And our first term had finished. It was lovely to have mums and dads to watch their little ones in our last class of the term, loved to see parents dancing with their children!
BOOKING OPEN
If you wish to enrol your child in our classes, we have only a few places left. To reserve your place, contact now.
For our new term, here are some important notes.
Payments - NEW POLICY
Payments need to be made before our first class of the term. For your child to take part in the first class, payments need to be completed by then. If payment is not made, your child won't be able to attend the class.
Clothing
Make sure your child has proper ballet clothing for class. There is no uniform, but proper ballet clothing is obligatory.
For girls, it is a leotard and skirt or a skirted leotard, socks or tights, and ballet shoes. For boys, a white leotard or t-shirt, shorts, and ballet shoes. You can buy it yourself, or I can also supply. For more information about clothing see our web - Clothing.
Timetable
The times for classes Advanced and Year 2-3 may be different this new term. Times will be confirmed by new year.
Nutcracker Family Workshop
We will have a new Nutcracker Family Workshop in the new term at some point in January/early February. More information to come in time.
I wish you all a beautiful and dancing Christmas and a Happy New Year.
We'll see us in the term!
18 December 2015
08 December 2015
The Nutcracker Family Workshop
Sunday 13 December - 10.30-12.30
This time of the year has come. I am delighted to offer a new Nutcracker Family Workshop.
Children and grownups will dive their imaginations into the magic of The Nutcracker through dance and crafts. Enjoy the festive season with this enchanting ever famous ballet, perfect for the whole family.
Have fun with Drosselmeyer and the magic that brings toys to life, learning dances of soldiers and mice set to Tchaikovsky's inspiring score.
Our workshop includes a dance session, followed by arts and crafts, children will build their own props. Fruit and biscuits will be available.
 |
Children and parents creating their props.
Alice's Adventures in Wonderland Family Workshop 2015
|
This is a workshop for the whole family, open to all ages, no experience needed. Parents, brothers and sisters are welcome.
Please note at least one adult per child needs to attend.
Please note at least one adult per child needs to attend.
Prices
Child & Accompanying Adult - £25
Bring a friend or sibling - £20 each
Extra adult is free.
Adult to child ratio: 1 adult to max. 2 children
Where
HACKNEY FORGE
243a Victoria Park Village
London E9 7HD
Numbers are limited so please book early to avoid disappointment. To book please contact:
07550 722 693 or rod_maf@yahoo.com
I look forward to seeing you all there!
Advertisement in LoveEast Magazine
Have you checked our ad in the LoveEast magazine, December issue? Looking very nice. Tell your friends! :)
Come and join us - booking open for January. I look forward to seeing you in one of our classes.
20 November 2015
Christmas Family Day at the Royal Opera House
Sunday 29 November 2015
I am delighted to invite you to come to the Royal Opera House for a family day. Open to all parents and children enrolled and not enrolled in our classes, brothers and sisters, all are welcome to join.
This is an event where the ROH opens doors for families to explore its artists and the world of opera and ballet. There will be creative activities for all in an informal setting.
Every family day is different, but example activities running throughout the day are:
- live music
- dance activities
- informal performances
- make-up
- costume dressing up etc.
Please note activities are for 6 year-olds and up; younger children are welcome but some activities may not be fully suitable for them.
Please note this is not a performance we are going to see, this is an event where the activities run in an informal setting in the different areas of the building.
I have been in contact with the ROH' Education department and on our date the themes will include The Nutcracker. It will be magical!
I will receive you and introduce the Royal Opera House:
- its history and the Royal Ballet Company
- its connection with The Royal Ballet School
- current artists and work
- guided tour in the outside and public areas inside
- I will be accompanying you throughout the day.
Prices
Adult - £6
Child - £4
Times
Meeting and Guided Tour - 11.30am
Family Day Event - 12.00-4.00pm
Please note:
- Every child that takes part in the activities must have a ticket.
- Tickets must be paid in advance until Saturday 28 November in person in class or by bank transfer. I won't be able to purchase any ticket that has not been paid.
