I am a highly qualified, experienced classical ballet teacher and ex-Principal dancer with Birmingham Royal Ballet. I offer classical ballet coaching and workshops for all ages from 8 years to adult, in groups or bespoke private classes.
I specialise in nurturing young dancers who aspire to study at top vocational schools worldwide. I am proud that my former students are now dancing with the Royal Ballet Company, Birmingham Royal Ballet, English National Ballet and in top companies across Europe.
I hold the Royal Ballet School Professional Dancer’s Teacher’s Diploma with Distinction and hold Fellowship status in the Cecchetti Ballet method regulated by the Imperial Society of Teachers of Dancing (ISTD). I also have a Pilates qualification. As well as preparing students for vocational auditions, I specialise in the Cecchetti syllabi and examinations.
I am currently on the ballet teaching faculty of Performers College (Digbeth Campus), Royal Ballet School (Associate Programme), Marylebone Ballet School (Vacani) and am Head of Ballet at TNA Academy. I teach open classes at Danceworks in London and in Digbeth, Birmingham. I was on the faculty of Elmhurst Ballet School for fourteen years and have taught at Tring Park School for the Performing Arts.
I am available to teach non-curriculum and/or syllabus ballet classes. I also offer coaching sessions for audition or examination preparation, or as part of a student’s general training programme. I coach classical solos, pointe, pas de deux, rehabilitation following injury and mat pilates.
Building on trust and respect I aim to train both the mind and body of my pupils teaching the whole person holistically. I am passionate about building confidence in my students not only focusing on technique but helping them to find their own unique artistic strengths so they are able to follow their dreams. I will enrich their dance experience both technically and artistically.
Please get in touch to discuss your ballet coaching needs.
How it all began…
Fluttering up and down our sitting room at the tender age of three to Tchaikovsky’s Swan Lake music, my Grandmother who was visiting at the time remarked, “This little girl is going to be a dancer.”
It’s one of my earliest memories, and one that I have never forgotten. My Grandma’s comment sowed a seed in my imagination and I never really looked back or doubted that my life’s pathway would somehow lie in the world of dance. I loved moving to music and as a shy young student I enjoyed being able to express myself without speaking! The stage and theatre became my world. Ballet as a genre has been my passion as long as I remember, giving me much more than a wonderful career, but also life skills which have enabled me to feel more complete as a human being together with a true purpose in life!
Early ballet training
Initially I learnt to dance locally in Surrey, training in the Cecchetti method with Gillian Dawson. I won the Cyril Beaumont Scholarship to the Royal Ballet Upper School when I was sixteen, where I continued my studies full time.
Professional ballet career
I graduated from the Royal Ballet School following my debut as Swanilda in the School’s annual matinee at the Royal Opera House, playing opposite David Bintley’s Dr Coppelius. I was immediately offered a contract with the Sadler’s Wells Royal Ballet by Sir Peter Wright. The company was the touring section of the Royal Ballet and performed a very diverse repetorire from new choreorgraphic works to the classics. Being a touring company we would often dance in eight shows a week, moving from theatre to theatre on a Sunday. I toured worldwide to all five continents – sometimes away for weeks at a time. It was very hard work and I was rewarded with principal roles from the first year of joining as well as dancing all of the usual corps de ballet and soloist roles.
I rose to the rank of of First Soloist after five years in the Company. In 1990 the compay moved to Birmingham and became the Birmingham Royal Ballet, where I continued my stage career dancing the principal roles of Sugar Plum Fairy (Nutcracker), Aurora and Enchanted Princess (Sleeping Beauty), Giselle, Lise (La Fille mal Gardee), Swanilda (Coppelia), Titania (The Dream), the Ballerina (Petrushka), Pineapple Poll, Symphonic Variations and the Young Girl (Two Pigeons) along with many soloist roles. I created roles in works choreographed by Kenneth Macmillan, Peter Wright, Lynne Seymour, David Bintley and Michael Corder.
Ballet teaching career
After 21 years with the Company I retired from the stage in order to spend more time with my young daughter and to pursue a career in teaching the art form I love.
I enrolled on the Royal Ballet School’s Diploma course for ex-professional dancers to become a teacher and passed with Distinction. I have found a passion for teaching which I’ve continued to develop ever since. Looking back to my childhood roots training in the Cecchetti method, I also hold a Licentiate qualification in the method from the ISTD.
I taught at Elmhurst Ballet School for fourteen years where I was the Principal ballet tutor for Year 8 Girls, Year 9 Girls and Boys, and 2nd year sixth Women. Whilst at Elmhurst, I co-developed and led the Cecchetti programme for the sixth form. I have also taught Cecchetti at Tring Park School for the Performing Arts.
I have recently run online and studio workshops in British Ballet Heritage linking the pedagogical threads between Enrico Cecchetti, Dame Ninette de Valois and Sir Frederick Ashton’s choreography.
My commitment
When I retired from the stage, I made a commitment to give back as much to the profession as it has given me, teaching ballet to all ages and levels. My passion for ballet as an art is unwavering and I have long considered that playing my part in passing the art to future generations is a privilege.
Do join me to continue your ballet education!