Ballet for Adults: Improvers

This course is suitable for those with some experience in ballet who wish to continue developing. Perhaps you have already completed The Crescent’s Ballet: Beginners course or are returning to the artform as an adult after a break.

A ballet class that looks towards the future by updating to a better, a bolder, a kinder more blended classical ballet training. This forward-thinking ballet class provides all the benefits of classical ballet technique with injury prevention, recovery and rehabilitation addressed. The class reflects the complexities of longevity in the dancer’s career. The changing dancer’s body is foremost embraced and wholeheartedly expressed.

The class commences with a continuous barre with attention on careful placement and intention. This will encourage the body’s natural desire towards alignment and coordinated movement to create an uninterrupted flow throughout the entire body. Of course, as the class progresses there will be reference to swans included too…

This course will be tutored by three dancers from The Clare Novaes School of Ballet.

About the tutors

Clare Novaes enjoys the classical aesthetic values of simplicity, purity and balance in ballet. Owner and ballet teacher at Clare Novaes Ballet School for 25 years she believes teaching ballet it is not about transmitting knowledge, but enabling, challenging and nurturing dancers until they are more fully themselves, and better at what they do-whatever their age or background. She respects individuality and the risk each artist takes in class each day with no judgement. 

Clare’s first job after graduating from the 3 year teacher training at The Royal Academy of Dance in London was at Crystal Palace London, teaching dance to the Olympic high board diving squad a continuous body conditioning ballet barre created by John O’Brien. At RAD Clare worked with Dr Ann Hutchinson Guest, the director of the Language of Dance Centre, London on Laban notation and used this research when teaching dance in Brazil, South America. Returning from Brazil Clare was inspired by John Blacking at QUB to study Anthropology with Ethnomusicology.

Clare worked with the highly skilled multidisciplinary team at Blackstone Physiotherapy and Sports injury clinic to develop a Barre Tone class. She also worked with Clare Guss-West at the RAD developing dance and lifelong wellbeing. She is now director of Ballet Retreats.

Clare was a dancer in Boots.com, real woman 40+, as they unveiled New Global Brand Direction with Alessandra Ferri as headliner.

 “I continue to develop my own relationship with dance and explore movement with the ageing body” Clare Novaes

Rebecca Runchman is a graduate from Trinity Laban Conservatoire of Music and Dance in London. She further developed her practice and received a Masters of Arts in Creative Dance Education. Rebecca has experience teaching different styles of dance to different age groups and loves to encourage creativity and opportunities for performance within her sessions. She is happy to be back home in Belfast performing and facilitating dance and she is really looking forward to delivering these ballet classes!

Robin Holland started her dance career with the Santa Fe Ballet company in the USA, where she was a member of the pre-professional training school and company. Robin went on to earn a BA(Hons) in Dance Studies from Roehampton University. After graduation, Robin joined the apprenticeship program with Springs Dance Company and was a performing member of their sister company, Elevate. Robin also worked extensively teaching in the community in southwest London, including RAD ballet classes, adult ballets for all levels, and contemporary and creative dance classes for all ages.

Robin continues to pursue her passion in dance education, teaching classes both in Northern Ireland and online.

After many years of teaching, Robin then went on to complete a BSc in Physiotherapy from Oxford-Brookes University, where she earned a first-class degree. Robin gained a wide range of experience in physiotherapy treatment working in the NHS, before going on to specialize in physiotherapy for performing artists and dancers.

Robin is passionate about creating healthy dancers and bringing the science of healthy training principles into dance education. Alongside her physiotherapy practice, she currently works with dancers and dance schools to develop safe and effective training practices that promote dance-specific strength and flexibility, while reducing injury risks and promoting injury rehabilitation. Robin also teaches a range of workshops for dancers, including strength and conditioning for dancers, flexibility training, pointe preparation, and injury prevention.