English National Ballet School

CONTENTS

Our mission …………………………………………………………… 1

Chairman’s introduction ……………………………………… 2

Director’s introduction ………………………………………… 4

Commitment and expectation …………………………… 6

Dance training and academic programme ………… 8

Performing opportunities…………………………………… 10

Fitness to dance ………………………………………………… 13

Pastoral care ……………………………………………………… 14

A day in the life ………………………………………………… 16

School facilities ………………………………………………… 19

About English National Ballet …………………………… 21

Location ……………………………………………………………… 22

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OUR MISSION

English National Ballet School providesballet training for 16-19 year olds, enablinggraduates to achieve a level of artistryand technique required by EnglishNational Ballet and other internationalclassical ballet companies.

As a School, we are passionate abouttraining and educating young dancers toa high level of technical skill and artisticinterpretation in ballet.

We pride ourselves in providing studentswith the necessary broad skills andknowledge to develop as versatiledancers, so that they are able to meet the demands of the changingenvironment of professional dance.

TO BE A CENTRE OF EXCELLENCE FOR YOUNG

DANCER DEVELOPMENT, PROVIDING INTENSIVE

BALLET TRAINING IN PREPARATION FOR STUDENTS

TO ENTER A PROFESSIONAL CAREER.

ENGLISH NATIONAL BALLET SCHOOL

“At English National Ballet School we are very clear aboutour mission – to enable students to achieve excellence in classical ballet and provide a happy, caring, supportiveand professional environment,”

CHAIRMAN

ELIZABETH LADY ARNOLD

“ Our mission at the School is to turn talented young dancers into aspiringprofessionals with the necessarydiscipline and skills to manage the rigours of performance.

The students are aware that they havechosen a very demanding career path. Atthe School we match their commitmentand dedication with an excellent trainingprogramme to prepare them for thechallenges they will face as professionals.

The School is always moving forward and our talented and skilful teachersmake sure they keep up to date with new dance training techniques.

says Elizabeth, Lady Arnold, the Chairman of the Board of Governors.

We have introduced a three year coursethat gives our students scope for extraperformance opportunities and allowsthem more time to develop as dancers.In the first year we focus on building upthe student’s physical strength and skills.In the second year we concentrate onperfecting their artistry and technique,and enable them to experience otherdance disciplines such as Contemporaryand Jazz. Finally, those students whostay at the School for the third year haveextensive performing opportunities,especially with English National Ballet.

At English National Ballet School, I amvery proud to say we produce thinkingdancers, who have received a first classtraining and leave us equipped with thenecessary life skills to go on to leadsuccessful lives in the world of dance.”

Right Second yearstudents rehearsing forend of year performances.

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DIRECTOR

JANE HACKETTThe school offers a rich and stimulatingcurriculum taught by highly experiencedteachers and guest artists ofinternational renown.

English National Ballet School trainingdevelops artistry, musicality andperformance quality, underpinned byclean, strong technique.

The experience of working toprofessional standards with leadingchoreographers and directors ensuresthat students can respond creatively and confidently to different workingenvironments. Our graduates are to be found in top companies throughout the world, most notably in our owncompany, English National Ballet.

We challenge our students to achievetheir very best, as well as supportingtheir learning in all areas and providingopportunities to develop their fullpotential as dance artists and asintelligent young people.

This focus on dancers’ artisticdevelopment, combined with the uniquehealth and fitness programme, ensuresthat the school remains at the forefrontof dance education and training.

At English National BalletSchool, we aim to giveour students the bestpossible preparation for a successful career as professional dancers.

Far right Second yearstudents in performance.

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COMMITMENTAND

EXPECTATIONEnglish National Ballet School iscommitted to providing all studentswith the opportunity to:• train to professional standards,

developing technical precision andartistic interpretation

• experience training and education in a warm and caring environment, thatenables students to thrive and developartistically and academically

• perform a varied repertoire in a varietyof settings

• access the international dancecommunity through visiting danceteachers and performanceopportunities abroad

• develop as individuals and nurturetheir strengths and personalities

• enjoy a stimulating curriculum and takepart in an active outreach programme.

