London's Central School of Ballet Looks to the US for New Top Young Dance Talent

Leading professional dance training organisation Central School of Ballet in London has announced plans to recruit young dance talent from the United States to study for their three year degree programme. Central already attracts a mix of students from all over the world, including Japan, Australia, Italy, France, Spain, South Africa, Turkey, and Singapore alongside those from the UK.

Auditions will take place in New York next month, on February 11th, and will be attended by Central Director Heidi Hall, Artistic Director Christopher Marney, Musical Director Philip Feeney and Leanne King who is leading the campaign for new students in the US. There is also the opportunity to take part in a special workshop with Christopher who is also a former principal dancer with Matthew Bourne's New Adventures. The venue:

Sunday 11th February The Ailey Studios, The Joan Weill Center for Dance, 405 West 55th Street at 9th Avenue, New York, NY 10019.

Applications can be made via www.centralschoolofballet.co.uk/usa

The draw for those selected is the opportunity to gain professional level training that equips the graduate dancers for jobs in the best international dance companies and leading musical theatre productions. The added benefit is a degree qualification, a BA (Hons) in Professional Dance and Performance validated by the University of Kent. The core curriculum is classical ballet but Central is renowned for its versatile and comprehensive training that includes Contemporary Dance, Choreography, Contextual Studies Dance Research, Jazz Dance, Drama and Spanish Dance.

The third year of the course focuses on performance when the students join Central's touring company Ballet Central. The annual tour typically visits over 20 venues across the UK in the spring. Performing a range of repertoire choreographed by some of the most renowned figures in the dance industry to ticket-buying audiences is an enriching experience for the students, enhancing their skills and development, making them particularly employable. Recent graduate destinations include Birmingham Royal Ballet; Scottish Ballet; Ballet Black; Matthew Bourne's New Adventures; Michael Clark Company; Rambert Dance Company; Phantom of the Opera and An American in Paris.

Students are also attracted by the opportunity to train in the centre of London, at the heart of the capital's rich culture and arts scene which includes over 200 professional theatres. Central, an affiliate of the Conservatoire for Dance and Drama, also offers the chance to work with and benefit from its dance industry leaders. One example is a partnership with Matthew Bourne's New Adventures whereby two final year Central students are selected each year to join the company and perform in selected productions and learn directly from the experience of working with professionals.

Leanne King, who is leading the US campaign, explains the reasons behind this new initiative: "I have been visiting New York as a guest teacher for some years working with SLK Ballet; I am continually impressed by the talent and commitment of young US dancers. Their dedication and determination is prevalent alongside a genuine appreciation of the requirements of a career in the dance profession. It's that combination that succeeds in professional training and afterwards. Central only wants to attract top talent and increasingly we are looking abroad for the best."

Heidi Hall, director of Central said: "Central has a long established relationship with dance schools in Japan and many other countries to nurture and attract future dance talent to join our organisation. We want to do the same with dance schools in the US."

She continues: "The dance industry needs versatile dancers who are not only elite athletes but also performers who communicate to audiences. That is what Central is particularly good at achieving, giving graduates the skills to succeed in their chosen profession. Many stay on or return to Central to do our Masters course in Choreography to further enhance careers."

www.centralschoolofballet.co.uk/usa https://www.balletcentral.co.uk/

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