All classes have live piano accompaniment.

Ballet for 3-4 Years - Music & Movement

These first classes are an introduction to ballet through the use of creative dance, live music and narrative mime designed to promote and enhance the essential skills for these formative years such as social and physical confidence, co-ordination and artistic development. There is an emphasis on enjoyment and creativity and the use of the children's own ideas and experiences. These classes are popular with boys as well. All parents/guardians are welcome to watch or join in too! Dress as advised by the tutor at the first class.

Ballet for Older Children

As the children progress they move on into the ballet classes listed here and have the opportunity to take exams, creating their own choreography and taking part in competitions which keeps the school's standards high. However, there is still emphasis on enjoyment of dance.

Ballet for Adults

Adults of all levels of ability are welcome, why not brush up on ballet from your childhood days.

Who was Cecchetti?

Enrico Cecchetti trained under Lepri, a pupil of the great Carlo Blasis who codified the technique of classical ballet in 1820.His ideas were developed further by Cecchetti who grouped the classical vocabulary into six sets of exercises, one for each day of the working week. At the height of his career as a member of the Imperial Russia Ballet he created the virtuoso role Ephor the Bluebird and the mime role of carabosse in the premiere of The Sleeping Beauty in 1890.

His pupils have included Pavlova, Karsavina, Nijinsky, Markova, de Valois, Rambert, Massine and Fred Astaire. He has been described as “the greatest teacher of his generation”.  Darcy Bussell and Jonathan Payne are just two of the present generation’s many Cecchetti trained dancers. The present Director of the Royal Ballet Company, Monica Mason was Cecchetti trained and studied with Nesta Brooking.

About the Tutor
Jane Worsley LISTD (Licentiate, Imperial Society of Teachers of Dancing) in Cecchetti Ballet. ISTD National and Scottish Dancing. Fitness League diploma.

Jane was educated at The Hampshire School, Knightsbridge where, at a young age, she gained her ISTD Associate teaching exams in National Dance and Scottish Dancing. She also taught Cecchetti Ballet National Scottish and Ballroom dancing in many schools.

Jane was then awarded a scholarship at the renowned Nesta Brooking School of Ballet and Choreography where she trained as a dancer in classical ballet, Spanish and Historical Dance. She studied Cecchetti Ballet including both Advanced 1 and 2 levels gaining her Licentiate ISTD Cecchetti. She continued to be sent out to schools to teach Cecchetti Ballet during her training as a dancer. All her qualifications are recognised by UCAS and regularly updated. She also holds a Fitness League diploma and is recognised by the Council for Dance Education and Training.

Jane uses the unique teaching of the Cecchetti method, to encourage musicality and choreography in children of all ages and ability. She attends many courses and seminars throughout each year, ensuring that her pupils reach the highest standard.

The Beacon Arts Ballet School consistently achieves high success in Cecchetti Ballet exams including the vocational levels of Cecchetti Intermediate Foundation, Intermediate and Advanced 1. Pupils have gone on to vocational schools including Ballet Rambert, London School of Contemporary Dance and Central School of Ballet. A number of our children successfully audition for Cecchetti Associates and Scholars. The pupils also attend the annual Junior Cecchetti Summer School held at Tring which includes many different dance genres including musical theatre.

The choreographic awareness of movement, space, discipline and music in ballet can enhance and carry children through many aspects of life. At the Beacon Arts there is a strong encouragement in developing Choreography which has culminated in holding many of the coveted Cecchetti Choreographic Awards including the Richard Glassstone Trophy 5 times.