Adult Ballet & Pilates Summer Course

Paul Clarke
Level 1 Ballet Technique Faculty

Paul had his early dance training in Leicester, moving to London in 1980 to continue his training at the Rambert School of Ballet. Paul’s first professional engagement took him to Düsseldorf, Germany where he joined the Deutsche Oper Am Rhein ballet company performing in ballets by George Balanchine, Jirí Kylián, Heinz Spoerli, Erich Walter and Roland Petit. 

Paul also danced with Malmö Staadts Theatre, Sweden and in 1988 returned to Germany where he was engaged by Hannover State Opera and promoted to first soloist performing all leading roles in both classical and contemporary ballets. While in Hannover, Paul was given the opportunity to design several ballet stage sets and costumes for the Hannover State Opera, and decided to return to London in order to pursue a career as a theatre designer, graduating from Wimbledon School of Art in 1999. His design credits include Operas, Ballets, Contemporary Dance, Children’s Theatre productions and West End Musicals (La Cava / Rat Pack: Live from Las Vegas).  

During this period Paul also continued to work as a freelance dancer and from 1998-2005 performed the role of The Snowman for the Birmingham Repertory Theatre (Birmingham / London; Peacock Theatre). 

In 2006 Paul retrained as a dance teacher graduating from the Professional Dancers Teaching Course (PDTD) at the Royal Academy of Dance, with distinction. Paul has taught at the Hammond School in Chester and in 2007 rejoined the Rambert School of Dance as a full-time member of the ballet faculty where he has had the pleasure of teaching for the past seventeen years. Paul has worked as External Examiner on the R.A.D’s PDTD’s course and continues to teach summer schools both nationally and internationally. Paul was recently awarded a Fellowship of Higher  Education (FHEA).  

Paul spearheaded Rambert School’s Gender Non-specific training program and recently took part in Rambert School’s inaugural research seminar at St.Hilda’s College, Oxford University. He has also given talks and workshops at Northern School of contemporary dance and Central School. 

Owen Morris
Level 2 Ballet Technique and Pilates Faculty

Born and raised in Cornwall, Owen began his dance training with former professional dancers Nicola Brice and Terence Etheridge, continuing his studies at Totnes School of Dance in Devon. He completed a pre-vocational Performing Arts programme with Kennicott Sixth Form, achieving A-Levels alongside his dance training, before joining Ballet West in Scotland, touring across the country with the Ballet West Touring Company. His early performance experience includes appearances with the National Youth Ballet of Great Britain, Duchy Ballet, and Cornwall Youth Dance Company.

Owen has performed internationally as a Company Soloist with the State Opera Varna Ballet Company in Bulgaria and as a Corps de Ballet Artist with the Cape Town City Ballet in South Africa. His soloist repertoire includes Giselle (Hilarion, Wilfred, Peasant Pas de Deux), The Nutcracker (Flowers Cavalier, Russian Dance, Arabian Pas de Deux, Soldier Doll, Rat King), The Sleeping Beauty (Bluebird Pas de Deux, Puss in Boots), Swan Lake (Spanish Dance), Romeo & Juliet (Tybalt), Don Quixote (Matador), La Bayadère (Drum Dance), and Le Corsaire Pas de Deux. He has also performed extensively in the corps de ballet across a broad range of classical and neoclassical repertoire.

His theatre, film, and opera credits include appearing as a featured dancer in Disney’s The Nutcracker and the Four Realms (choreography by Liam Scarlett), White Oak (featured at the Beijing International Film Festival), and as a featured dancer for Channel 4. He has danced in productions at the Royal Opera House, Glyndebourne Summer Festival, and the Royal Albert Hall, and performed as an ensemble member in State Opera Varna’s musical theatre productions. International and touring engagements include Leila – The Land of Imagination for Balich Worldwide Shows in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia; originating the role of Tom in the UK tour of Tom’s Midnight Garden (choreographed by Gareth Mole and Frances Livesey, inspired by Philippa Pearce’s novel); and performing in Jamiel Laurence Productions’ The Nutcracker at the Cardiff Christmas Festival.

