Our Diploma of Dance Teaching 2024 graduates
On 10 November, we celebrated the achievements of our 2024 Diploma of Dance Teaching graduates. Completing a rigorous two-year course, this dedicated cohort of 13 have developed the expertise to teach classical ballet at vocational and pre-vocational levels to the highest standard, embodying the values of The Royal Ballet School.
The graduation ceremony, held at our School in Covent Garden, was filled with excitement as Senior Teacher Training Manager Karen Berry, Teacher Training Manager Sarah Daultry, and Sarah Wildor, previous DDT graduate and now Associate Programme and Primary Steps Artistic Manager at the School, spoke on the invaluable impact of passionate, knowledgeable teachers in ballet. They acknowledged the commitment and growth these graduates displayed throughout the course, especially in their focus on nurturing students through an inclusive and dynamic teaching approach.
Karen Berry spoke on the importance of the relationship with students:
For optimal learning, we must create relationships based on trust, respect, and empathy. Here’s a challenge. Take the first letter of each of those words—trust, respect, and empathy—and make an acronym. What does it spell? T-R-E-E. Tree. Remember, like a tree, your teaching must grow strong roots in trust, respect, and empathy to support your students’ success.
Artistic Director Iain Mackay also addressed the graduates, highlighting the collective effort behind their success:
Any course is only as good as the people that deliver it, and we are exceptionally fortunate to have the most passionate team, who are pushing the boundaries so that we can pass on that knowledge. We are so proud of you for investing your time, energy, and passion to reach your goals and for making this commitment to your craft as teachers. In doing so, you help future generations of young people thrive as they engage in ballet. No one remembers the teacher who just taught technique; they remember the one who made them love the journey.
Among the graduates were both new and returning members of The Royal Ballet School community. Laura McCulloch, a former Soloist of The Royal Ballet, shared her reflections on the course:
It was amazing to return to the environment where I had once trained, now with a focus on teaching. The programme’s emphasis on holistic teaching methods—from dance psychology to sports science—gave me fresh insights that I use daily with my students. Everyone brought something unique to the table, creating a wonderful exchange of ideas.
Holly Osmond, a Primary Steps teacher, highlighted her journey as a returning teacher and mother of two seeking new inspiration:
This course offered such a comprehensive view of teaching, covering everything from pedagogy and anatomy to child development and dance psychology. It’s been transformative.
The DDT course is leading a significant shift in dance education, emphasising a learner-centred approach that challenges traditional teaching methods. Graduates leave equipped not just with technical knowledge, but with a deep understanding of pedagogy and the holistic development of their students.
Congratulations to all our graduates: Sabina Cox, Meghan Henegan, Valeria Khvastavtsova, Tierney Lawlor, Dakoda Matthews-Forth, Laura McCulloch, Sophie Mergaliyev, Amelia O’Hara, Holly Osmond, Lucinda Strachan, Alice Tagliento, Michelle von Boisman, and Aisha Takao. We look forward to seeing the positive impact they will have in the dance world.
View photographs from the graduation below.
