Website
www.istd.org/cecchettiballet

Patrons: Dame Alicia Markova DBE, Nadia Nerina, Monica Mason & Lesley Collier CBE

History
Born in Italy in 1850, Enrico Cecchetti was a brilliant virtuoso dancer who went on to become the leading teacher of his generation. As guest artist with the Imperial Russian Ballet, he created the role of The Bluebird in 'The Sleeping Beauty'; as a teacher in Russia his many famous students included Pavlova and Nijinsky. Then, with Diaghilev's Company, he worked with Rambert and de Valois, the founders of British Ballet, and with Alicia Markova. The studio Cecchetti opened in London was later taken over by Margaret Craske who passed on the Cecchetti Method to numerous British dancers and teachers, including Nora Roche, who taught at the Royal Ballet School for many years. The method was recorded and published by Cyril Beaumont and is now taught world-wide.

Examinations
Cecchetti's own teaching was geared to professional dancers. As a build up to the full Cecchetti Method, the Cecchetti Society has evolved a series of graded syllabi and examinations to meet the needs of children at both pre-vocational and recreational levels, as well as those of the vocational student. These have now been expanded to include Performance Awards to encourage this aspect of the children's work. There are also qualifying examinations for teachers, granting Associate, Licentiate and Fellowship status of the Imperial Society of Teachers of Dancing.

Activities
The Cecchetti Society sponsors scholarship classes for talented amateur pupils, as well as various awards for vocational students and others for children. Courses and classes for teachers are organised at London's Cecchetti Centre and at many regional centres. There are Summer Courses for teachers and students in Britain and abroad.

"Maestro Cecchetti left a great imprint on the English School. The important aspects of his teaching will remain part of the academic tradition of our English Ballet."

Dame Ninette de Valois

"If I had my way, I would always insist that all dancers should daily do the wonderful Cecchetti ports de bras. It inculcates a wonderful feeling for line and correct positioning and the use of head movement and épaulement which - if properly absorbed - will be of incalculable use throughout a dancer's career."

Sir Frederick Ashton

"The Cecchetti work has given me strength, discipline and co-ordination. It wasn't until I got into the Company that I realised how lucky I was to have had that training."

Darcey Bussell

Syllabi
Click here for more information on Cecchetti syllabi.