Offering Ballet, Jazz and Contemporary Dance classes in Oundle, Northamptonshire
For the highest quality training, look no further…
If you are interested in joining our school, please take a look at our Timetable/Term Dates page and email us at [email protected] for further information.
The Oundle School of Ballet specialises in classical ballet (Cecchetti method) and was founded over 60 years ago by Mary-Jane Duckworth FISTD. Mrs Lisa Hunter, a pupil of Mrs Duckworth and graduate of The Royal Ballet School Teacher’s Training Course, has been Principal of the school since 2005. We accept pupils from three years upwards and children can be entered for ISTD Cecchetti Classical Ballet examinations from the age of five years old. We also offer Jazz and Contemporary dance and private lessons are available on request.
All classes are held in the beautiful purpose-built dance studio on the ground floor of Fletton House in Oundle, PE8 4JA.
The Oundle School of Ballet is absolutely committed to quality training and to ensuring that every child is learning in a safe, positive environment. Many classes have live pianists which is of enormous benefit as it helps to develop a much greater sense of rhythm and musical sensitivity, both extremely important aspects of dance training. Shows are presented in a theatre every two years so that our pupils learn important skills related to performing on stage and working in a team.
Fees:
- Pre-School and Reception Ballet (1 x 1/2 hour a week): £50 per term
- Primary to Standard 1 Ballet (1 x 3/4 hour a week): £75 per term
- Lower Junior, Junior and Senior Ballet (1 hour a week): £85 per term
- Exam/Syllabus classes: available on request
- Private lesson: £40 per lesson
NB: We have a 20% discount for siblings and there are separate fees for exams and show costume hire.
Ballet
Classical ballet is the most elegant and beautiful of all the dance disciplines, but also the most challenging!
Contemporary Dance
Contemporary Dance was born early in the 20th century and focuses on a freer, less codified form of movement than ballet.
Modern Jazz
Modern Jazz dance is the primary genre of dance used in musical theatre and is essential for anyone wishing to work in theatrical dance.
Principal: Mrs Lisa Hunter
Lisa Hunter commenced her dance training under the expert tutelage of Mrs Mary-Jane Duckworth, Founding Principal of OSB and Chairman of the ISTD Cecchetti Classical Ballet Faculty for ten years. Mrs Duckworth retains a strong relationship with the school and partially sponsors a bursary in her name to support OSB students to further their studies and/or attend auditions.
At sixteen, Mrs Hunter was accepted at The Royal Ballet School in London where she studied not only ballet, but also National, Character and Spanish Dance, Repertoire, Music, Choreography, Anatomy, Mime, Speech, Stage Management, Body Conditioning and Child Development.
Mrs Hunter graduated in 1990 with the prestigious Royal Ballet School Teachers Training Course Diploma. She is a Fellow of the Imperial Society of Teachers of Dancing, an Associate of The Royal Academy of Dance and holds The Enrico Cecchetti Diploma, the highest possible Cecchetti dancing qualification which is only held by a small number of people worldwide. Mrs Hunter has been the recipient of a number of awards and bursaries such as the Betty Major Scholarship, the Diana Barker Award and the Margaret Marsh Scholarship to study at the Cecchetti Council of America summer school in Michigan.
After many years of dancing and teaching in London, Germany, Australia and Canada, Mrs Hunter returned to the area in 1998 to bring up her family and to work with The Oundle School of Ballet, becoming principal in September 2005. She has been a member of the ISTD Cecchetti Faculty Committee, the Cecchetti Associates Committee, the Cecchetti Group and Senior Organiser of the annual Cecchetti Mabel Ryan Awards in London. Mrs Hunter is part of the ISTD Cecchetti Lecturing Team, teaching regularly on Cecchetti courses, at The Cecchetti Teacher’s Summer School, Cecchetti Associates Central and now offers personalised workshops for schools based on the classical repertoire.
