English National Ballet School Explained

English National Ballet School
Coordinates:	51.4819°N -0.1857°W
Head Label:	Artistic Director
Head:	Lynne Charles
R Head Label:	Executive Director
R Head:	Amanda Skoog
Chair Label:	Chairman of Governors
Chair:	James Mee
Founder:	Peter Schaufuss
Address:	Carlyle Building Hortensia Road
Postcode:	SW10 0QS
Ofsted:	Reports
Lower Age:	16
Upper Age:	19
Free Label 1:	NQF Qualification
Free 1:	National Diploma in Professional Dance
Free Label 2:	Accreditations

English National Ballet School is a specialist classical ballet school based in London in the United Kingdom. The School was founded in 1988 by Peter Schaufuss as the official school of English National Ballet.^[1] The School's current artistic director is Lynne Charles.

Overview

English National Ballet School is a specialist training centre for young ballet dancers aged 16 to 19. Many graduates become dancers with English National Ballet as well as with other international ballet companies.^[2]

History

The School was founded in 1988 by then director Peter Schaufuss of English National Ballet as a feeder school for the company. It began with just 12 students, sharing premises with the company.^[3] The School grew rapidly, and in 1995 Diana, Princess of Wales opened its new premises in Chelsea, enabling it to train many more dancers.^[4]

Today the School exists as a separate entity but maintains strong links with its parent company, around a third of whose dancers are graduates of the School.^[5] Students perform in ENB's touring productions of My First Ballet^[6] as well as in the company's main stage productions and those of other leading UK companies.^[7] The School's own performances are widely noted, with Dance Europe describing the Winter 2019 performance as 'a terrific show...both entertaining and thoughtful.'^[8]

English National Ballet School has an associate programme, ENBS Juniors, for girls and boys aged 3 and up.^[9] In 2020, the School initiated a Graduate Trainee Programme as a response to the global pandemic.

Notable alumni

• Ruth Brill, choreographer and first artist with Birmingham Royal Ballet^[10]
• Constance Devernay, principal dancer with Scottish Ballet^[11]
• Hope Muir, artistic director of National Ballet of Canada, Former artistic director of Charlotte Ballet^[12]
• Nancy Osbaldeston, principal dancer with Royal Ballet of Flanders^[13]
• Laurretta Summerscales, principal dancer with Bavarian State Ballet^[14]
• Erina Takahashi, lead principal dancer with English National Ballet^[15]

Notable teachers

• David Yow^[16]
• Senri Kou
• Michael Berkin^[17]
• Juan Eymar^[18]
• Şebnem Önal^{[19] [20]}
• Nicola Simpson
• Amanda Armstrong
• Giovanni Luca Braccia

Notes and References

1. Web site: Danish dance star Peter Schaufuss to open full-time ballet school in Edinburgh . The Stage . 15 January 2020.
2. Web site: English National Ballet School . Dancing Times . 11 January 2020.
3. Web site: English National Ballet School livestream for 25th anniversary . Dancing Times . 15 January 2020.
4. Web site: English National Ballet School livestream for 25th anniversary . Dancing Times . 15 January 2020.
5. Web site: English National Ballet School livestream for 25th anniversary . Dancing Times.
6. Web site: My First Ballet: Cinderella review – kids shall go to this ball . The Guardian . 15 January 2020.
7. Web site: REVIEW: ENGLISH NATIONAL BALLET - THE NUTCRACKER - LONDON COLISEUM . London Dance . 15 January 2020.
8. Davis . Gerard . English National Ballet School Winter Showcase . Dance Europe . January 2020 . 246 . 94.
9. Web site: ENBS Juniors . English National Ballet School.
10. Web site: Ruth Brill . Birmingham Royal Ballet . 15 January 2020.
11. Web site: Constance Devernay . Scottish Ballet.
12. News: 'I wanted this next challenge,' says Hope Muir, the new artistic director of the National Ballet of Canada. Toronto Star. Crabb. Michael. July 7, 2021.
13. Web site: Nancy Osbaldeston. Opera Ballet Vlaanderen. 10 July 2020.
14. Web site: Ensemble . Bayerisches Staatsballett . 15 January 2020.
15. Web site: Relative Values interview: English National Ballet's Erina Takahashi and James Streeter . The Times.
16. Web site: Will they make it to the Royal Ballet? . The Guardian . 15 January 2020.
17. Web site: Michael Berkin . Northern Ballet . 15 January 2020.
18. Web site: English National Ballet School – Summer Performance 2017 – London . Dance Tabs . 15 January 2020.
19. Web site: Mrs Sebnem. Önal-Gülseker. Staatsballett Berlin. www.staatsballett-berlin.de.
20. Web site: The Stuttgart. Ballet. Home Stuttgart Ballet. www.stuttgart-ballet.de.