Our aim for dancers is:-

To provide performing experience to young classical ballet dancers so that they may extend and develop performing skills such as artistry, expression, interpretation and projection;

Cultivate a more diverse exposure to and understanding of music, and to develop musicality;

To nurture and encourage drama, mime and characterisation skills;

To guide each dancer in the exploration of their own unique performing talents and potential - their 'own' style, quality, and stage dynamics;

To augment the work of the ballet teachers through supporting their technical and postural corrections 

Where relevant to convey additional perspectives and/or thoughts on how to improve dancing, or approach and/or execute a step or movement differently. [It must be noted however, that this is utilised as an 'alternative' and not as a 'replacement' to what is being taught by their respective ballet teacher, and is principally focused on the demands of the choreography. So far, our work has NOT interfered with anyone's ballet exams or other dance activities].

We wholeheartedly strive to instil and foster a sense of 'the theatre' and 'theatricality' in all our member dancers. This is important for those who wish to someday pursue a career in the performing arts - and, for generating future audiences for dance!



What we Promise is that:-

Every member dances in every performance of each ballet season (this is usually 4 consecutive performances in all)

Every member dances in every act of every ballet that we perform. We make sure that the whole cast in involved in every Act. In only rare circumstances this may exclude one or two solo or lead performers, or in the case of certain ballets where it may not be possible to include the whole cast in every act.

Other than where it is necessary for Principals to share casting, all members of South Coast Ballet constitute one single cast. We do not split casts or share performances.

The dancers who make up South Coast Ballet, are as one entity, regardless of the school from where they receive their ballet training - no-one is separated by school!

In each year the dancers will experience the opportunity to learn how to express themselves in works that will engage them in the various aspects of drama from the serious to the light-hearted, to comedy and mayhem, high drama and beyond.

Each year the dancers will experience a range of productions that will expose them to ballets where each Act is composed of one 'scene' only, as well as others that will involve several scenes - thus teaching them about narrative ballet, continuity, the technical theatre, and the demands inherent in different productions etc. It will also give them the opportunity to develop their skills in quick changes of hair, make-up and performance character - not just quick costume changes!

Each year the dancers will experience involvement in the creation of a new and original ballet being created on them - a chance for them to learn how to create and develop characters and roles all by themselves. By being exposed to how creativity and originality is explored this gives them a practical insight to how important a dancers' input is to 'the production' as a whole.

In every production the dancers will learn the importance of the Technical aspects of the theatre, learning to work with different types of sets - some in situ for a whole Act, while other Acts have several scene-changes. They will understand the importance of the 'at Theatre' Dress Rehearsal being about the Technical aspects of the performances and not the dancing. About knowing how to enter and exit the stage, find the light, and liaise with technicians.

The dancers will be given the skills and techniques that will help them to learn to manage their performance energy and skills to best advantage - to get the best out of their enhanced excitement levels and use this appropriately in their performances to raise their performance standards

Dancers will experience the 'reality' of what it is like to be in an entire full-length ballet production. This is NOT the same as a variety performance (showcase, concert or annual show) as it requires much more enhanced and very different coping skills and emotional control.

For the more senior dancers, who will be required to dance en pointe the reality of how hard the requirements and demands of classical ballet are, will be realised. [Anyone who has undertaken a Summer School in dance with a daily pointe class will understand this!]

Dancers in our company are ordinarily performing in full narrative ballets, be this full-length or One-Act, and as such this requires a different mindset to performing in a variety-based performance or showcase. This type of experience is rarely available until the final year of full-time ballet training.

Dancers are encouraged to explore their own potential as a performer, we do not molly-coddle, nor do we enforce a specific style (as is often required with exam syllabuses) for we promote and encourage the individuality of the dancer. While a role may have specific characteristic requirements to portray, we believe in coaxing the individual style and talents out of the dancers, so that they may understand their own talent and potential. We mostly allow solo dancers the opportunity to explore their own talents in their own way, without too much being handed to them. It should be understood that solo dancers will not be handed every artistic detail of a dance - as we promote self-exploration. However, the Principal dancers may be given more coaching to extend their already developed style and in line with the artistic needs of certain roles.

We hire professional sets and lighting designers, and have a wide audience following - a very different environment and expectation to annual or biennial dance school performances. We promote the dancers behaving and performing 'as though they are professionals'  as audiences are generally made up of members of the public not connected to South Coast Ballet or its dancers. This is the closest young dancers will get to performing to the open general public and not just parents and friends!

Our Principals receive instruction in the art of Pas de Deux, and for those that may go on to full time professional ballet or musical theatre training, will give them a little bit of and advantage in their first year of full time training.

We engage in professional photographic shoots for publicity purposes on several occasions throughout the year - which gives the dancers involved an insight of how hard it is to get publicity photographs right and how time consuming it is. This is a rare opportunity, that is often not available until reaching the first year corps de ballet of a ballet company, or the chorus of a musical theatre company. Valuable indeed, and a way of building a professional portfolio.

If you never go on to pursue a career as a dancer or other performing artist, your membership with South Coast Ballet will guarantee you a fantastic time while you are a member. Few activities will leave such an indelible impression on your life.

South Coast Ballet does not Audition solely for the most talented students of ballet. Elite private coaching covers much of what very talented students of ballet need. We believe that talent is not always evident and up front, and can come from anywhere. We also acknowledge that ballet is first and foremost a 'performance art' and it is this aspect which we aim to develop in our members. But, like technique, it doesn't happen overnight - it takes time and effort. So, whether dancers are hoping for a career in the ballet, musical theatre or theatre, there is so very much to be gained from the live performance experiences we offer. A career in ballet is a career as a performer, not just as a technician.

We also believe that the dancers of today are the audiences of tommorrow - dancers cannot perform without an audience, so this is very important. If dancers learning ballet today have positive and life enriching experiences from their ballet training, they will support it as an audience member in the future. Encouraging young dancers to see and experience the ballet from a young age is very important  -  not just their own dance schools' shows either  -  and is something that we, even though we do not teach and enter for exams, realise is a very important responsibility for the future of dance. We embrace this wholeheartedly, as ballet (dance, and theatre) cannot survive without audiences - and audiences must be grown from childhood. We make ballet accessible and affordable, so that all people of all backgrounds can enjoy it and what it has to offer the human condition.

If you want to become a member, are a parent, or you are a teacher and have students you believe would benefit from becoming a member you can always ask for further information by contacting us:-

(01305) 767552  or  07870 839070   [After 5.30pm, or leave a message]

caronyardley@live.co.uk

No.11, Wyke Road, Weymouth, DORSET  DT4 9QE