The School is responsive to the needs ofstudents and has a modern and realisticview of what is required to succeed intoday’s world as a professional dancer.To meet the increasing demands madeupon young dancers, the School nowoffers a third year of training, in addition to the two-year National Certificate inProfessional Dance.

The School strives to be as inclusive aspossible and welcomes applications fromstudents with different abilities andadditional needs, offering extra supportwhere possible.

A preliminary audition is held in the Springterm, with final auditions over a weekendat the end of that term. Overseas studentsmay audition by video. Short courses are held to assist prospective students in preparing for audition and gaininginformation about full time training andlife at English National Ballet School.

Successful applicants are chosen becauseof their aptitude and potential forprofessional careers in dance, not theirability to pay. The School is proud of itscommitment to equal opportunities andworks continuously to raise money forscholarships, ensuring that no talentedstudent is disadvantaged by lack offinancial means.


DANCE TRAININGAND

ACADEMIC PROGRAMME

Our students have the opportunity tograduate as trained professional dancers,having acquired the necessary life skillsfor long and successful careers.

The 2004, OFSTED inspection awardedthe School a Grade 1 and noted that keystrengths were “outstanding teaching”and “high technical and artistic skills ofstudents”. English National Ballet Schoolis the only vocational school in theUnited Kingdom to enter students for theElementary Solo exam of the BeneshMovement Notation Institute. ‘A’ Leveland Benesh results are consistentlyamong the highest in the UK.

The two-year course leads to the NationalCertificate in Professional Dance, validatedby Trinity College, London. Aftersuccessful completion of the secondyear, the School now offers a third yearfocussing on professional preparation.

The teachers at the School are part ofthe international dance community andthey often act as guest teachers forballet companies abroad. As well as thequality teaching provided by the School’sown staff, their training is enriched byvisiting guest teachers. These guestteachers are from English NationalBallet Company and other companiesworldwide. The students benefitenormously from this wealth ofexperience and the links with theinternational dance fraternity.

Above Head of DanceAntony Dowson coachinga second year student.


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English National Ballet School is first and foremost a balletschool. We also set store by students receiving a good all-round education to prepare them for a future career indance and provide a broad course of academic study.

OPPORTUNITIESPERFORMING

As well as the School’s own performanceswhich take place at least twice a year,students gain additional skills throughparticipation in workshops for localprimary schools, which is part of a regularprogramme of outreach work.

Students also go abroad to perform andenter prestigious competitions such as thePrix de Lausanne and the Royal Academyof Dance’s Adeline Genée competition.Being based in London, the students oftenget the chance to perform in world-classvenues like the Royal Albert Hall.

Students experience a wide range ofperformance opportunities, which haveincluded taking part in a performancesequence in the film Upside ofAnger, starring Kevin Costner.

English National Ballet School’s philosophyis that ‘every opportunity to dance is aperformance opportunity’. This beliefdrives the School’s approach to thedevelopment of dancers and theexpectation that students should beprofessional at all times.

There are a variety of opportunities forstudents not only to perform, but also totake on professional engagements duringtheir training at the School.

The curriculum includes opportunities toshowcase the work of the students toaudiences and directors in the UK andabroad. The three-year course hasincreased the scope of performanceopportunities for students, as every thirdyear student experiences life with aprofessional dance company through thethe professional preparation programme.

The students have the opportunity toperform with the corps de ballet of EnglishNational Ballet Company and currentlyover 20% of dancers with the Companyare graduates of the School. Recentlystudents danced in English National Ballet’sNutcracker and Romeo & Juliet.

Right Students performingin the 2004 Gala.Far right Solo fromPaquita. Schoolperformance 2005.

