Masters In Our Midst

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Masters of Ballet Academy vocational dance training

In September of 2017 Masters of Ballet Academy opened its doors to a new style of vocational dance training in West London.

Known for their highly acclaimed Masters of Ballet Summer and Easter Intensives at Sadlers Wells, tutored by such greats as Irek Mukhamedov, the testimony of the school is to provide technically specialist training of the highest level from the youngest age upwards, to nurture students with exemplary technique and artistic flair.

The brainchild of former English National Ballet Principal ballerina Elena Glurjidze and renowned Vaganova Ballet academy student and Teacher Olga Semenova, who went on to become the Director of the highly acclaimed Russian Imperial Ballet school (current Character teacher at English National Ballet School and Central School of Ballet).

Past students of Russian Imperial Ballet School have gone on to study at schools such as the Vaganova Academy (St. Petersburg), the Bolshoi Ballet Academy (Moscow), Perm Ballet
Academy, Kiev State Ballet School, Royal Ballet Lower and Upper Schools, Boston Ballet
School, National Ballet School (Lithuania) and Central School of Ballet and to perform in
Companies such as the English National Ballet. Many of Masters of Ballet Academy’s current students are also Royal Ballet School Junior, Mid, Senior and Advanced associates as well as English National Ballet School Associates and Central School of Ballet Associates.


Masters of Ballet Academy aims to deliver the highest level of vocational ballet training, out
of academic school hours.

On six days per week, training takes place weekday afternoons and weekend mornings in
their brand‐new purpose built studios in W3, with specialist teachers from the top flight of
the classical ballet world. The syllabus covers the full classical ballet repertoire, with a 90
minute ballet class each day, with additional daily classes in pointe work, character, pas de
deux, contemporary dance and body conditioning.

The regular teaching staff include both Elena and Olga themselves, as well former Principal
dancer Resmi Malko (Men’s Ballet Tutor, Central School of Ballet), who along with Elena,
teaches pas de deux to the senior students.

Masters of Ballet Academy is the only school in the UK to offer the Vaganova Method,
training exclusively with a teacher whose ballet heritage can be traced directly back to the
great Agrippina Vaganova herself. The school trains students of all abilities from 4 years old
to adults. Classes are aimed primarily towards students wishing to train for a career in the
ballet industry, within a disciplined yet caring environment, however the attention given to
developing the strengths and talents of each individual student benefits them both
physically and spiritually, even if they decide not to be a professional dancer.

"The School has a warm family atmosphere and we work in total collaboration with
our parents towards their child's future goals. Parents are encouraged to come in to
the studio and watch the students training as much as possible. We feel that it is
both beneficial to the students to have an audience present and for the parents to see
first-hand the improvements that their children are making in class” (Olga
Semenova).

"It has always been my dream to have my own specialist school in London......."
(Elena Glurjidze).

The timetable structure allows students to study academically in their local school,
alongside local friends removed from the ballet world and in the evenings to undertake
exceptionally comprehensive classical training in order to enter renowned ballet Upper
Schools at 16 years of age. It also allows them to enjoy vital outside performance
opportunities with companies such as the Birmingham Royal Ballet, London Childrens Ballet
and National Youth Ballet.

4 Master of Ballet Academy students have this year travelled to the Youth America Grand
Prix in Barcelona (with all students scoring over 86% on their Variations) and many will be
travelling to Estonia to perform in May, to New York in April for a ballet school exchange
and 4 of their students have been selected to represent England in the Ballet Solo division
at the Dance World Cup in Barcelona in July.

One term in and the success of this new school looks to be already proven with students
travelling from all areas of London as well as the Home Counties to attend the school. Six
of the Senior students are formerly from full time UK vocational schools, but have now
turned to Masters of Ballet Academy to enable them to have the training they require, as
well as a balanced family and social life.

More details and information can be found at www.mastersofballetacademy.com or email
elena@mastersofballetacademy.com

April 9, 2018