Autumn Ballet Intensive Course

Students, join us for an incredible opportunity this Autumn to develop your technique, explore artistry and make new friends.

Open to all students aged between 11 and 14, studying at least Grade 5 (or equivalent). You don't need to be a bbodance member to sign up - it's open to all aspiring young dancers!

Classes will run 10am - 4pm each day and will include:

• Ballet technique

• Learning repertoire

• Contemporary

• Pilates

• Pointe Work* 

*If already studying Pointe Work with their regular teacher

Classes will be between 1-2 hours in length and students will need to bring their own packed lunch. A full timetable will be published very soon!

Each Ballet class will also be accompanied by a live pianist and will take place in the large studio at London Children's Ballet.

We have a fantastic selection of faculty on board with many years of experience teaching at top vocational schools. All faculty have been selected by our Artistic Director, Anita Young.

Ballet tutors: Owen Morris

Sarah Kundi

Sarah Toner

Contemporary tutors: Estela Merlos

Jose Agudo

Jose Agudo (teaching on Monday)

Jose started his career in Andalusia where he began performing as a Flamenco dancer. Slowly the world of contemporary dance became more visible as he worked throughout Europe. As a rehearsal director and assistant choreographer, Jose has worked on several creations for Akram Khan Company from 2010 to 2017. Jose’s independent choreographic commissions include Phoenix Dance Theatre, ACE Dance and Music, Rambert School of Ballet and Contemporary Dance, English National Ballet School, BODHI Project SEAD, The Place, London Studio Centre, Area Jeune Ballet, Festival International de Musica y Danza de Granada, Northern School of Contemporary Dance. Since 2019 Jose has embarked in a new adventure diving into the world of the musical theatre, publicity and commercial. First as an Associate Choreographer for Cabaret at the Kit Kat club. He is listed in the new edition of 50 Contemporary Choreographers, an international publication by Routledge.

Sarah Kundi (teaching on Tuesday)

Sarah was born in London into Indian heritage, where she undertook her professional training at Central School of Ballet. Upon graduation Sarah pursued her first job at Northern Ballet, then went on to dance with Ballet Black, where she was nominated for a Critic's Circle National Dance Award for Outstanding Female Performance in the Classical sector in 2010, for Will Tuckett's 'Depouillement'. Sarah finished her performing career as a First Artist with English National Ballet Summer 2023, where she was awarded the 'Corps de Ballet Award' on behalf of English National Ballet in 2017.

Whilst with ENB, Sarah was an Advisor and Facilitator of English National Ballets Pipeline Project, 'Ballet Futures', an artistic training programme for children from underrepresented backgrounds. Sarah also coached young upcoming dancers in the company for the annual 'Emerging Dancer Competition' over her last three years with the company.

She has been invited to teach at various summer schools including the Royal Ballet School, English National Ballet School, Central School of Ballet and Yorkshire Ballet Seminars. In 2022, Sarah completed her Teachers Training Diploma with the Royal Ballet School, and joined the Royal Ballet School in September 2023 as a ballet teacher.

Owen Morris (teaching on Wednesday)

Owen is from Cornwall, trained under Terence Etheridge and Nicola Brice before furthering his training at Totnes School of Dance under Louise Knapman and co. A member of the National Youth Ballet of Great Britain, Duchy Ballet and Cornwall Youth Dance Company, then later pursued vocational training in Scotland, performing as a soloist with Ballet West Touring Company.

Owen holds a bbodance Level 5 Diploma in Dance Teaching (Distinction) and Level 3 Pilates Teaching Diploma, PBT Teaching Certificate. He also currently teaches Ballet at Laine Theatre Arts, Arts Ed, Pineapple Dance Studios and City Academy Professional Dancers Course; Pilates at Bodyworks West and is a tutor for the Healthy Dancer Unit at Swindon Dance. 

Sarah Toner (teaching on Thursday)

Sarah started out as a dancer with The National Ballet of Portugal before moving back to the UK to join London City Ballet. Sarah spent two years with the Birmingham Royal Ballet before heading back to New York for her final dance performances at La Mama Theatre. Sarah has over 30 years of teaching and performing experience. She is a graduate of The Royal Ballet School's Professional Dancers Teachers' course and has regularly taught at The Rambert School of Classical Ballet and Contemporary Dance and Young Dancers Academy.

Estela Merlos (teaching on Friday)

Born in Barcelona and of Spanish-Filipino heritage, Estela is a freelance dancer, teacher, choreographer and rehearsal director based in London. She trained at Escola de Dansa Madó and Central School of Ballet. Before joining Rambert (2008-2014) she danced with Cannes Jeune Ballet Rosella Hightower (France, 2004-2006) and IT Dansa (Barcelona, 2006-2008).

Since 2014 she has worked on projects across dance, film, theatre and opera, collaborating with Shobana Jeyasingh, Akram Khan, Marcos Morau | La Veronal, Boris Charmatz, Didy Veldman, New Movement Collective, Russell Maliphant, National Theatre, New Adventures, Miguel Altunaga, Avatâra Ayuso, Thomasin Gulgec, Alice Oswald, among notable others.

Some of her teaching credits include: Rambert, Scottish Dance Theatre, New Adventures, La Veronal, The Royal Ballet School, English National Ballet School, Rambert School of Ballet and Contemporary Dance, Prix de Lausanne, Acosta Dance Foundation, London Contemporary School, Swindon Dance, City Academy, Beijing International Summer School, Moving Assembly Project, Sadler's Wells Company of Elders, Leap of Faith, Streetwise Opera.

Places are limited - book now to avoid disappointment!