SATURDAY ASSOCIATES 2022/23

Preliminary Audition: Saturday 8th October 2022

Final Audition: Saturday 15th October 2022

Audition Venue: BOA Academy (Birmingham)

Course Begins: Saturday 12th November 2022

We are looking for boys and girls aged 7yrs-19yrs, who have a passion for ballet, with a sound knowledge of classical technique.

Application deadline is Friday 30th September. Late entrants may be accepted if places are still available, please email us if you wish to apply after this date.

Any student unable to attend the preliminary audition dates should contact us and we will endeavour to make arrangements via video audition if necessary.

Please note, all candidates must pay an audition fee of £30.00 prior to the audition taking place.

Have a question? Please email us at info@midlandtheatreballet.com and we will respond as quickly as possible

SATURDAY ASSOCIATES 2022/23

Preliminary Audition: Saturday 8th October 2022

Final Audition: Saturday 15th October 2022

Audition Venue: BOA Academy (Birmingham)

Course Begins: Saturday 12th November 2022

We are looking for boys and girls aged 7yrs-19yrs, who have a passion for ballet, with a sound knowledge of classical technique.

Application deadline is Friday 30th September. Late entrants may be accepted if places are still available, please email us if you wish to apply after this date.

Any student unable to attend the preliminary audition dates should contact us and we will endeavour to make arrangements via video audition if necessary.

Please note, all candidates must pay an audition fee of £30.00 prior to the audition taking place.

Have a question? Please email us at info@midlandtheatreballet.com and we will respond as quickly as possible

COURSE INFORMATION

What is MTB Associates?

Our Associates programme offers ballet and contemporary dance training for students aged 7-19 who have a passion to perform.

 

Our programme focusses on enhancing balletic technique, whilst also providing an environment for students to develop their artistic performance levels and confidence during repertoire and creative classes.

 

Throughout the course students will work with a diverse variety of teachers and choreographers, all of whom have worked, or are currently working, within renowned ballet and performing arts companies around the world.

Programme Outline

The 21-day programme, based in Birmingham, provides young aspiring dancers with the opportunity to develop their balletic technique, to learn new dance vocabulary and to develop their performance, artistry and confidence.

 

Students will be challenged throughout the course in a safe and enjoyable environment, with teachers and choreographers who have worked, or are currently working, within renowned ballet and performing arts companies around the world.

 

The programme also offers the optional opportunity to take part in contemporary classes alongside the ballet course.

 

Each week students will firstly take part in a ballet class, which will focus on enhancing balletic technique. This will then be followed by a creative class within which students will learn repertoire from renowned ballets as well as unique pieces created by the artistic team.

 

Students will take part in 2 hours of ballet training each week, with the option of taking an additional 1 hour contemporary class afterwards (apart from the youngest age group, which is 1.5hrs of ballet followed by 30mins of contemporary)

 

Students will train for 20 sessions before taking part in a showcase performance during the 21st session to parents and guardians.

Our Aim: Why Are We Different?

We are passionate about performance and strongly believe that dance education should consist of technical classes alongside repertoire and creative classes.

 

Not only will students focus on improving ballet technique, but every week they will take part in creative classes, within which students will learn to perform repertoire from renowned ballets as well as unique pieces created by the artistic teaching team.

 

As well as this, our core aim is to create an environment in which students can learn from a diverse teaching faculty from many different ballet and performing arts backgrounds. Each week students will learn from a diverse variety of different teachers, enabling them to broaden their outlook and gain a greater appreciation for the different interpretations and contributions that individual teachers and choreographers bring to the studio.

Will There Be A Performance?

At the end of the course students will have the opportunity to demonstrate their learnings in a showcase in front of parents and guardians.

 

Please note, this showcase will be much smaller and more intimate in comparison to the Midland Theatre Ballet performance.

Age Groups

There will be 5 age groups as follows (these are subject to change and final confirmation will be sent out before the course begins):

 

Juniors (ages 7-9)

Mids (ages 10-12)

Seniors (ages 13+)

Course Dates

The course will take place on the following Saturdays:

 

Audition Dates: 8th October, 15th October

 

2022

November: 12th, 19th, 26th

December: 3rd

 

2023

January: 7th, 14th, 21st

February: 4th, 11th, 18th

March: 4th, 18th

April: 15th, 22nd

May: 6th, 13th, 20th

June: 10th, 17th, 24th, 25th (showcase day – Sunday)

Course Timings

Please note, timings and groupings are subject to change before the course starts.