- A group of 40 people have already their tickets reserved. If you still wish to join us, the Royal Opera House releases 70-100 day tickets on the day, which is unlikely to sold out. I am happy to meet you there at 10am on the day to purchase the tickets and include you in our group.
- If you wish to buy the ticket directly with the Royal Opera House, note you won't be able to attend the guided tour.
Eating & Drinking
The Royal Opera House will have an open bar with light food, snacks, coffee, tea etc. You are welcome to bring a packed lunch if you want. With your ticket, you can also go out and back in the building, being the last entry at 3pm.
Royal Opera House
Bow Street entrance
Transportation
Tube stations: Covent Garden (Piccadilly line), Leicester Square (Piccadilly and Northern lines) and Holborn (Central line). Please note the closest tube station is Covent Garden, however due to engineering works, on weekends westbound trains may be exit only. Check before you travel. Leicester Square and Holborn are a short walk away.
To book, please contact:
07550 722 693 or rod_maf@yahoo.com
Don't miss this opportunity, it is going to be an amazing experience. I look forward to seeing you all there!
16 September 2015
Ballet Year 2015/16
We have just started our new ballet year 2015/16! Very happy for it. It was lovely to see our little ones back again so grownup after holidays.
Check our timetable and fees, discounts and payment arrangements.
Know more about our classes and other ballet activities we have for the year.
I look forward to welcoming your child in our classes!
29 July 2015
Conclusions of the year 2014/15
And another year has finished. It was a great year, full of adventures, ballet enchanted lands, and lots of fun. The ballet magic culminated in our Under The Sea end of the year sharing at Chisenhale Dance Space. Our sharing was a fantastic time that completed the 2014/15 journey. Here are the conclusions of the year.
Ballet Year 2014/15
This was a busy and intense year of growth in several aspects. This year we opened three new classes, including a Baby Class for 2 and 3 year-olds. We started in September with 17 children and ended with almost 50!
At the end of another year teaching ballet to young children, I conclude a few important things:
As for me, I have ended up enriched and fulfilled out of this year experience. I had lots of fun, constantly learned, and grew into a better person and teacher. I feel my classes are growing clearer into my mission, which makes me very happy. Thank you all for being part of this.
We'll see us in September!
This was a busy and intense year of growth in several aspects. This year we opened three new classes, including a Baby Class for 2 and 3 year-olds. We started in September with 17 children and ended with almost 50!
 |
| Baby class. |
 |
| Reception class. |
 |
| Year1-Year 2 class. |
At the end of another year teaching ballet to young children, I conclude a few important things:
- Children's well being comes first than the ballet principles. It is crucial that children of any age (and I would say adults too) have valuable class experiences where they feel good and emotional attachment is generated. Emotional bonding is what matters specially in early years, as if a child doesn't enjoy what he/she is doing, he/she will never learn or engage. Children will have a lot of time to perfect their technique as they grown older if they want to. Robert Cohan says: “teach with love and love what you do”, the rest will come in time.
- Ballet and dance are there to make children better and happier, not the other way round. As Sir Ken Robinson very well used english words when we had a little chat last June when signing his book - I work through ballet, not for ballet. With me, ballet and art are here to enrich and brighten people's lives. If this will end up having an impact in ballet... Well, I think it definitely will.
- It is very important that parents and children dance together in class. It has a very positive impact on the children and parents and their relationship, and so on the overall ballet experience. Here children share and live their dancing with their most important ones, and they see their most important ones value what is important for them, ergo they and what they do are important. Besides, sometimes children get to teach parents or “see if they can do it as well as you do”, which empowers children giving them ownership of the dancing. This moment is an opportunity for family to bond, and then ballet exists as part integral of their lives. See examples of this in our Alice's Family Workshop and in our Under The Sea end of the year sharing.
- Performance is necessary to complete dance education and experience. At the end of our end of the year sharing I clearly saw how good performance experience was for all the children. It boosted their confidence and self-awareness, children were feeling good with themselves by having accomplished something important such as dancing to an audience. It is never easy to be exposed, but when they do, they grow and feel fulfilled. The dancing experience is completed with performance.
