A Corps de Ballet of Swans

After what seemed like a very long term, I was incredibly relieved to get home for Christmas- not least after a 12 hour journey on several trains!!!

The best part of the holidays was, as I had expected, going back to my dance school, Rochelle. Despite being exhausted from my long journey, the day after arriving home, I was back in the studio. My beloved teacher Miss Kaye looked as if a thousand Christmasses had come at once when I walked in- and Olivia, one of the children who I used to teach, ran straight to me, and flung her tiny five year old self into a silent hug that clearly said 'thank goodness you're back!! I was starting to worry you'd forgotten me!!" Being back at Rochelle was an incredibly inspiring reminder of what I am aiming to achieve- Miss Kaye tells me that I inspire the children, but what they probably don't realise is that they are all, in their own unique way, an amazing inspiration to me too. Miss Kaye asked me to teach a Primary class- they certainly enjoyed learning repertoire from Ballet West's Nutcracker!! And a grade 1 class. I asked the grade 1 children what ballets they had seen, and what would they like to learn? Their answer was unanimous- they loved Swan Lake. Which was a relief to me, as I know a variety of corps de ballet and soloist roles in Swan Lake. I decided to teach them the corps de ballet Swans' entrance, which I learnt at the London Coliseum a year ago. Although their steps weren't perfect, they were all determined to do their best. I realised, in that moment, that I may never be in the corps de ballet of a professional company. But I had my own corps de ballet, of nine young dancers, who were not only eager to please me, but they were eager to learn. I had something to achieve, and for once, I achieved it; every single child was smiling as they left the studio after class. Some even waited behind, to ask me more about Swan Lake, about Ballet West, about performing on stage. 

As I gain more experience in teaching, I realise that my destiny lies in passing on the gift of inspiration through dance- not, as I once aspired, in a company, but instead as a teacher. Nothing can describe the sense of liberation of discovering my gift. 

Even just for an hour, on a cold, wintery Saturday afternoon, I can make a difference to the lives of the children who come to me, placing their trust in me- even just for an hour, in a church hall, overlooked by those walking past, we can create magic- we can all be Swans on the Royal Opera House stage. 

Life at Ballet School

As a young dancer, I found that the dream to which we aspired was shrouded in mystery- yes, we all want a vocational school place, yet it is often unclear as to what life at ballet school actually involves. So, I thought I would share my daily schedule, and what I get up to during my time at Ballet West. Unlike most schools, our timetable changes on a weekly basis, so it can be quite varied- last half term, we had about 24 hours of classes a week, whereas this week we've had 35. We have an hour and a half ballet class every morning, starting at 9, so we are expected to be in the studio for 8.30 to warm up. Then after ballet, we have another class, lasting an hour, such as contemporary or choreography. We have conditioning 2 or 3 times a week- a general conditioning class, then a ballet related one. Also, there is a written anatomy exam which we are required to pass, so once a week there is an academic lesson to focus on that. We don't have a set lunch break, we simply have breaks throughout the day so can decide for ourselves when to have lunch. In the afternoon we have a few more classes- so usually 5 or 6 hours a day- such as pointe or pas de deux. Once a month is "Jazz Week" when a guest teacher comes in to teach jazz- his name is Jordi, and he is incredibly enthusiastic!!! 

In the evenings, we often have rehearsals for choreography assessments, we have also recently started rehearsals for our tour of The Nutcracker. On Saturdays, we usually have an RAD class, followed by rehearsals. There are no classes on Sunday's, so we get the day off, to relax and prepare for the next week! 

Audition Advice

As the summer draws to a close and the autumn leaves begin to turn golden, many young dancers frantically consider the next step in their careers; auditions for vocational ballet school. A year ago, I too was stepping into that wonderful whirlwind of applications, auditions- and finally, a coveted ballet school place. Having frequently endured auditions and rejection letters, I thought I could share some advice regarding the audition adventure.

1. Do your research. Know what schools you want to apply to, what their requirements are, and what application photographs you will need. A spreadsheet can be handy for keeping track of things!!

2. Be realistic. Unless you're an Associate or already in vocational training, the chances of getting a place at the Royal are quite slim. But also, be realistic about finances. Consider limiting how many auditions you attend, but also, make sure you can afford your vocational school place! Some ballet schools, such as Northern and Tring, have Dance and Drama awards (DADA's) which can cover your tuition fees and maintainance costs- Lower Schools such as White Lodge and Tring have MDS (Music And Dance Scheme) funding. Other courses, such as Ballet West, and the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland, are degree accredited, so are eligible for student loans. Some schools, such as London Russian Ballet School, or Ballet Theatre UK, offer scholarships and bursaries. So consider what is affordable for you!

3. Added Extras

Most schools offer RAD exams; Northern Ballet School offer DDI teacher training, Ballet West offer a BA Honours degree. Consider what you want from your training- it's always good to have a backup plan, know what you want to do just in case you can't get a company contract at the end of your training!

