The School
Winner of the Gold Award -Dance School of the Year 2021
Acton Ballet School was set up to offer the best quality dance education, accessible to all. The school has been recognised by the Council for Dance Education and Training, being awarded their certificate of good professional practice. This means that the school adheres to very strict guidelines with regards to the safety and welfare of its students and the quality of training offered by all members of staff.
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We take great care to make sure that dance is a fun activity for all students, helping with early years development, musicality, strength, posture and concentration. Developing skills which will benefit children throughout their lives regardless of whether they decide to dance as a profession. For any children who do show the talent and desire to pursue a career in the industry there are many opportunities to audition for a variety of additional programmes.
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The school cares about creating strong, technical dancers and is certified to teach the Progressing Ballet Technique (PBT) programme, it is also a licensed Pirouette Surgery school. Both programmes are offered as workshops and incorporated into class work.
Miss Alex has taught students who have gone on to be associates at the Royal Ballet School and Central Ballet School, attended the Royal Ballet School at White Lodge, English National Ballet School, the Brit School, Sylvia Young and Italia Conti. Students have also performed in companies such as English Youth Ballet and London Children’s Ballet.
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Each year the school put on a summer show, giving the children the opportunity to experience performing in a real theatre and to show off their talent.
Nominations & Awards
We are delighted to have won the Gold Award for Dance School of the Year 2021, having won the Silver Award in 2020. Chosen from thousands of international entries this has been a great recognition of all the efforts of our dance family, from students to teachers and parents.
In 2017 we won the 'Motherhood Live Love Local' Award in the category of 'Best Kid's Dance Class'. This followed 2016 where we were nominated and (despite over 5,000
other nominees from across the country) shortlisted for a
'What's on 4 Juniors' award in both the 'Best local activity
for under 5's' and 'Best local activity for 5-12' categories.
We are tremendously proud of all our achievements.
About Us
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Alexandra Pink BA (Hons)
PGCE (DTLLS) AIDTA RAD RTS
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Miss Alex was born in Bolton and started dancing at the age of five after being refused the part of a ‘dancing star’ in her first nativity play because she didn’t go to ballet. She then became an associate of the Royal Ballet School before attending the Hammond School. She went on to study at the Royal Academy of Dance becoming a registered teacher in 2007. She also has a degree in dance and a PGCE with a dance specialism.
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Miss Alex has been a professional dancer and choreographer, performing abroad and in theatres across Britain. She has performed in ballets such as Swan Lake and Sleeping Beauty, as a contemporary and jazz dancer for Rewind Dance Company touring the south coast, in the West End and on television for both the BBC and ITV. In 2008 she was invited to dance at the famous Estoril Sol Casino in Lisbon as the lead dancer for the summer season. She is also a very experienced teacher, teaching all over London and the South East.
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Miss Alex helped to set up Acton Ballet School in 2007. She became Principal of the school in 2015 and is also the Principal of our sister school Maida Vale Ballet School.
Ann Wall – Teacher
BA (Hons) Professional Practice in Arts
Ann Wall trained with Richard Slaughter, The Royal Ballet School Associate Programme and for 3 years at English National Ballet School. Whilst at school she had the opportunity to perform in the My First Ballet Series: Swan Lake at The Peacock Theatre London and on tour in Manchester and Woking, performing the roles of Big Swans and The Queen. Ann’s most notable school performances include dancing at The Royal Opera House in A Spring Celebration gala, dancing a soloist role in the ballet Raymonda at The New Wimbledon Theatre and appearing in Le Corsaire with English National Ballet. She was also a teaching assistant for the English National Ballet school’s Saturday classes for children. Upon graduation from the school, Ann received the highest mark in her year for her dissertation.
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Ann also holds a First class BA Hons Degree in Professional Practice in Arts (Dance) from Middlesex University.
Ann has danced professionally with Ballet Cymru where she performed at The Sadler’s Wells Theatre and The Wales Millennium Centre Cardiff alongside The National Orchestra of Wales. Whilst with the company, she had the opportunity to dance the roles of Lady Capulet in Romeo and Juliet and Helena in A Midsummer Night’s Dream. She also taught on the company’s associate programme and school workshops.
