Silver Swans: Focus on Classical

The Silver Swans: Focus on Classical course offers dancers the chance to join us for a week of classes focusing on ballet technique and repertoire.

Immerse yourself in an inspiring week of classes that will elevate your technique and deepen your understanding. Throughout the course, you’ll master a piece of repertoire, guided by expert faculty and enriched by the magic of live piano accompaniment.

“It is a fabulous experience having the opportunity to dance at the RAD. All the staff are so friendly and helpful, and many new friendships are made between the Silver Swans. Learning from such dedicated teachers, with pianist, is amazing. Thank everyone involved for a wonderful week.“

Participant of the Silver Swans: Focus on Classical Course 2024

For a wider range of classes across the course of a week including, Ballet Technique, Repertoire, contemporary and Move to the Musicals, see our Silver Swans Summer School.

Class information

There are three different paces of ballet and repertoire classes to choose from, each 1.5 hours in duration per day.

• 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.

Venue

Royal Academy of Dance
188 York Road
London
SW11 3JZ

Times

Gentle: 11am – 12.30pm each day

Steady: 1.30pm – 3.00pm each day – SOLD OUT

Dynamic: 3.15pm – 4.45pm each day

If the class you would like to join is sold out, you can join our waiting list by completing the form found here.

Faculty

Sarah Platt (Ballet & Repertoire – Steady & Dynamic classes)

Sarah trained with the Royal Academy of Dance (RAD) from childhood grades, through the Teacher Training College, a distance-learning degree course and into postgraduate education. Research in ‘Inclusive Dance Practice’ at the 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 phase 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 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 headquarters and she has the great honour of teaching our prestigious Swan, Queen Camilla, whenever Her Majesty’s diary permits.

Karen Cadogan (Ballet & Repertoire – Gentle classes)

Karen trained at the London College of Dance, graduating with a 1^st class teaching diploma. She toured with the Jiving Lindy Hoppers, in London, on TV, UK & internationally. Karen danced with BOP jazz theatre company, performed in several West End productions of The King & I and was the assistant choreographer to Susan Kikuchi at The Royal Albert Hall, among other engagements.

She has taught in traditional dance schools and vocational colleges, on summer schools and on choreography commissions. As Head of Dance in an Independent School for over 20 years, Karen devised and directed dance productions alongside teaching RAD Ballet, ISTD Modern, Jazz, and GCSE Dance, students successfully auditioned for vocational colleges.

Karen’s passion for movement, expression, and wellness found a natural expansion into the practice of yoga. Having experienced the sense of peace and the positive effects, she completed her 200-hour yoga teacher training in Vinyasa Flow, at Ashiyana, Goa 2016.

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