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TO DANCEFITNESS

A high priority for English National BalletSchool is the students’ health and physicalwelfare. The School has introduced aninnovative programme of physical fitnessspecially designed for dance students. Theaim of this programme is to develop thestudents’ technical skills by improvingtheir general health, fitness and stamina.

The programme helps students to meet the ever-increasing technical and choreographic demands made on dancers today.

The School’s emphasis on fitness to dance and on a “healthy dancerprogramme” is about attention to all-round fitness that is achieved through a combination of regular aerobics classes,Pilates, body conditioning, weight-training and education about nutrition.

Visiting lecturers who are specialists inthe fields of nutrition, sports psychologyand physiotherapy supplement the core curriculum. The School values thisknowledge as part of the essentialpreparation for a career as a professionaldancer. It helps students to understandtheir physiques and to prevent injurieswherever possible.

At the School we want the students tofeel both mentally and physically in peakcondition, so that they can achieveexcellence in their performance.


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It is important that students feelcomfortable and secure in their livingaccommodation. We take great care toensure students are directed towardsuitable lodgings and most students liveat hostels recommended by the School.We do not generally encourage first yearstudents to take on the responsibility ofa flat on their own.

All students are required to register with a National Health Service GeneralPractitioner. If there is an emergency, the School’s Medical Advisor is available.

Every student must have private medicalinsurance. This can be arranged throughthe School. At School, a CharteredPhysiotherapist provides threepreventative and remedial clinics a week.

CAREPASTORAL At English National Ballet School the

welfare, health and general well being of our students is extremely important to us. We are delighted that the studentsfrequently describe the School as ‘feelinglike a family’. Our aim is to create anatmosphere that is welcoming, inclusiveand professional.

Every student has a personal tutor who is available to offer guidance andsupport. Other staff members are alwaysvery happy to be of help where they can.A School Counsellor is available at anytime if a student needs extra support orprofessional advice.

The School is aware that students haveentered an unfamiliar environment andfor some, the move to London is theirfirst time away from home. Weendeavour to make the transition as easy and stress-free as possible.


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A DAY IN THE LIFE “Even when I was very young, I could neverimagine myself working in an office, orsomewhere like that. I started my first danceclass when I was four years old, and I loved it.”

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Kelvin Au, from Hong Kong, is now 19years old and is a second year student at English National Ballet School.

He is extremely positive about hisexperience of the School and his future as a professional dancer.

“I’ve learned so many things at theSchool. I feel I am not only prepared for a professional life as a dancer, butalso for life.

“The School has encouraged me to take my ‘A’ levels, so that I will alwayshave something to fall back on otherthan dancing. I have also received aneducation about the importance of all-round physical well-being – what to eat –and a training schedule that has taughtme how to become physically stronger.

“I’ve had some great opportunities to perform and train. I worked with English National Ballet for three months.It was fantastic to be part of theCompany, but very tough. It was bothmentally very tiring and physicallydraining. It was brilliant to have thechance to build on what I have learnedat the School. Members of the Companywere like artistic and technical rolemodels for me. Also during that time Ideveloped my confidence and staminato perform every night.

Above Kelvin out andabout in London andworking hard at the School.Far right Kelvin rehearsing.

“At the School it feels like being part of afamily. The teachers and the other staffare all very friendly and approachable. Idon’t have time to feel homesick at all.The days are very full with dancing,training, performing or rehearsing. I amwith students from all around the world. It makes life very interesting.

On graduation Kelvin will take up acontract with National Ballet of Portugal.“I’m so excited about getting a job. I’vereally enjoyed my time with the Schooland learned a lot. I’m now ready to workas a ‘real’ dancer.”