4. Sort your forms and photos.

This is where organisation is key!! Make sure you know exactly what poses are required for your photos- different schools require different poses- and ask your teacher to help you to get them exactly right! Also, be aware that some schools require references from your academic and/or dance teachers- which is why it isn't a good idea to leave it until 2 days before the deadline (which I have done several times previously- whoops!!!) 

5. On Audition Day;

Try not to be nervous! Yes, I know that's easier said than done, but remember that you are well prepared, you have done as much as you can, and now it's your time to shine. Going to as many auditions as you can will help you learn to relax so that you can dance as well as possible. It helps to have a "practice run" audition, for something such as an associate scheme or youth ballet, where there is less pressure so you won't be quite so stressed! As funny as it may seem, my "practice run" audition was for Royal- I knew I wasn't going to get in, so simply viewed it as an amazing experience- which it was! 

It is natural to feel nervous before any audition, especially for the schools that you particularly want a place at. Some auditions I was quite calm about, but with others, I couldn't sleep for weeks beforehand as my mind became consumed with thoughts of the audition!!! Try not to over think it or put too much pressure on yourself! 

On audition day, make sure you leave yourself plenty of time to get to the venue. Have spare tights, hairpins, hairnets, ballet shoes, pointe shoes, plenty of water & a snack with you.

For most auditions, you have about half an hour to warm up beforehand- I found it helped to be ritualistic; have a set, familiar warmup, and listen to a calming yet motivating playlist. Think positively; you are going to succeed! Breathe deeply, and smile!!

6. In the Audition;

Listen carefully to what is being asked of you, and do your best to do it precisely, even if it is a new step, or a different way of doing something. It is normal to feel apprehensive about certain parts of the audition- I was always terrified about the adagio and pirouettes, I felt certain that I was going to fall flat on my face!!! This is where positive imagery is useful; visualise yourself doing the steps well, remember a time in class when you felt on balance and in control. You can do it!!! But at the same time, no audition will ever be 'perfect' so don't expect it to be! You will have a far heightened awareness of your mistakes than you usually would have- don't be discouraged if you make a mistake, the panel might not have noticed! Move on, focus on the next step, you can't change what has happened! 

7. The Wait for Results

If you thought the week before the audition was stressful, the few weeks after will be doubly so! (I'm joking.... I think....) instinctively you will want to analyse every tiny mistake that you made- don't! What's done is done, you can't go back and change it! And if it is a 'no' this time, don't give up! If you really want to succeed, you will stay determined, stay focussed, and try again next time! Good luck!!!

The Snow Queen

To conclude a delightful half term of private lessons, learning the advanced 1 syllabus under the meticulous tutelage of my amazing teacher Miss Kaye, I was eager to see the opening night of Ballet Theatre UK's "The Snow Queen".

I remembered seeing the company dance Snow Queen back in 2011- as a young dancer just starting out on my journey of learning ballet, I was delighted to be allowed backstage after the show, where I met Natalie Cawte and Kazuka Oike; I still have the programme that they signed for me. I knew that the company had changed somewhat since I saw them dance Swan Lake last year- Natalie, Jessica and Julia had moved on to other work- so I was eager to see how the new dancers had helped the company to evolve. Nonetheless, it was also pleasing to see familiar faces again- Clair Corrubble made an imposing Snow Queen, her effortless command of the stage and stunning facial expressions reminded me of how she dazzled as Odile in Swan Lake. 

Gerda was danced in a captivatingly playful manner by Sarah Mortimer, whose clean technique and excellent artistry made her a joy to watch.

In Act 1, the Peasant Pas de Trois was danced by Grace Carr, Emma Miller and Robert Noble- seeing it brought back fond memories of learning the solos at BTUK's summer school in 2014! Grace, a Central graduate making her debut with the company, demonstrated neat footwork and pleasant artistry, although seemed a little nervous at times. 

In Act 2, Charlotte Eades shone as a Flower Soloist, her elegant upper body and ports de bras complimenting her excellent artistry and innate musicality. She later showed a more comedic style as the mischievous Princess, working well alongside David Brewer, who likewise demonstrated stellar technical ability but also fabulous characterisation and personality. 

The costumes sparkled glamorously, ranging from Sleeping Beauty fairy-esque tutus for the Flowers, to ragged Gypsy dresses; the relatively simple yet effective set design and staging gave the ballet a definite sense of professionalism. 

There were many young children in the audience, all of whom seemed captivated by the delightful choreography and easy to understand storyline- Ballet Theatre UK are definitely succeeding in inspiring the next generation of young dancers, and I am looking forward to seeing their premiere of "Pinocchio" early next year!

Half Term!!!!

I am currently waiting in Glasgow airport, to fly home for half term! Overall, I think my first half term at Ballet West has gone well, although I have missed home a lot! The highlights for me have been repertoire classes- a guest teacher, Kate Hazelby, came to teach us corps de ballet work from La Sylphide. Also, I was chosen to participate in a photoshoot to promote Nutcracker tour- I was dressed as one of the mice, which was fun!! 