Ann has a passion for ensuring everyone has access to ballet performances and classes and is part of North Wales based ‘Ballet Pod’s’ Initiative to bring ballet to unlikely places. She has performed in care homes, bookshops, play groups and dance schools both in the local communities of North Wales as well as further afield in Shropshire and London and 2018 performed at The Llangollen International Musical Eisteddfod.
Currently a freelance dancer and teacher based in London, Ann is involved in a number of different performances and short films and will dance in Brecon Festival Ballet’s production of The Nutcracker in Wales at Christmas. She is teaching and assisting at five different schools across London and is thrilled to be working with all the talented young dancers at Acton Ballet School
Hannah Smith
BA (Hons) Ballet Education, LRAD, RAD RTS
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Hannah trained at the Royal Academy of Dance on their BA (hons) in Ballet Education degree programme, and whilst training at the RAD also obtained the Licentiate of Royal Academy of Dance (LRAD) in addition to her teaching qualification. After graduating from the RAD Hannah went and furthered her dance training successfully joining London Studio Centre’s ‘Images Ballet Company’, where she had the opportunity to work with numerous choreographers and tour around the UK with ‘Images Ballet Company’. Since graduating from LSC Hannah has had the opportunity to dance professionally in Germany and is a freelance dancer and teacher currently based in London. She has a wide range of experience teaching all ages from young children right through to adults whether it be with syllabus and non-syllabus classes, and has taught for many prestigious schools around London. Hannah has a huge amount of enthusiasm and passion when teaching and can push the most accomplished student, but also enjoys sharing her love of Ballet with our little ones too, getting each student to reach their full potential.
Kathryn O’Sullivan (Hons)
RAD RTS
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Miss Kathryn is the first point of contact for many of our new students as our office manager and enrolment coordinator.
She grew up in Manchester and attended dance classes from an early age, completing both graded and vocational exams.
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After gaining her degree at Royal Holloway, University of London and realising her love of teaching, Miss Kathryn then went on to train at the Royal Academy of Dance, completing the Certificate in Ballet Teaching Studies course and gaining RAD Registered Teaching Status.
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Miss Kathryn also qualified as a ‘Progressing Ballet Technique’ Teacher, a revolutionary training programme for ballet dancers which we offer and is a qualified counsellor specialising in Pastoral Care. Kathryn hopes to pass on her love of ballet to all of her students.
International Dance Rewards
IDR is a beautifully designed badge reward system offering a structured progression through all aspects of dance; from technique and performance, to manners and uniform.
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It is a super simple way to keep kids motivated, rewarded and track progress in a familiar format, similar to how recognised Swim and Gymnastics assessments work.
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The rewards can be used seamlessly along side traditional exams or as a stand alone reward and progression method for children who do not wish to take the traditional route or for whom there isn't a suitable grade. We offer something a little different and more accessible for all capabilities.
Royal Academy of Dance
Acton Ballet School teaches the Royal Academy of Dance (RAD) syllabus. The RAD was founded in 1920 and has come to represent the highest standard in the teaching of classical ballet. It has grown to become the largest and most influential examining body for ballet in the world and has a presence in over 80 countries. Their headquarters are in Battersea and this is where our students go to take their graded exams.
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Both the RAD and IDTA work in partnership with Ofqual meaning that qualifications achieved are recognised on the Qualifications and Credit Framework (QCF) and with respect to the later and vocational grades, passing examinations could help students get UCAS points to use for application to university.
IDTA
The International Dance Teachers Association is one of the world’s largest examination boards covering a spectrum of dance styles. It has been around for over 100 years and we use their syllabi for our tap and modern classes offering the opportunity to take graded exams.
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Modern Jazz is fun. It helps dancers to develop many different movements to a broad choice of rhythms and musical styles. Classes are structured to begin to prepare the physical strength and flexibility required to demonstrate emotion through interpretation exploring contrast between expansion and relaxation, fluidity and isolation.
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Tap is rhythm, it’s making music with your feet. Tap has been a popular dance form for many years from the musical era of Fred Astaire and Gene Kelly to the more recent shows of Tap Dogs and Stomp. It is a great way to increase fitness, fast footwork and musicality.