The Royal Ballet School celebrates Diploma of Dance Teaching 2014-16 Graduate success

Image left to right: Viviana Durante, Sarah Wildor, Rebecca Howell, Gilda Graepp, Valeri Hristov, Claire Robertson, Gina Bale, Clara Santoni.

The Royal Ballet School is proud to report that all students on the 2014-16 Diploma of Dance Teaching course have successfully passed their two-year qualification.

The programme provides a sound foundation in both technical and creative approaches to teaching ballet. Among the graduates are world-famous former Royal Ballet Principal, Viviana Durante and Royal Ballet First Soloist, Valeri Hristov.

Four graduates chose to combine their Royal Ballet School Diploma of Dance Teaching with Trinity College London Diploma in Dance Teaching and Learning, earning them a Level 6 qualification in Dance teaching with Distinctions and Merits.

The Diploma of Dance Teaching is the highest level of dance teaching qualification The Royal Ballet School has ever offered; a new initiative and a great success.

Four months after completing The Royal Ballet School teaching Diploma programme, the School caught up with some graduates to find out where their new found knowledge has led them.

Applications for the 2018-20 course open in September 2017.

Read on to find out how graduates have benefitted from the course.

Valeri Hristov

‘Since completion of the Diploma I have taught various masterclasses and am currently teaching regularly at The Royal Ballet.

‘The course has given me comprehensive knowledge of dance teaching and I feel competent that I will deliver valuable and well-structured lessons in any educational or professional dance setting.

‘The course also included the opportunity to complete Level 6 Diploma in Dance Teaching and Learning from Trinity Laban College, which gave me further and more rounded, up to date, understanding of dance teaching. The completion of Level 6 Diploma has also given me the opportunity to continue my dance education and take Masters Degree in the near future.’

Viviana Durante

‘Since finishing the Diploma I have taught at Rambert School and at a summer school in Madrid, and have judged the Hong Kong Ballet Stars Award. I have recently been coaching Anastasia at the Royal Ballet and am currently coaching The Nutcracker. I have also been coaching a principal dancer from ABT in Swan Lake and leading a workshop on stagecraft inspired by Anastasia at The Royal Ballet School.’

Gilda Graeep

‘I learned a lot over two years, not only from the teachers but also from the rest of the participants doing the course. I think having taken the Diploma of Dance Teaching course, I am finally exactly where I wanted to be in terms of my job possibilities and I couldn’t be more grateful.’

Claire Robertson

‘The Royal Ballet School teacher training course has given me a solid foundation to pursue a career in teaching classical ballet. It provided me with the opportunity of working closely with the exceptional faculty of The Royal Ballet School teachers and students. I would highly recommend this course.’

Rebecca Howell

‘Following the course I have been given the opportunity to teach Year 8 Girls at White Lodge, as a maternity cover post. The course provided me with comprehensive knowledge and an increase in confidence to be able to teach within a vocational setting, which was what I have always aspired to achieve.’

Gina Bale

‘Even though I have taught for a number of years, it has been an amazing journey from start to end. I have learned so much and it has really made me think more about the how and why of ballet.

‘I know I would not have been offered my new job at Headington School had I not had Karen and Mark’s voices in my ear reminding me off all the different learners. The course gave me the confidence to question everything.’