 

All students will take part in the Ballet course, but the Contemporary course is an optional extra.

 

Juniors Ballet (ages 7-9): 09:30-11:00

Juniors Contemporary (ages 7-9): 11:05-11:35

 

Mids Ballet (ages 10-12): 11:35-13:35

Mids Contemporary (ages 10-12): 13:40-14:40

 

Senior Ballet (ages 13+): 14:40-16:40

Senior Contemporary (ages 13+): 16:45-17:45

Course Fees

Juniors (ages 7-9): £480 per year (+ optional weekly contemporary class for additional £100 per year)

 

Mids (ages 10-12): £640 per year (+ optional weekly contemporary class for additional £200 per year)

 

Seniors (ages 13+): £640 per year (+ optional weekly contemporary class for additional £200 per year)

 

On accepting a place, a non-refundable deposit of £100 is required, which will also act as the first payment.

 

The remaining balance may be paid up front or in 8x monthly instalments.

Uniform

When accepted onto the course, students will be sent a link to purchase the Associates leotard, which they will need to wear throughout the course.

Audition Information

Candidates will register in the reception area of BOA Academy. Once registered, we kindly ask that all parents leave the site once children have safely entered the audition. After the audition, students will be brought to the reception area for collection.

 

Exact timings will be sent across via email once you have submitted your application form. As part of the audition process, candidates will take part in a relaxed and enjoyable ballet class, which will last for approximately 1 hour. If you are successful, you will be invited back for the final audition.

 

For the audition, we recommend that dancers arrive with their ballet uniform underneath their clothes, with their hair and personal presentation in place as there will be no changing facilities available on the day.

 

Students will be informed on or before Wednesday 12th October if they have been awarded a place at finals or if they are unsuccessful.

 

All students who apply will be invited to the preliminary audition. Unfortunately it is not possible for us to invite every candidate back to the final audition, or to accept every candidate onto the course after the audition process as we aim to keep our group sizes at a level that ensures we offer high quality training and attention to students throughout the course.

More to be announced over the coming weeks!

ASSOCIATES TEACHERS 2022/23

Imogen-Lily Ash

Course Director
Immie's Bio

Imogen-Lily began her training at Elmhurst Ballet School, before continuing her training at Central School of Ballet, where she graduated with a First-Class BA Hons in 2018. During her time at CSB, she completed a UK tour and was fortunate enough to perform works including Matthew Bourne’s ‘Sleeping Beauty’ and Sir Christopher Gable’s ‘Cinderella’.

 

Immie has previously toured with Birmingham Royal Ballet in the production of ‘Sylvia’ and has also performed as Meg Giry in ‘The Phantom of The Opera’ in Copenhagen. Alongside her work at MTB, Immie currently performs around the world as Clara in ‘The Nutcracker and I’ with Alexandra Dariescu.

 

As a former MTB student herself, Immie is delighted to return to the company as a Director with an enormous passion for helping young dancers to experience this fantastic opportunity that gave her the spark at the start of her ballet journey all those years ago!

Isaac Bowry

Ballet Teacher
Isaac's Bio

Isaac started his classical ballet, contemporary and choreographic training under the Centre for Advanced Training scheme, The Lowry Theatre. Upon graduating from the C.A.T scheme Isaac then moved to Scotland to focus on his classical ballet training.

 

Isaac was  given opportunities to perform for The Rambert Dance Company for an array of performances and galas in London, as well as performing with New Adventures in Glasgow for the ‘Lord Of The Flies’ performances. Isaac finished his classical training at Elmhurst Ballet school under the late Errol Pickford former Royal Ballet, Principal dancer.

 

Isaac has worked with New Adventures since 2018 and his last tour was performing in Matthew Bourne’s production of ‘Nutcracker!’ 2021/22.