As for me, I have ended up enriched and fulfilled out of this year experience. I had lots of fun, constantly learned, and grew into a better person and teacher. I feel my classes are growing clearer into my mission, which makes me very happy. Thank you all for being part of this.
We'll see us in September!
Under The Sea Ballet Sharing
And another year has finished. It was a great year, full of adventures,
ballet enchanted lands, and lots of fun. The ballet magic culminated in our Under The Sea end of the year sharing at Chisenhale Dance Space. Our sharing was a fantastic time that completed the 2014/15 journey.
Here I share our Under The Sea performance and the conclusions of the year.
Under The Sea Sharing
Our sharing comprised individual group dances of different sea animals ending with all groups dancing together with their parents. I am very proud of all children, they did wonderfully! They had lots of fun and, to me, that's what matters most.
It was an amazing time when parents danced together with their children. The stage was full of people and energy could be felt in the air. This moment had a very positive impact on the children and so on their overall ballet experience.
Parents, thank you for sharing this moment with your children, I would like you to know how well you did for dancing with them. (See the link bellow to know more about this in the conclusions of the year.)
All children together with their parents have created their own costume under given guidelines – well done mums and dads, we definitely had group cohesion, it was an amazing creative result!
At the end of the dances, we had a contest to see which group was the most creative – can you guess who won? Hard to choose, they were all so good, but this time were the Octopuses!
Prizes and goodies were distributed followed by our Ballet Achievement Certificate that celebrated the completion of the ballet year.
At the end of the sharing, I clearly saw how good was performance experience for all the children. It boosted their confidence and they were feeling good with themselves, specially those who were not very confident in class little before the show. I was very positively surprised! (See the link bellow to know more about this in the conclusions of the year.)
In the second year of business, this was my first performance organisation with my classes and I am very happy with how it went.
It was a pleasure to develop a creative and stimulating artistic experience for the children. Not only for them, I hope our sharing has inspired and enriched everyone's minds and hearts.
Here see the Conclusions of the year 2014/15.
 |
| Programme |
Here I share our Under The Sea performance and the conclusions of the year.
Under The Sea Sharing
Our sharing comprised individual group dances of different sea animals ending with all groups dancing together with their parents. I am very proud of all children, they did wonderfully! They had lots of fun and, to me, that's what matters most.
 |
| The Crabs |
 |
| The Divers |
 |
| The Octopuses |
 |
| Parents and children ready to dance together. |
It was an amazing time when parents danced together with their children. The stage was full of people and energy could be felt in the air. This moment had a very positive impact on the children and so on their overall ballet experience.
 |
| Parents dancing with children "Under The Sea" theme. |
Parents, thank you for sharing this moment with your children, I would like you to know how well you did for dancing with them. (See the link bellow to know more about this in the conclusions of the year.)
 |
| Parents dancing with children "Under The Sea" theme. |
All children together with their parents have created their own costume under given guidelines – well done mums and dads, we definitely had group cohesion, it was an amazing creative result!
 |
| Octopuses' different costumes. |
 |
| Water's different costumes. |
 |
| Starfishes' different costumes. |
At the end of the dances, we had a contest to see which group was the most creative – can you guess who won? Hard to choose, they were all so good, but this time were the Octopuses!
 |
| The Octopuses, winners of the contest of costumes. |
Prizes and goodies were distributed followed by our Ballet Achievement Certificate that celebrated the completion of the ballet year.
 |
| Child and Mafalda posing with certificate. |
At the end of the sharing, I clearly saw how good was performance experience for all the children. It boosted their confidence and they were feeling good with themselves, specially those who were not very confident in class little before the show. I was very positively surprised! (See the link bellow to know more about this in the conclusions of the year.)
 |
| All groups on stage. |
In the second year of business, this was my first performance organisation with my classes and I am very happy with how it went.
It was a pleasure to develop a creative and stimulating artistic experience for the children. Not only for them, I hope our sharing has inspired and enriched everyone's minds and hearts.
 |
| Child and mother at the end of the show. |
Here see the Conclusions of the year 2014/15.
