|
Cecchetti Associates Birthday Celebrations
The Cecchetti Associate Scheme celebrated its tenth anniversary this year. To mark the occasion two special performances were held on Cecchetti Day at the Royal Ballet School in front of invited guests, parents and teachers. The Associates were fortunate to have the live accompaniment from Rhodri Clarke, Helen Williams and Andrew Wass.
Our Patron Tracey Brown, former Principal of the Royal Ballet Company, together with her husband Christopher Saunders were present at both performances and Tracey Brown gave a charming speech.
At the last class of the academic year the Associates and parents were welcomed to a party where anniversary cakes were cut and the children received celebratory pens as a memento.
The scheme was first started in 1996 by members of the Cecchetti Group under the then Chairman of the Group Susan Handy. Classes are held at Arts Ed Chiswick three times a term where the Associates receive a ballet class and a taster class of other forms of dance. The scheme started with three classes and has doubled in number and will from this year include a separate class for boys.
There are six scholarships awarded every year given by Dorothy Ind of the Chelsea Ballet Schools, London Children’s Ballet, Mary Stassinopoulos, Sonia Bond and Juliet Locks of the Buckhurst Hill and Woodford School of Dancing, Anthea Sanders for Boys and Antonia Young the sculptor of many famous busts of dancers which can be seen at the Royal Opera House.
Many Associates who started 10 years ago as an Associate have graduated into Cecchetti Scholars and then moved on to vocational training. The scheme also offers Associates scholarships to further their training at the Cecchetti Centre.
Susan Handy
Above: Senior Associates, Class 3
|