Natasha Chu

Contemporary Teacher
Natasha's Bio

After graduating from Central School of Ballet in 2018, Tash danced on tour with Matthew Bourne’s New Adventures (Romeo & Juliet), Ballet Cymru (Giselle) and performed at Glyndebourne Festival Opera (The Wreckers). She has also worked as a freelancer with various choreographers.

 

In 2020, she returned to CSB to complete her Masters in Choreography. She created a short dance film for Adventures in Filmwith New Adventures and her work has featured in various collaborations, on digital platforms and on stage. Most recently, she has been movement directing on Welsh National Opera youth company.

Anna Ciriano

Ballet Teacher
Anna's Bio

Anna was born in Barcelona and began dancing from the age of 3 in ‘Agueda Murillo’s Ballet School’ in her home town. At the age of 13 she joined her first vocational school in Barcelona, ‘Institut de Teatre’, where she trained up until the age of 16.

 

In 2014 she joined English National Ballet School and graduated in 2017. From then she has worked with various companies such as Orlando Ballet, Birmingham Royal Ballet and English National Ballet, where she is currently dancing.

Joshua Ecob

Ballet Teacher
Joshua's Bio

Born in Nottinghamshire, Joshua started his training at KSDance. Upon graduating in 2010 he danced for the Serbian National Ballet and Bosnian National Ballet before returning to the UK and joining London Contemporary Ballet Theatre.

 

Having completed his studies at The Royal Ballet School on their Diploma of Dance Teaching, Joshua is now a teacher at the Rambert School in London. He continues to work extensively as a guest teacher and private coach, both across the UK and internationally.

 

Since his return to the UK, Joshua has taught and choreographed for Midland Theatre Ballet, South West Theatre Ballet, and Belfast Theatre Ballet as well as other summer schools and ballet programs nation wide.

 

As a private coach Joshua works closely with students to refine their technique, preparing them for school entrance auditions, assessments and professional auditions. Students of Joshua’s have gone on to study at schools such as the Royal Ballet School, the Bolshoi Ballet School, Ellison Ballet School, English National Ballet School, Elmhurst Ballet School, Central School of Ballet and Tring Park.

Rosanna Ely

Ballet Teacher
Rosanna's Bio

Rosanna joined Birmingham Royal Ballet in 2014, after graduating from Elmhurst Ballet School. Here she has danced both nationally and internationally in many productions including Romeo and Juliet, Swan Lake and The Nutcracker.

 

She most recently performed the role of Kitri’s Friends in Carlos Acosta’s production of Don Quixote and her other roles include an ugly stepsister in Cinderella, Polish Princess and swans in Swan Lake, Spanish in The Nutcracker and Lead Harlot in Romeo and Juliet.

 

Rosanna started working for MTB this year on the production of Cinderella, and has enjoyed sharing insights of a professional career and watching the students flourish.

Shannon Parker

Ballet Teacher
Shannon's Bio

Shannon was a principal dancer with San Francisco Ballet, Northern Ballet Theatre and Theatre Ballet Du Rhin. She has danced all major roles extending from full length Classical, Neo Classical and Contemporary works from Balanchine, Forsythe, Bintley, Christensen, Taylor and Bruce.

 

Shannon was a runner up on Sky 1’ HD’s ‘Got To Dance’ in 2013, being the only classical act to reach that stage. As well as this, Shannon was a finalist and the judge’s Wild Card on Britain’s Got Talent in 2016, again being the only classical act to reach that stage.

 

At present, Shannon is currently performing with Chantry Dance Company and performing for corporate events and festivals around the world, whilst teaching and choreographing for various school companies.

Catrin Thomas

Contemporary Teacher
Catrin's Bio

Catrin graduated from Performers College in 2018 and performed as a dancer/showgirl in the ‘Thursford Christmas Spectacular’ over the festive period.

 

She then made her debut in Matthew Bourne’s New Adventures Company in an American tour of ‘Cinderella’, followed by the UK tour of his world premiere production of ‘Romeo and Juliet’. Catrin also appeared in Matthew Bourne’s Olivier Award winning production of ‘The Red Shoes’ before COVID-19 sadly cut the UK and Asian tour short. Most recently Catrin has completed Matthew Bourne’s UK tour of ‘Nutcracker!’ followed by a short run of ‘The Car Man’ at the Royal Albert Hall.

info@midlandtheatreballet.com

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