After graduating from The Royal Ballet School, I joined Birmingham Royal Ballet, where I performed as a soloist for 20 years. During this time, I travelled the world, performing the companies extensive repertoire and working with incredible choreographers in various cities like New York, Chicago, Tokyo, Beijing, and across Europe. Additionally, I had the opportunity to choreograph for esteemed companies such as Selfridges and Pandora UK.
As my career neared its end and after becoming a mother of two, I realised the value of passing on my knowledge and expertise. I found that sharing my skills as a professional from a globally recognised company was an invaluable opportunity for many.
Transitioning into post-professional training, I became a certified postural stability coach specialising in falls prevention exercises. I actively participated in the government's Dance to Health scheme, providing weekly classes to adults at risk of falls.
Seeking to expand my expertise, I pursued training at YogaBody in Barcelona, completing an Honours teacher training program. Furthering my exploration into yoga's anatomical and philosophical aspects, I obtained a 200-hour traditional Hatha Raja Yoga teaching qualification under Ambra Vallo at Indaba Yoga Studio in Marylebone, London.
Diversifying my teaching portfolio, I established an aerial yoga program at a local climbing centre and transitioned my pre-professional ballet coaching and yoga classes to an online platform, reaching students as far as Canada.
Drawing on my background as a professional ballet dancer, I offer private ballet coaching for individuals of all ages, providing a glimpse into the life of a ballerina and sharing industry insights. Additionally, I specialise in aerial yoga, which involves rigging to enable inversions and the numerous benefits of being upside down, such as spinal decompression for improved alignment and posture.
Born: Winchester
Trained: Parkewood School of Dance and the Royal Ballet School
Joined: 1999; Soloist, 2012
Choreography: In December 2016, the Company teamed up with PANDORA and London Contemporary Voices to surprise shoppers in Birmingham’s Grand Central with a flash mob, which I choreographed.
Most rewarding role: In the Upper Room – it’s a marathon!
Proudest on-stage moment: When my two daughters first came to see me dance.
Off-stage: I am the subject of Balancé, a short film about my home and work life, which has won several film festival awards.
Created role: Sister Martha in David Bintley's Cyrano
REPERTORY INCLUDES
Frederick Ashton: La Fille mal gardée (Lise's Friends), The Dream (Helena, Moth), Façade(Polka girl)
George Balanchine: Apollo (Calliope), Agon (pas de trois) and Serenade.
David Bintley: Arthur (Elaine, Margause), Beauty and the Beast (Vanité, Fière, Vixen), Hobson's Choice (Vickey Hobson, Salvation Army), The Nutcracker Sweeties (Buttons), The Seasons ('Winter'), The Shakespeare Suite(Titania), 'Still Life' at the Penguin Café (Great Auk), Sylvia (Apollo) Allegri diversi, Les Petits Riens, Sylvia (Apollo), Carmina burana (Pony Tails), The Orpheus Suite ('Moisterisers'), Take Five, Four Scottish DancesDavid Bintley and Galina Samsova's production of Giselle.
John Cranko: Pineapple Poll (Blanche), The Taming of the Shrew (Pas de six)
Joe Layton: The Grand Tour (Mary Pickford)
Kenneth MacMillan: Romeo and Juliet (Juliet's Friends), Elite Syncopations ('Golden Hours'), Solitaire
Rudolph Nureyev: Raymonda Act III
Marius Petipa: Paquita
Garry Stewart: The Centre and its Opposite
Twyla Tharp: Night Sinatra Songs ('Forget Domani'), In the Upper Room
Peter Wright's productions of Coppélia('Betrothal'), The Nutcracker (Clara, Columbine), The Sleeping Beauty (Fairy of Song, pas de quatre), and Peter Wright and Galina Samsova's production of Swan Lake (Cygnets, Courtesan, Italian Princess, 'Neapolitan Dance' Pas de quatre)
No path is straight forward. I took many unexpected turns on my way here. What matters is that we get up each day and set our foot on our journey.
Origins
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