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' personal style, quality, and stage dynamics;

To augment the work of the dancers' 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 principally focused on the demands of the choreography and performance/role expectations. This type of guidance is utilised as an 'alternative' and not as a 'replacement' to what is being taught by their respective ballet teacher. 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!

To support and encourage an environment of comradeship and mutual appreciation of each others' differing talents and skills
regardless of which school or method of training they are undertaking. [So far demonstrated through the Dancer of the Year Award, voted for by the dancers themselves, and in how the dancers support and help each other out, particularly if dancers have been absent for exams or for other reasons]. An 'all for one, and one for all' approach.


FOR MALE DANCERS we promise that they will NOT form any part of a female chorus whatsoever. The work of the male dancers has a different emphases to that of the females, and is more focused on stronger masculine steps and movements. They are expected to learn the Art of the Supported Adage - the first step towards the classical Pas de Duex technique. A suitable female partner will be selected for them to train with, and they will learn this within the Principal Pas de Duex class which precedes Principal Rehearsals, regardless of whether they are a Junior member or a Senior Member of the company. All male members are expected to dance solo parts. The only time they may form part of an ensemble routine would be with other males. Costumes for the stage, and rehearsal wear, will be of a type that is appropriate for the needs of the individual at any such time.


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 the repertoire 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 a particular 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. This also gives 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 as a group - 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 the dancers a practical insight to how important a dancers' input is to 'the production' as a whole as well as how exciting it is to be 'an active part' of the creative process 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, finding the light, and liaising 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 to be able to use this appropriately in their performances to raise their performance standards (i.e. Performance Enhancement Program available from 2011)

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, emotional control and concentration, as dancers are very often on stage for very long periods of time.

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!]. South Coast Ballet will help dancers understand the expectations of a career as a dance-artist.

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 and South Coast Ballet offers three ballet seasons a year in which to understand and develop these stage skills. There is no other organisation in the UK or World that offers this opportunity.

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 required with exam syllabuses) as we prefer to promote and encourage the individuality of each dancer. While a role may have specific characteristic requirements to portray, we believe in coaxing-out  the individual style and talents of dancers, so that they may understand full range of their own talent and potential. We mostly allow solo dancers full scope 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 - but they will be guided through self-exploration. However, 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 an advantage in their first year of full time training.

We engage in professional photographic shoots for publicity purposes intermittantly throughout the year - giving 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 also a way of building a professional portfolio.

Not all members - past, present or future - will go on to pursue a career as a dancer or other performing artist, but they can be guaranteed that their membership with South Coast Ballet will have been an enriching one, while also having a fantastic time with like-minded individuals with the same passion. Few activities will ever 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 apparantly evident and up front, but 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 all our members. But, like technique, it doesn't happen overnight - it takes lots of time and effort. So, whether any of the 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. Our work supports that of the members' ballet teachers. South Coast Ballet draws out the 'courage' for young dancers to step out of the comfort and security of their syllabus training and explore their 'unknown potential'.

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 now and 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  -  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) 839927  [Please leave a message at any time]

southcoastballet@btinternet.com

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