Alongside his performing career, Owen is an accomplished dance educator teaching at leading UK and international ballet, contemporary, and musical theatre institutions as a Ballet Teacher and Pilates Teacher. He has taught for Elmhurst Ballet School, Rambert School of Ballet & Contemporary Dance, English National Ballet School, ArtsEd, Laine Theatre Arts, Millennium Performing Arts, CATS Programme at Swindon Dance, City Academy Professional Dancers Course, Pineapple Dance Studio, Danceworks, Central School of Ballet, Royal Academy of Dance, BBO Dance, London Vocational Ballet School, Cecchetti Ballet Associates, City Academy Adult Ballet Courses, Chelmsford Ballet Company, Mandy Dance Academy in Malta, English Ballet School – Neumarkt in der Oberpfalz in Germany, Bodyworks West Health Club, Willesden Sports Centre, Totnes School of Dance, Elite Ballet Project, and Buckingham Dance Studios. Owen holds a Level 5 Diploma in Dance Teaching with Distinction (BBO Dance), a Level 6 BA (Hons) Degree from Northumbria University, a Pilates Teaching Diploma, Progressive Ballet Technique Certification, and RAD Advanced 2 Ballet (ARAD). His continued professional development includes training through The Royal Ballet School and participation in the Kerry Nicholls Artist Mentoring Programme. He also holds up-to-date Safeguarding, Prevent, and First Aid certifications, alongside full Public Liability coverage.

In addition to his work in dance, Owen is the published author of Some People Come in Pairs and Other Musings (written in 2020 and published in 2022). Musically trained, he is proficient in music theory and sight-reading and is an accomplished violinist.

Damien Lee Stirk
Level 3 Ballet Technique Faculty

Damien Lee Stirk is a distinguished professional dancer, actor, and classical ballet teacher with over two decades of experience across the international stage and theatre companies. A graduate of the English National Ballet School, Damien was selected to perform with English National Ballet before touring globally with Matthew Bourne’s Swan Lake, as a performer, dance captain, and company ballet teacher. 

In 2011, Damien graduated with distinction from the Professional Dancer’s Teaching Diploma (PDTD) at the Royal Academy of Dance (RAD), where he remains a regular guest faculty member. His extensive international teaching career has spanned the UK, Brazil, Mexico, India, and Japan, specialising in vocational-level training and adult ballet. 

As the founder and director of The Dancers Studio London, Damien provides a unique platform for dancers to train in the city’s most iconic spaces, fostering an environment of technical excellence and creative growth. Alongside his leadership role, he continues to perform as an actor with The Royal Ballet, appearing in major repertoire at the Royal Opera House, including Swan Lake, Romeo and Juliet, Manon, Don Quixote and Giselle. 

• Ballet technique Level 1: Suitable for those who have a some knowledge of ballet technique and would like to improve their skills, or dancers returning to ballet after a long break. Each class will be designed to improve body alignment, coordination and execution of the required technique, building your knowledge and understanding as the week progresses.
• Ballet technique Level 2: Suitable for those who have been attending ballet classes for at least a couple of years. This class is designed for students currently RAD Intermediate Foundation level or equivalent.
• Ballet technique Level 3: Suitable for those who regularly attend high level classes and have developed a strong technique. This class is designed for students currently studying RAD Intermediate – RAD Advanced 2 or equivalent. Enabling dancers to maintain and further their technique, musicality and artistry.

Please note, the ballet classes (at all levels) do not include pointe work.

Pilates classes are open to all levels.

• Ballet technique Level 1: 6.30pm – 7.45pm
• Ballet technique Level 2: 6.30pm – 7.45pm
• Ballet technique Level 3: 6.15pm – 7.45pm
• Pilates: 8pm – 9pm

Ballet technique Level 1 or Level 2:

• Non-members £90
• Members £81

Ballet technique Level 3:

• Non-members £107
• Members £97

Pilates:

• 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.

Pilates will show you any imbalances you might have, and the result will be that you become super aware and able to heal, giving your body balanced strength, literally from top to toe. You will feel and control the training you give to every body part. You will progress, because your body continually adapts and is fluid. You will access every part of your body, from the deepest layers outwards, and this is true whether you’re feeling fabulous, a bit stiff, or recovering from an injury. We are all fluid, and Pilates will heal you from the inside out.

As your knowledge develops, and your body adapts, you’ll perfect your tone and master the moves with a complete understanding of the why, how, where and what, and be fully aware of how it relates to ballet. Your training will enhance every moment of every ballet move. With this knowledge, dancers consciously call upon their muscles in their training and performance, which takes their technique and work to another level.

You will also learn how to use your breath – this tool alone enriches life skills, core and emotional connection, exam technique, and is deeply calming. Pilates enriches the body and mind.

You will find your body is balanced, stabilised, and aligned in every session, and you will take that knowledge into your everyday life too. You will always know how to maintain strength and flexibility in all that you do, without any stress or strains, and you’ll be equipped with the wonderful knowledge of how to consciously relax every muscle, easing body and mind. You’ll be life-ready and dance-ready with strength, awareness, and calmness, from the inside out.