Silver Swans Easter Course

Jasmin Armstrong
Ballet & Repertoire Faculty (Gentle & Steady)

A graduate of the Faculty of Education’s undergraduate, postgraduate and professional programmes, Jasmin Armstrong joined the Faculty of Education as a sessional lecturer in January 2022, and as Lecturer in Dance Education in January 2023.

She has previously worked at the RAD Dance School, and at Performers College (Essex Campus), teaching ballet to a students of varying age ranges and levels of experience. In her current role in the Faculty of Education, Jasmin manages the Diploma in Dance Teaching Studies (DDTS) and contributes to a wide range of modules on a variety of programmes, including teaching ballet on the BA(Hons) Ballet Education technique modules. Jasmin has extensive experience in the private sector as an RAD teacher, having taught freelance in many schools across London. Jasmin can also be found on a Monday evening teaching the Higher Grades syllabi at the SJ Academy of Dance in Southampton, where she began her ballet life at the age of 2.

Sarah Platt
Ballet & Repertoire Faculty (Steady & Dynamic)

Sarah trained with the Royal Academy of Dance (RAD) from childhood grades, through the Teacher Training College, a distant-learning degree course and into postgraduate education. Research in ‘Inclusive Dance ractice’ at Postgraduate level instigated an interest in more diverse teaching. Sarah was part of the RAD Dance for Lifelong Wellbeing (DfLW) project in 2012, undertaking practice based research into the benefits and considerations when teaching older learners to dance. Having contributed to the RAD Report (2013) and presented at the DfLW conference (2013), she participated in the second phrase of the DfLW project (2017) and acted as mentor to other researching teachers. From these beginnings came the creation of the RAD Silver Swans Ballet programme, formally launched in 2017, the benefits of which Sarah is passionate about.

Sarah has had the opportunity to share the joy of Silver Swans in many contexts, particularly during the pandemic when there was a surge of interest in ways to keep fit and healthy whilst isolating or in lockdown. Sharing enthusiasm through various media and presenting in a range of situations contributed to her earning the RAD Advocacy Award in 2020. Her latest project has been developing the Seated Swans programme so that even
more people can share the joy of dance. Sarah currently enjoys teaching Silver Swans in a wide range of contexts, from church halls, through Zoom (still!), at RAD HQ and she has the great honour of teaching our prestigious Swan, Queen Camilla, whenever Her Majesty’s diary permits.

Wendy Jardine
Pilates Faculty

Since 2009, Wendy has taught Pilates to dancers. She creates and presents courses to ballet teachers in the principles of Pilates, too, so teachers can use the knowledge in their teaching.

Wendy is trained to Master Level and has been teaching Pilates since 2007. She uses Pilates to empower dancers in all of their movement. Pilates gives them the conscious awareness of their strengths and imbalances and equips them with the tools to self-care, rebalance and avoid injury. They enhance and improve their strength, mobility and flexibility, by knowing how and where every muscle is, and why each muscle group makes a move, big or small, or is a deep stabilising muscle. By isolating, engaging and feeling, which muscles are creating what, the dancers can consciously call upon them in their training and performance, which takes their work to another level. Within these sessions, which flow from one move to another, the dancers learn how to use their breath to stabilise, connect and relax. This tool enriches life skills, exam technique and is deeply calming.

When Wendy is not at the Academy, she teaches in West Dulwich and currently many sessions over Zoom. She has a forever growing online library of over a hundred sessions www.pilates-instructor.net

There are three different paces of ballet and repertoire classes to choose from.

• Gentle: A nurturing and welcoming class designed for those who enjoy working at a calm pace with a mindful, low-impact approach.
• Steady: A class designed for those who enjoy working at a steady and consistent pace, with a focus on building upon a strong foundation in classical ballet.
• Dynamic: An energetic and invigorating class perfect for those who enjoy working at a faster pace.

Pilates classes are suitable for all levels.

If a class you would like to join is sold out, please join the waiting list here, and we will be in touch if a space becomes available

Ballet and Repertoire Morning Classes

11.00am – 12.30pm

• Gentle (SOLD OUT) Join the waiting list here
• Steady (SOLD OUT) Join the waiting list here

Ballet and Repertoire Early Afternoon Classes

1.15pm – 2.45pm

• Steady (SOLD OUT) Join the waiting list here
• Dynamic

Ballet and Repertoire Late Afternoon Classes

3.00pm – 4.30pm

• Steady
• Dynamic

Pilates Classes

1.15pm – 2.15pm

11.30am – 12.30pm

Ballet and repertoire classes

• Non-members £115
• Members £103.50

Pilates classes

• Non-members £80
• Members £72

Dancers who are members of the RAD will receive a discounted price. Please enter your RAD ID when prompted to do so during the booking process to receive this discount.

Royal Academy of Dance
188 York Road
London
SW11 3JZ

See helpful information on how to find us here.