Imagine, experience, inspire

Our popular workshop and theatre visit package includes subsidised tickets to see a schools’ matinee performance. A workshop, held in school, combined with a theatre visit demystifies ballet thereby enhancing participants understanding and appreciation of the art form.

Workshops are available to Primary, Secondary, Further and Higher Education and Special Educational Needs School. No previous dance experience is necessary since all workshops are bespoke to the needs of the group.

Content
At Primary level, an English National ballet workshop will draw on classical ballet technique in order to develop students’ basic movement and performance skills. An energetic warm-up will encourage students to recognise dance as a physical activity which can improve health and fitness. Through creative exploration of English National Ballet repertoire, students learn to express ideas in response to the stories, themes, concepts and music of the ballet. By working together in small groups and in pairs, students develop social skills and a growing awareness and understanding of others' needs. Similarly, working on creative tasks will develop students understanding of compositional skills and performance qualities necessary to portray different characters. The session culminates with an informal sharing of work amongst the peer group.

Secondary and Higher Education workshops include a classical ballet warm-up tailored to the ability of the group. Students will develop their dance technique through a series of exercises including travelling sequences and phrases of movement inspired by the repertoire. Students are provided with the tools to develop choreographic ideas such as motif development, use of floor patterns and pathways and characterisation. After learning a section of English National Ballet repertoire, students are encouraged to develop their creativity through individual interpretation of the repertoire. Individual, pair and group work will help promote trusting relationships between students as well as developing composition and presentation skills. Performance and appreciation skills are improved through an informal sharing of work at the end of the session. Vocational students will benefit from an added level of professionalism when working with experts from English National Ballet.

An English National Ballet workshop will develop and enhance a wide range of key ‘functional’ and ‘personal, learning and thinking’ skills and qualitites for learning highlighted in the National Curriculum. Some of these include communication, team work, self motivation, improving own learning and performance, and creative thinking.

Requirements
- A maximum of 30 participants of a similar age in any one session
- A clean uncarpeted gym or hall space, preferably with a sprung/semi sprung floor
- A CD player and DVD playback (as appropriate)
- A piano/keyboard and piano stool (as appropriate)

Resources
A range of informative resources are freely available to teachers and pupils to continue the learning experience. (Click here to be directed to our Resources page).

“Outstanding teaching, clear, informative and able to capture the boys understanding of ballet in a fun way”
Vivienne Edwards, Teacher, Aldwickbury School, Harpenden

“The activity added to the student’s knowledge of dance genres, discipline, performance skills and helped in developing choreographic ideas.”
Kate Everitt, Acland Burghley School, Camden

“The workshop has been one of the most inspiring and enjoyable experiences in my life so far. I am very grateful to have been given this opportunity and work with amazing and talented people. This experience has benefitted me greatly and I will take everything I have learnt and use it in the future as I pursue my dance career.” Gemma Harrison, BTEC Dance student, Salford City College