04 March 2015
A Wonderful Day at Alice's Workshop
What a wonderful day we had at the Alice's Adventures in Wonderland Family Workshop. Children together with their families had lots of fun with creative dancing, crafts and a tea to finish.
Mums, dads and their little ones took part in the creative dance session. All together had a good time finding different ways to fall into the White Rabbit's hole, to paint the Queen of Hearts' roses, or to find a way out of the labyrinth.
After exploring stage directions with the help of the Cheshire Cat, families collaborated to create a simple dance in which children took the leadership. It was lovely to see the children helping parents with their experience in dance.
Afterwards, it was crafts time. Tables placed, lots of glittery materials and heart-shaped markers, all set for our cup creations - after all we were to have a tea party.
Could we have tea in those cups? I think the Mad Hatter would say yes to that. Children did beautiful creations and some parents did theirs too!
To finish, we had a lovely tea with biscuits and a cheesecake a mum brought, how lovely. (Thank you, Elle!) We did our own tea party, just as the Mad Hatter would have wanted us to. (I'll leave it to your imagination whether we used the cups we created.)
It was really nice to see how ballet and dance gathered families together and how the story generated a playful moment for all. I loved to see the collaboration and teamwork between families. I think with this workshop parents could experience how our classes are like.
Hope you had as much fun as I did and hope to see you soon in any future workshop and in our classes!
Mums, dads and their little ones took part in the creative dance session. All together had a good time finding different ways to fall into the White Rabbit's hole, to paint the Queen of Hearts' roses, or to find a way out of the labyrinth.
Afterwards, it was crafts time. Tables placed, lots of glittery materials and heart-shaped markers, all set for our cup creations - after all we were to have a tea party.
To finish, we had a lovely tea with biscuits and a cheesecake a mum brought, how lovely. (Thank you, Elle!) We did our own tea party, just as the Mad Hatter would have wanted us to. (I'll leave it to your imagination whether we used the cups we created.)
Hope you had as much fun as I did and hope to see you soon in any future workshop and in our classes!
22 February 2015
Alice's Adventures in Wonderland Family Workshop
Sunday 1 March 2015 at 1.00 - 3.00pm - FULL
 |
| Illustration by John Tenniel, 1865 |
Children and grownups will dive their imaginations into the madness of Lewis Carroll's story and characters through creative dance, crafts and make-up for the younger ones.
Come to Wonderland and have fun with Alice and the white rabbit, the mad hatter and the tea party, the naughty playing cards and the wicked queen of hearts.
 |
| Illustration by John Tenniel, 1865 |
Our workshop includes a creative dance session, followed by arts and crafts. Children will build their props, colour, and we will make our own tea party.
 |
| Children building their props with Roman, teacher of arts&crafts section. Coppélia Workshop 2014 |
This is a workshop for the whole family so parents, brothers and sisters are welcome. Please note at least one adult per child needs to attend. No special skills needed, just a large amount of enthusiasm!
 |
| Open class for parents. Spring term 2014 |
The workshop is open to all ages. Please bring clothing that allow movement.
Prices
Child & Accompanying Adult - £25
Bring a friend or sibling - £21 each
Extra adult is free.
(Price includes afternoon tea for child and accompanying adult)
Adult to child ratio: 1 adult to max. 2 children
Where
HACKNEY FORGE
243a Victoria Park Village
London E9 7HD
view map
Numbers are limited so please book early to avoid disappointment. To book please contact:
07550 722 693 or rod_maf@yahoo.com
I look forward to seeing you all there!
 |
| Illustration by John Tenniel, 1865 |
11 December 2014
Christmas Alice's Adventures in Wonderland Family Workshop
 |
| Alice's Adventures of Wonderland, The Royal Ballet © ROH |
This Christmas I am delighted to offer Alice's Adventures in Wonderland Family Workshop, a lovely way to enjoy this time of the year in family.
