Visit to CENTRAL SCHOOL OF BALLET class

VISIT TO CENTRAL SCHOOL OF BALLET

6 June 2025

Central School has modern facilities in Southwark. It takes about 35 - 40 students a year, mostly at 16, and older students take part in an annual tour by its performance company, Ballet Central, between May and July.

We were welcomed to the studios by Mark Osterfield, Executive Director, who outlined the morning programme and gave a plug for the current Ballet Central tour which included a rare restaging of Frederick Ashton’s 1932 work Foyer de danse, reconstructed by ex Royal ballet mistress Ursula Hageli.

Year 1 students were rehearsing for their summer performance which was less than a month away. This was new choreography to Glazunov’s Four Seasons, starting at Summer for the whole group, then Autumn which involved challenging pas de deux, Winter and then finishing with London (renamed from Spring).

Not all the choreography had been finalised with adjustments being made before us. It must also be difficult enough to work on lifts without having a knowlegable audience looking on, but that is part of a dancer’s life and there will be mistakes in the studio. Friday morning also comes at the end of a long week for the students.

The second part of our visit was an explanation followed by questions and answers on the academic degree side of the school, led by the Director of Education and Head of Studies.

Students are selected on potential and only about 10% of applicants get accepted. These are difficult decisions (mainly for Kate Coyne, Artistic Director) to get the right balance (eg sufficient boys). The initial 2 year Foundation BA degree is validated by the University of Kent and there is potential for a 3rd top-up year. A small number may go on to a Masters MA.

Central’s staff are proud that their curriculum offers what the industry seeks - the “thinking dancer” where the academic side is integrated with the dance side. They call it contextual studies involving professional practice (useful things such as selecting photos, writing a CV, academic skills) and dance studies of history and styles.

Some interesting questions followed.

How does funding work? Fees are more than £9,000 a year covered largely by student loans, bursaries and other support schemes. But costs are £20,000 a year so the School relies on higher education grants and fundraising.

What is success for a student? Largely personal growth and progression but recognising there are many varied careers possible.

It was most valuable for members to get an insight into this side of a ballet school and to see that the dance training we usually see is only part of the story. £375 was raised through bookings and was donated back to the school.

Keith White

Ballet Central’s tour takes them to London at the Linbury (RBO) on 17 June (1400 and 1915) and the Britten Theatre on 16/17 July (both 1930).