Central School of Ballet
{{Use dmy dates|date=February 2022}}
{{Primary sources|date=September 2010}}
{{Infobox school
| name = Central School of Ballet
| image_size =
| motto = Become the best possible dancer you can and want to be
| established = {{Start date|1982}}
| closed =
| type = Independent
| religious_affiliation =
| president =
| head_label = Director
| head = Mark Osterfield
| chair_label =
| chair =
| founder = Christopher Gable & Ann Stannard
| specialist = Classical Ballet
| address = 21-22 Hatfields, Paris Garden
| city = London
| county =
| country = United Kingdom
| postcode = SE1 8DJ
|affiliations = {{plainlist|*Conservatoire for Dance and Drama }}
| staff =
| houses =
| colours =
| publication =
| website = {{URL|http://www.centralschoolofballet.co.uk}}
}}
Central School of Ballet is a classical ballet school based in London, with students from countries all over the world.
History
The school was established in 1982 by Ann Stannard and Christopher Gable. It established a touring company, Ballet Central, in 1984. From 2004, Central started to offer degree courses accredited by the University of Kent.{{cite web|url=http://www.centralschoolofballet.co.uk/acbackground.php |title=Central School of Ballet Homepage |website=Centralschoolofballet.co.uk |accessdate=2017-03-09}}
In 2018, more than £25,000 worth of costumes were stolen from a van belonging to the Central School of Ballet. The costumes were recovered after a social media appeal.{{Cite web |title=Stolen ballet costumes are found in garage |url=https://www.islingtontribune.co.uk/article/stolen-ballet-costumes-are-found-in-garage |access-date=2025-01-25 |website=Camden New Journal |language=en-gb}}
The school is based in the Countess of Wessex Studios, named after Sophie, Duchess of Edinburgh (then known as the Countess of Wessex), who has been a patron of the Central School of Ballet since 2003 and who opened the studios in 2020.{{Cite web |last=Proctor |first=Charlie |date=2020-02-27 |title=The Countess of Wessex opens new ballet studios named in her honour |url=https://royalcentral.co.uk/uk/edinburgh/the-countess-of-wessex-opens-new-ballet-studios-named-in-her-honour-138318/ |access-date=2025-01-25 |website=Royal Central |language=en-GB}}
Alumni
Rio Ferdinand, footballer{{Cite news |last=Pelley |first=Rich |date=2024-06-08 |title=‘I chose football over ballet’: Rio Ferdinand |url=https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/article/2024/jun/08/i-chose-football-over-ballet-rio-ferdinand |access-date=2025-01-25 |work=The Guardian |language=en-GB |issn=0261-3077}}
References
{{Reflist}}
{{Performing Arts Schools in the United Kingdom|dance}}
{{Ballet schools}}
{{Coord|51.50558|-0.10652|format=dms|type:edu_region:GB|display=title}}
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Central School of Ballet}}
Category:Schools of the performing arts in the United Kingdom
Category:Ballet schools in the United Kingdom
Category:Educational institutions established in 1982
Category:1982 establishments in England
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