Founder Patron: Dame Peggy Van Praagh D.B.E.
Patrons: Dame Antoinette Sibley D.B.E., Lesley Collier C.B.E and Darcey Bussell C.B.E.
The Centre offers opportunities throughout the academic year for teachers, students and professional dancers who would like to learn more about Cecchetti Classical Ballet.
The Centre provides:
- Expert tuition by specialist teachers
- Regular classes from Intermediate to Diploma levels
- Courses for teachers and guidance for anyone studying for qualifying examinations
- Special Classes for boys and Choreographic Workshops for children
The Cecchetti Centre was founded in 1983, as a tribute to Nora Roche, who taught at The Royal Ballet School for nearly a quarter of a century. A pupil of Margaret Craske, her own teaching was deeply rooted in the Cecchetti method and this played a formative role in the training of a whole generation of outstanding British dancers amongst them our patrons Antoinette Sibley, Lesley Collier and Darcey Bussell. Together with other Cecchetti students and teachers from all over the world, their tribute to Nora Roche was to help raise the funds to establish a Cecchetti Centre in London.
The Centre has developed and has continued to flourish to the present day. Under the present Organiser, Jenny Hall , the Centre programme runs during term times at venues in central London and includes Saturday Classes at Advanced 1 & Intermediate levels, Advanced 2 / Diploma & Fellowship and Teachers' Development Programme Courses. In addition Centre Teachers' Events and Centre Young Dancers' Events are offered during the year.