In this creative workshop, parents and children will explore the fantasy and Lewis Carroll's story characters through creative dancing, crafts and make-up for the younger ones (or who wishes!).
No special skills needed, just a large amount of enthusiasm and will to have a great time.
Come all and enjoy Alice's adventures with the mad hatter and the tea party, the white rabbit, the naughty playing cards and the wicked queen of hearts - a workshop for all the family to have fun.
 |
| Jillian Vanstone and Aleksandar Antonijevic in Alice's Adventures in Wonderland, The National Ballet of Canada. |
The workshop is for all ages. Parents, brothers and sisters are welcome. Please bring clothing that allow movement.
When
Sunday 14 December at 12.00 - 2.00pm
Prices
Adult: £17
Child: £12
Adult to child ratio: 1 Adult to max. 2 children
HACKNEY FORGE
243a Victoria Park Village
London E9 7HD
view map
Numbers are limited. To book a place please contact:
07550 722 693 or rod_maf@yahoo.com
I look forward to seeing you there!
25 August 2014
New Coppélia Ballet Workshop
Following the visible enjoyment children had in previous workshops, I am now offering a New Coppélia Workshop to welcome the best way this new academic year.
After the success of our last Coppélia workshop, this time we have new surprises.
In this creative workshop children will explore the story and characters of this comic ballet through new games with dancing, mime and crafts, and have lots of fun.
Come and meet the eccentric Dr. Coppelius, his favourite doll Coppélia, and the young Swanhilde, and make dolls come to life!
The workshop is open to children of 3-8 years old and, as usual, it will end with a small presentation for family and friends.
It is a lovely introduction for newcomers to the ballet classes.
HACKNEY FORGE
243a Victoria Park Village
London E9 7HD
view map
NEW DATE Sunday 14th September
12.00 - 2.00pm
Cost: £21
Bring a friend or sibling - £18 each
Booking essential. To book, please contact:
07550 722 693 or rod_maf@yahoo.com
12 July 2014
Sleeping Beauty Summer Ballet Workshop
I am delighted to offer a Sleeping Beauty 2-day workshop, the perfect way to start the summer holidays.
In this creative workshop, children will explore the story and characters of this classic ballet through dance, crafts, storytelling and basic make-up!
Come and have fun with Princess Aurora and friends learning dances set to Tchaikovsky's enchanting score.
Children are welcome to bring princesses, witches or fairies' costumes!
The workshop is for ages 3-8 years, and will end with in a performance for family and friends.
Group 3-5 Year olds
Wednesday 23rd July at 9.45am - 11.45am
Thursday 24th July at 9.45am - 11.45am
Group 6-8 Year olds
Wednesday 23rd July at 1.30pm - 3.30pm
Thursday 24th July at 1.30pm - 3.30pm
Cost: £42
Bring a friend or sibling new to our ballet classes - £38 each
HACKNEY FORGE
243a Victoria Park Village
London E9 7HD
view map
Numbers are limited so to book a place please contact:
07550 722 693 or rod_maf@yahoo.com
31 March 2014
Coppélia Ballet Workshop
I am delighted to offer a Coppélia workshop.
In this creative workshop children explore the story and characters of this classic comic ballet through dance, crafts and lots of fun.
Meet the eccentric inventor Dr. Coppelius, Coppélia and Swanhilde, and make dolls come to life!
Children will colour, create their props, learn dances and become a mechanic doll.
This Easter come and have fun with Coppélia. The workshop will end with a presentation for parents.
HACKNEY FORGE
243a Victoria Park Village
London E9 7HD
view map
Sunday 6th April
12.00 - 1.45pm - 3-5 Year olds
2.00 - 4.00pm - 6-8 Year olds
Cost: £21
Bring a friend or sibling - £18 each
Includes a Goodie Bag!
To book a place, please contact:
07550 722 693 or rod_maf@yahoo.com
04 March 2014
A Chat with Tamara Rojo on Teaching Artistic Emotion
How to train children to become future dancers with artistic emotion.
Yesterday I had the pleasure to meet and have a little chat with Tamara Rojo, the artistic director of the English National Ballet and one of the best dancers in the world. In good Spanish we chatted.
