the nottingham ballet school
Laura is founder and principal of the Nottingham Ballet School. She is an
experienced artist, teacher, director, mentor, and choreographer who trained on
the BA (Hons) Ballet Education course at the prestigious Royal Academy of Dance
(RAD) in London. Whilst training, Laura also obtained her Licentiate (LRAD),
Associate (ARAD) and Registered Teachers Status (RAD RTS). She began dancing at
the tender age of 3 years with Janina Gieralt in Nottingham. Here she was
inspired by her teacher and from the age of 10, knew she wanted to be just like
Miss Gieralt. Her teachers challenged and motivated Laura to pursue a long term
career in Dance Education. Laura has worked in private, public and community
dance sectors around London teaching Ballet, Contemporary Ballet, Creative dance
and Pilates to people of all ages; with a passion to provide access to dance for
all. She has also choreographed for many dance productions, both on film and on
stage and has worked on live streamed shows, video and photography projects. She
has collaborated with many filmmakers, photographers, choreographers and artists
on multiple community funded and private projects. Laura is enthusiastic and
encourages diversity and creativity in dance; she is a youth mentor working
alongside LambethELEVATE, has taught and examined for the worlds first Muslim
Ballet School (Grace & Poise) and taught and developed the Associate programme
at Marble Hill Dance Studio, alongside dear colleague and mentor Abigail Cova.
Laura has also mentored RAD undergraduate students on their teaching placements.
Her pupils have gone on to gain places at the Royal Ballet School (White Lodge),
Royal Ballet School Junior Associates, Central School of Ballet Associates,
Ballet Boost, The BRIT School, Arts Ed., Performers College, Bird College and
The Urdang Academy. Whilst studying at the RAD, Laura performed alongside Darcey
Bussell, for the Queen and members of the Royal Family, in celebration of Her
Majesty’s 90th Birthday. She was also a Soloist dancer with the Semaphore Ballet
Company and later went on to be Director of the Company; here she managed,
organised events, collaborated with dance artists, choreographed and taught
undergraduate dancers studying at the RAD. Laura acknowledges the importance of
continued professional development and is delighted to be a student on the MA
(Hons) Education (Dance Teaching) at the Royal Academy of Dance. She is also a
Founding Partner of The Dance Teacher LLP, a peripatetic dance education service
which offers classes across the Midlands, London and Hampshire. With a wealth of
experience and ever expanding knowledge of teaching Ballet, Laura looks forward
to welcoming and educating the next generation of dancers at the Nottingham
Ballet School.