A typical day for Kelvin…8am – arrives at the School Preparation body conditioning and sit upsTwo hours dance classBreakAcademic studiesPas de deux BreakRepertoire or Jazz or Contemporary6.30pm – finish with stretch and relaxbefore going home for dinner


FACILITIESSCHOOL

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As well as the sprung floor dance studios,there is a body conditioning studio and a weight training room. There are alsoa number of dedicated rooms forphysiotherapy.

The School has a well-stocked library anda study room, with computers providinginternet access. There is ample space forthe young people to relax in the studentlounge.

The School is very proud that part of dance history was preserved when the seating from the old Sadlers Wellstheatre was rescued and installed in the studio balcony.

At present, we regret that the Schoolpremises are not easily accessible as theycan only be reached by stairs.

English National Ballet School occupies a large first floor area in a traditionalVictorian red brick building in a quietstreet in Chelsea.

The School’s atmosphere is warm andwelcoming, whilst still maintaining the air of a place of study and learning. The corridors are filled with the sound of classical music from the dance studiosand there is a real buzz as students move around getting on with their daily activities.


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ABOUT

ENGLISH NATIONAL BALLET

“The relationship between a company and its school is soimportant in developing the artists of the future. There are many dancers in English National Ballet who havegraduated from our own School.” Wayne Eagling

Far left Daria Klimentovaand Dmitri Gruzdyev danceGiselle in English NationalBallet’s production.Opposite left to rightENBS graduates andcompany members JennaLee, Erina Takahashi andJames Streeter.Below Wayne EaglingArtistic Director of EnglishNational Ballet.

English National Ballet is one of theworld’s great ballet companies. Foundedby Alicia Markova and Anton Dolin in1950, the original vision for the Companywas to take classical ballet of the highestquality to the widest geographicalaudience, at a price everyone couldafford. This remains the cornerstone ofthe Company’s philosophy today.

As a flagship company for the nation,English National Ballet presents anextensive touring schedule at home andoverseas. The Company employs thebest of British and international talent;choreographers, dancers, designers,musicians, rehearsal staff, techniciansand administrators, who all work as anensemble to create productions thattour brilliantly and are accessible andexciting to audiences.

English National Ballet School wasfounded in 1988 and was originallybased at Markova House, the home ofthe Company. The links between theSchool and the Company remain strong,and English National Ballet School is acrucial resource in providing theCompany with talented young dancers.The Company has a full timecomplement of over 60 dancers.

English National Ballet is committed to developing the art form by:• keeping the cornerstones of the

classical repertoire vibrantly alive• commissioning and acquiring new works• refurbishing existing works• encouraging new choreographers

to work with performers.

As a touring Company, English NationalBallet is committed to taking large-scaleclassical ballet around the UK andinternationally. The Company is knownfor its touring and its ability to presentworks from the classical repertoire in a variety of forms and locations.

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English National Ballet School is situatedin the heart of the Royal Borough ofKensington and Chelsea in south-westLondon, very close to the famous andfashionable King’s Road. The immediatearea is residential with good shoppingand restaurants near by and whilst a busylocation, it does not have the stressesand congestion of London’s West End.

The students have easy access to someof the most famous landmarks andinstitutions in London, like the Royal AlbertHall, Royal College of Music and Harrods.

London offers students a wealth ofopportunities to enhance their cultural andartistic development outside the Schoolcurriculum. The capital city offers the mostexciting and vibrant arts community withthriving world-class ballet, theatre, opera,art galleries and museums.

Cultural visits to galleries, museums andperformances are organised by the Schoolas part of the academic curriculum, andstudents are also strongly encouraged tovisit these venues independently. Suchopportunities and experiences serve toaugment their future careers in thetheatre and the arts.

The School is well served by LondonUnderground transport and bus servicesand is within safe walking distance of the living accommodation provided by nearby recommended hostels.

LOCATIONSCHOOL

Below left to rightFemale students’ halls ofresidence, Big Ben, BritishMuseum, Harrods,Coliseum, Royal Albert Hall,National Portrait Galleryand London Eye.


English National Ballet School

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