One of my main concerns on ballet education at the moment is the lack of artistic emotion of english dancers on stage. Schools and teachers have the power to cut out a personal expression on a search for a style, or to nurture it; I work to empower it.
Tamara is famous for her emotional presence on stage and so I asked her what is her opinion about this matter and if she had any suggestions on how not to cut student’s self out of them. To always do whatever inspires them was her advice. “When they are young, put some music on and let them dance freely; improvisation in young ages is very important", she said. This will lead them to one day find their own style. “A 5th is a 5th and a port de bras is a port de bras, but everyone has their own way to do it", she admitted.
Apparently we both agree on this matter. As a teacher, I let my students have their own style, their voice; it helps develop confidence and self expression, and is what makes them special. I do not see them as machines, but as humans with own thoughts, own bodies and own souls.
I told Tamara in my classes for little ones, we let our imagination fly visiting the Space, the Circus or the Zoo, and in our adventure we get to do our train in our high tippy toes to get there, our sensitive hands to smell flowers or pick up some stars, our balance in the trapeze, and our skips to come back home. “But when I ask my students what we did last week, they do not remember the steps, they only remember the story!”, and we both laugh.
Tamara Rojo also suggested to take children to attend ballet performances and see real ballet dancers on stage. Funny, as I am now arranging tickets to take my younger ones to see “My First Ballet: Coppélia”, an English National Ballet production for children aged 3+.
I can prepare students for vocational training and a professional dance career, but this is not what matters the most to me. What I do care about is that they have fun, enjoy learning dance, grow into good persons and are inspired by ballet as an art form, and that this gives them life.
It was a great moment and very inspiring talking with Tamara. With me, ballet enriches children’s minds and hearts; children become fulfilled beings and dancers with own style and voice and, in the future, will be more humans ready to star uniquely on a stage.
Photos by Roman Perona
 |
| Talking with Tamara Rojo |
Yesterday I had the pleasure to meet and have a little chat with Tamara Rojo, the artistic director of the English National Ballet and one of the best dancers in the world. In good Spanish we chatted.
One of my main concerns on ballet education at the moment is the lack of artistic emotion of english dancers on stage. Schools and teachers have the power to cut out a personal expression on a search for a style, or to nurture it; I work to empower it.
Tamara is famous for her emotional presence on stage and so I asked her what is her opinion about this matter and if she had any suggestions on how not to cut student’s self out of them. To always do whatever inspires them was her advice. “When they are young, put some music on and let them dance freely; improvisation in young ages is very important", she said. This will lead them to one day find their own style. “A 5th is a 5th and a port de bras is a port de bras, but everyone has their own way to do it", she admitted.
Apparently we both agree on this matter. As a teacher, I let my students have their own style, their voice; it helps develop confidence and self expression, and is what makes them special. I do not see them as machines, but as humans with own thoughts, own bodies and own souls.
I told Tamara in my classes for little ones, we let our imagination fly visiting the Space, the Circus or the Zoo, and in our adventure we get to do our train in our high tippy toes to get there, our sensitive hands to smell flowers or pick up some stars, our balance in the trapeze, and our skips to come back home. “But when I ask my students what we did last week, they do not remember the steps, they only remember the story!”, and we both laugh.
 |
| Tamara Rojo and me (reads right to left) |
Tamara Rojo also suggested to take children to attend ballet performances and see real ballet dancers on stage. Funny, as I am now arranging tickets to take my younger ones to see “My First Ballet: Coppélia”, an English National Ballet production for children aged 3+.
I can prepare students for vocational training and a professional dance career, but this is not what matters the most to me. What I do care about is that they have fun, enjoy learning dance, grow into good persons and are inspired by ballet as an art form, and that this gives them life.
It was a great moment and very inspiring talking with Tamara. With me, ballet enriches children’s minds and hearts; children become fulfilled beings and dancers with own style and voice and, in the future, will be more humans ready to star uniquely on a stage.
Photos by Roman Perona
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)