Latest news with #RoyalBalletSchool
BBC News
21-07-2025
- Entertainment
- BBC News
Inspired by Strictly: 10-year-old joins Royal Ballet
Meet 10-year-old Jessica, she is a ballet dancer from Norfolk who has just received some very exciting has won a place on a prestigious ballet training program at the Royal Ballet Royal Ballet School's Junior Associate Programme trains a small number of talented young dancers each year, alongside their regular has been dancing since she was four, and hopes to be the next Darcey Bussell - the former ballerina and Strictly told BBC Norfolk, she "jumped up and down and cried" when she received the good news. After falling in love with dancing from a young age, Jessica was just four-years-old when she asked her mum if she could join a dance class. Speaking to the BBC Norfolk, she said: "My legs just wanted to move. "I did watch Strictly Come Dancing when I was younger, I was just wow. I want to do that."Since then Jessica has been training hard. When asked about how she feels dancing she said: "I just feel special. I just feel in my comfort zone and I just feel relaxed." The Royal Ballet School's Junior Associate Programme only has 10 places available to young dancers every means that competition is very Jessica's audition there were more than 2,000 when she found out she had got a spot Jessica was "blown away" and "jumped up and down and cried".A spokesperson for the Royal Ballet School said they were excited to welcome Jess into the programme, which was created in dance instructor said her "technique is beautiful" and that she has the ability to go "as far as she likes" with done Jessica... keeeeep dancing!
BBC News
21-07-2025
- Entertainment
- BBC News
Strictly Come Dancing inspires King's Lynn girl to Royal Ballet
A 10-year-old girl who was inspired after watching Strictly Come Dancing said she was "shocked" after securing a place on a prestigious ballet training who lives in King's Lynn, Norfolk, will join the Royal Ballet School's Junior Associate Programme, which trains a small number of talented young dancers alongside their regular said she wanted to be the next Darcey Bussell, and her mum Lucy, 40, said she was "proud" of her daughter's dance instructor said her "technique is beautiful" and that she has the ability to go "as far as she likes" with dancing. Jessica said that, aged four, she asked her mum if she could go to a dance school."My legs just wanted to move," she felt she did not have a chance after applying for the course, because there were more than 2,000 people at the "jumped up and down and cried" when she received the good news. A spokesperson for the Royal Ballet School said they were excited to welcome Jess into the Junior Associate Programme, which was created in 1948 by the founder, Dame Ninette de dances at Noise and Chance School of Dance, and the owner, Trina Lee, said she had always been "very energetic".The youngster had "beautiful" technique and a brilliant "attitude", said Ms Lee."She's very passionate about it, and if you can get that mix right within a child, you know that they can take themselves far," she was a reminder that "big things and big dreams can come from small places" she continued. Watching her train from the side of the room, her mother Lucy said: "I just never imagined that it would ever turn into [this] - it's been incredible."Lucy said that Jess has had to give up certain things, like parties or trips with friends at weekends due to her passion for dancing, but that was her choice."It's always driven by her," she is now trying to raise money to help pay to get Jess to London to attend the training. Follow Norfolk news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X.
