Coaching for the Cecchetti Classical Ballet Awards

Every year in November, dancers who are trained in Cecchetti Method and who meet the standard criteria for entry are encouraged to take part in the Cecchetti Classical Ballet Awards also known as the ‘Mabel Ryans’. This is a competition aimed at non-vocational dancers and consists of set classwork and a solo dance performed in twos or as a solo, in a public setting. HBS dancers learn the discipline of taking the responsibility to practise at home between weekly rehearsals. Whilst not every dancer can win an Award, the experience of taking part is enjoyable and rewarding.

 

Performances

All our dancers in Primary and above have the opportunity to dance in a bi-yearly summer showcase which for several years has taken place at the Arundel Centre, Channing School, N6, a 5 minute walk from Highgate Ballet School. In alternate years the summer showcase is a ‘watch week plus more’ at the URC at the end of the summer term.

In mid – December the chapel at the URC is transformed into a performance space for our annual charity performance of The Nutcracker and other Suite Things.

The unset senior performance class dancers perform with the Philippeian Players in their annual pantomime in mid- January each year.

Over the years dancers have also taken part in many performances in and outside of the school for example at the local nursing Home, as part of U-Dance at the Festival Hall, at the V&A, with the HBS Youth Dance Company and other youth dance initiatives

 

We are delighted and proud to support and encourage creating choreography from the earliest years!

Dancers at the school can develop and create their own choreography from the very earliest years. It all begins with improvisation in the Primary and standard 1 classes, which encourages children to learn to listen and respond to music and rhythm. Workshops further inspire and help a dancer develop their skills. The school encourages dancers to create pieces for internal performances and to enter for the Cecchetti Choreographic Competition which takes place annually in central London in the spring.