Our first choreographic assessment was yesterday; I choreographed a modern contemporary piece called "Fragments" based upon the image of a shattered chandelier- I really enjoyed being able to create work on my peers, I worked with Jordan and Joey who are both incredibly talented! 

Settling in

I have just finished the first two weeks of classes at Ballet West, and am glad to say it is going well so far! We have only had 4 or 5 hours of classes per day, so a nice gentle start. Although every day included a 90-minute ballet class, we have only done barre work, in fact the first week's ballet consisted only of plies and tendus- it's fascinating to go right back to the basics and really refine the fundamental aspects of our technique. Our ballet teacher Daniel Job is excellent at explaining exactly how to do each movement, focussing upon the physical sensation of the movement. He puts a lot of emphasis on posture and flat turnout, which has already helped me to see a change in my physique, as we develop a 'ballet body'. In addition, we have studied pointe, jazz, contemporary, pilates, choreography, conditioning, RAD and pas de deux. I particularly enjoyed the pas de deux class, as it's something I hadn't studied previously- I partnered a 3rd-year boy named Owen, who was excellent at instinctively knowing exactly how to get me on balance and to relax so that the movements looked effortless! I thought that promenades in arabesque en pointe would be quite difficult, but Owen helped me to feel secure in the movement and strongly hold the arabesque.
I also enjoyed the choreography classes; our first assessment is in October, we have to choreograph a duet for 2 dancers, but it has to be modern contemporary, rather than ballet, which will be quite a challenge! We are learning a variety of choreographic techniques though which will definitely be useful.
I think the best part about being here is feeling that I belong- being in the studio by 7.30 each morning, to warm up for 8am class doesn't feel like a chore, but rather a privilege; we are so lucky to be taught by amazing teachers, and to be dancing practically all day every day! Being in the highlands of Scotland does feel a million miles away from the big cities, but at the same time its as if i've stepped through a portal into a parallel universe where the world revolves around ballet! Perfect!!!

Intermediate Ballet

At the start of the school summer holidays, five weeks ago, my ballet teacher asked me "So what are we going to do over the summer?!" I had an idea, but didn't want to sound ridiculous by suggesting it. Luckily, she knew exactly what I was thinking, and grinned determinedly as she said "How about we get your Intermediate exam done?" When I started ballet, five years ago now, the teacher id had put me in an Intermediate Foundation RAD class, then quickly moved me up to Intermediate when the rest of the class moved up. Unfortunately, I wasn't really given corrections, so when I started at Rochelle ten months ago, I had been studying RAD intermediate for 4 years but still wasn't particularly at Intermediate standard. Miss Kaye was horrified by how my previous teacher had never really 'taught' me anything, but was incredibly determined to help me to improve my technique. We did a lot of non syllabus work, refining the basics; I did grade classes en pointe- I found that I could learn a lot just by watching how the grade 2 and 3 students danced, even though they were several years younger than myself.

In June I did my Classical Award 2- I passed with Distinction (88%), which gave me a lovely, much needed confidence boost. 

Learning the Intermediate work so quickly was a challenge, but Miss Kaye kindly allowed me to use the studio to practice whenever I wanted- often, I would have 3 hours of private coaching in the morning, then practice by myself, working on my corrections for a further three or four hours. It definitely made the summer holidays this year very special- there is just something so magical about having private lessons, and finally seeing a bit of progress!!! 

I did my exam on August 24th- the week prior to which, I had been on a family holiday to Menorca, so I was a bit stressed that I'd only really had a month to learn and practice all the syllabus!!! I don't usually get nervous about exams, but knowing that I was the only candidate in the exam (therefore if i forgot the enchainement I wouldn't have anyone to copy!) made it seem incredibly daunting. The night before the exam, at midnight I was still going over my syllabus notes.... I wasn't the only one having trouble getting to sleep though- Miss Kaye told me that she had had a nightmare, and dreamt that I turned up to the exam with my hair in a stiffly curled blonde perm!!!!

On the morning of the exam, I felt sick with nervousness, but Miss Kaye was wonderfully calm as usual, reminding me that I'd be fine as long as I danced as well as I'd done in my private lessons. "Don't go whacking your legs up too high, placement and control is more important!!"

Another young Rochelle student was going to the exam too, to do her Grade 3- she was incredibly hyper and giggly, which was a cute distraction from how apprehensive I was feeling! I felt as if I was going to forget the entire syllabus!! But once I was in the exam it was fine- although I did make quite a few silly mistakes, which I was annoyed about! Nonetheless, Miss Kaye and I were both incredibly relieved after the exam- even though when she asked me how I thought it went, I promptly reeled off everything that id messed up on, until she playfully said "okay shut up now, I don't think I want to know any more!" I wasn't overly pleased with how I'd done, and thought that I'd be lucky to scrape a low Merit, although it was nice to have finally just done the exam!

I got a text this morning from Miss Kaye, to say that.... I passed the exam with 86%, Distinction!!!!! I am so incredibly happy, and grateful to Miss Kaye for all that she has taught me ❤️