Spectator
14-06-2025
- Politics
- Spectator
Phillipson visits zero private schools in 11 months
It's been quite the year for Bridget Phillipson. The under fire Education Secretary is now regularly tipped as one of the ministers most likely to be moved at the next reshuffle. Her Schools Bill has been lambasted for its impact on academies while her private school tax raid is hitting the state school sector too. Yet despite dire warnings about the impact of putting VAT on independent school fees, Phillipson seems indifferent to their fate. For a Freedom of Information request by Steerpike has confirmed that she is yet to visit a single one in nearly a year in office. According to the Department for Education: Minister Morgan and Minister McKinnell have visited a private school in their ministerial capacities since 5 July 2024. Minister Morgan visited the Cavendish School. Minister McKinnell visited the Royal Ballet School. The Secretary of State for Education has not visited a private school in her ministerial capacity since 5 July 2024. Ministers also regularly engage with independent school bodies. So that's two visits by seven ministers in almost 12 months. The next reshuffle can't come soon enough…
Telegraph
14-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Telegraph
King swaps cancer stories with student at garden party
The King swapped cancer stories with a student as he hosted a Buckingham Palace garden party in sweltering heat. The monarch, who was diagnosed with an undisclosed form of cancer last February and is still receiving weekly treatment, chatted to Stamford Collis, 22, an international relations student at Exeter University, who is also suffering from cancer. Mr Collis said afterwards: 'He was asking me about the treatment I have starting in June and spoke to me about food and diet. He also asked me if I had undergone radiation treatment, which I had earlier this year.' The King, 76, was heard to say: 'It's sometimes about the diet and what you eat. It can help.' The King and Queen shook hundreds of hands at the garden party, the first to be held for those working in the education and skills sector. Guests including Bridget Phillipson, the Education Secretary, were treated to a performance by students from the Royal Ballet School as well as music from the British Army Band Catterick and the Band of The Royal Air Force Regiment. The Queen, 77, expressed concern for those dressed up in their finery under the blazing sun, telling one guest: 'I hope you aren't too warm. I do hope you have had the chance to put your feet up and have a drink.' Meanwhile, the King was said to be 'in his element' as he chatted to one guest who founded a charity that teaches endangered heritage arts and crafts and delighted another when he recognised her Nigerian heritage. Patricia Alban from East Kent, set up Sammy's Foundation in memory of her son, who was a talented carpenter and upholsterer but suffered from Prader-Willi Syndrome and autism and died in 2020, aged 13. She began the foundation last December, on what would have been her son's birthday, and has been helping young people suffering from neurological conditions learn high-end craftsmanship such as weaving and upholstery. 'I told Sammy, 'One day I will meet the king and tell him about you,'' she said. 'And here I am. I can't believe it. He would have been so proud. I feel quite emotional. I feel like he is there. It's been a dream of mine. 'His Majesty was in his element talking about crafts, it is something he is passionate about. And he was suggesting people and organisations I could talk to.' When the King spotted a group of ladies wearing colourful traditional dress, he told them: 'You must be from Nigeria?' 'Yes!' said Prof Adetoro Adegoke, from Buckinghamshire New University. She said afterwards: 'I was vibing him to come over here. He told me he had been to Nigeria and it was vast. How amazing that he recognised Yoruba immediately. Wonderful man.' The King also met popular social media teacher and influencer Tom Egleton, who goes by 'Tommy T' online and has millions of followers on TikTok, YouTube and Instagram. Mr Egleton, a special educational needs specialist, described how he started posting videos in lockdown to help his students at City College in Norwich who were struggling but found himself to be a social media sensation.
Otago Daily Times
10-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Otago Daily Times
Top young dancers to grace stage
Wānaka dancer Isabel Martin (15) will feature in the ballet this weekend at the Lake Wānaka Centre. PHOTO: SUPPLIED Some of Aotearoa's best young dancers will be taking to the stage in Wānaka this weekend for a special, one-off tour of the inaugural Ripple showcase. Eleven dancers from the New Zealand Youth Ballet Company will perform a mix of classical ballet, neo-classical and contemporary dance, designed to highlight the dancers' technical skill with innovative choreography in collaboration with local dance school Centralpoint Dance Studios. The line-up includes Hamish Giddens, Tamison Soppet and Wānaka's Isabel Martin (pictured), who have all had successes at an international level. Hamish recently secured first place in the senior men's classical division at the Youth America Grand Prix (YAGP) semifinals in Sydney and won the Asia-Pacific preselection of the Prix de Lausanne. At the YAGP Finals in New York, he received scholarships to several prestigious schools, and has just been accepted into London's Royal Ballet School. Tamison was the 2024 Sydney regional junior Grand Prix winner and junior overall winner at the prestigious YAGP finals in New York. Isabel, 15, began studying full-time towards a NZQA Level 4 certificate in dance in Christchurch at the start of 2025, under the tutelage of NZYBC founder and Convergence Dance Studios owner Olivia Russell. The two Ripple performances will be held tomorrow night and Sunday afternoon at the Lake Wānaka Centre. They will also include three pieces by dancers from Centralpoint Dance Studios. About 23 local dancers will perform excerpts from Centralpoint's end-of-year show, The Nutcracker Remixed and a part of Foundations, performed at this year's Festival of Colour. Ms Russell said Ripple was planned as a one-off experience. "While there are currently no tour plans, we look forward to exploring future opportunities to showcase our talented dancers. "Wānaka holds a special place in my heart; my father was a pilot who loved the arts and believed deeply in people's dreams," Russell said. "I like to think I share those qualities in his memory." Ripple
