CAT Swindon Ballet Programme

Swindon Dance, Centre for Advanced Training (CAT) is launching a brand new programme in May 2022, focusing on Classical Dance. Whether you are aiming for a career in dance or you have a passion for classical dance that you would like to explore further, the Swindon Ballet Programme will help identify and assist, 11-17 year olds with exceptional potential, regardless of their personal circumstances, to benefit from world-class specialist training as part of a broad and balanced education. This will enable them if they choose to proceed towards self-sustaining careers in classical dance. 

 

SWINDON BALLET PROGRAMME 

Our Ballet Programme will initially be a 10 week pilot programme starting in May 2022. We are pleased to announce the full programme will be running in September 2022. It will be based at Swindon Dance and run weekly Sunday afternoons between 11:00 and 5:00pm. Students will study the foundations of Classical Ballet, focusing on healthy minds, whilst learning how to cope with the physical and emotional demands of classical techniques.  We will start every training day with a positive mindfulness session, Ballet Technique classes, followed by either Ballet Pointe or Male technique.  In the afternoon this will be followed by sessions from our healthier dancer programme in learning how to prevent injuries, nutrition and understanding the dancers body as well as strengthening and body conditioning classes. Our students will also study music appreciation, dalcroze, Choreography and drama.  

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WHY IS SWINDON DANCE SETTING UP THIS PROGRAMME? 

We are setting this Programme up to enable budding dancers in the South West area a further variety of dance styles. We have successfully offered young people the opportunity to study and develop in Contemporary and Street Dance styles for more than 15 years, now we feel the time is perfect to expand this to a fuller audience of Classical Ballet lovers offering a fuller range of styles in the South West, with only 1 other Ballet CAT in the North of England.  By doing this we hope to create ballet artists who can adapt successfully to the developments within the ballet industry and have thriving careers in classical dance. 

 

 

WHAT MAKES THE CAT DIFFERENT? 

The CATs enable our students to access highly specialist dance training in their locality, whilst continuing to live at home. This allows students to benefit from a broad and balanced education. We are pioneers in prevocational training and research, promoting best practice and providing exceptional and innovative tuition to young people, regardless of their personal circumstances. We aim to seek out, nurture, develop exceptional talent for classical dance by supporting participants both geographically and financially through the DfE grant scheme.  

Swindon Dance’s Centre for Advanced Training is one of nine UK National Dance CATSs which is supported through the Department for Education’s Music and Dance Scheme, meaning that for those that qualify training is free or subsidised. We currently have three programmes: Swindon Contemporary, Exeter Contemporary and Swindon Street Dance and we are delighted to be introducing the Swindon Ballet Programme.

 

 

PROGRAMME INFORMATION

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FEES & GRANTS

A place with the CAT can either be fully or partially funded by the Music and Dance Scheme, Department for Education. Grants are awarded based on mean-testing which looks at household income. Families who do not qualify for a grant will be required to pay the full fee. Please read our grant information sheet by clicking the link below for more information. 

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FAQS

Please read our FAQs regarding Swindon Ballet Programme. If we haven’t addressed your query please don’t hesitate to contact us cat@swindondance.org.uk

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JOIN THE CAT

Entry onto the Swindon Ballet  Programme is via audition only. Audition on the 16th of July and secure your place. The CAT audition is FREE to attend but an application form must be completed and submitted in order to reserve a place at the audition. 

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