And naturally, no evening in London is complete without food afterwards.

Following the performance, we headed to Imperial Treasure restaurant for what can only be described as some of the best Chinese food we have had outside of Shanghai and Beijing. Absolutely AJOSEPO-approved.