
Ballet Boost is a forward-thinking ballet school for gifted dancers aged 8+. We offer UK-wide vocational ballet training on Sundays through our Associates Programme, a vocational alternative to Lower School through the Academy of Balletic Arts, plus private tuition, school holiday classes, refresher classes, and supplementary skills courses from our London base at Pineapple Dance Studios.
Artistry, Musicality and Technique are incorporated into all aspects of Ballet Boost training. Our goal is to develop well-rounded, well-grounded dancers. This approach combined with our supportive learning environment provides our students with a real opportunity to shine in this crowded industry.
We strongly believe that a child’s true potential can only be realised when they feel happy, motivated and confident about their learning environment. We want our students to enjoy exploring their possibilities and feel confident to ask questions and engage with their tutors. The results achieved from the Ballet Boost approach to teaching have been quite amazing with proven student success that is now recognised by vocational schools across London.
Our Founder & Artistic Director
Welcome to Ballet Boost – here’s a little background on our Founder and Director, Emma Northmore.
Emma was born in Devon and trained at Elmhurst Ballet School and then English National Ballet School.
She performed professionally for 12 years, including 8 years with English National Ballet Company where she was promoted twice to First artist.
Amongst every corps de ballet role you can imagine, Emma also danced soloist and principal roles in her last few years with highlights being Clara (nutcracker), Finger Fairy (Sleeping Beauty), a Principal role in Drink to me (Mark Morris), Cygnets (Swanlake), Lead peasant and Lead Czardas (Swanlake), Coppelia friends & Juliet Friends.
Emma was best known in the company for having the ability to be thrown in to a new role/position with 5 minutes to spare and managing to pull it off without looking like a rabbit in headlights. An entirely useful skill it seems for many big companies – so remember, dancers, it’s not all about who performs the most pirouettes or who has the highest extensions. There is so much more to succeeding as a professional dancer and this leads neatly on to why Emma set up Ballet Boost.
After many years teaching as a freelancer across the London industry including hours of private coaching and listening parents – there was clearly a void. A void in necessary information as part of the essential training for dancers today as well as a void in supporting parents/guardians along this crazy ballet journey too! Each family dedicates so much time to helping their young dancers strive for their dreams – yet so little information and feedback is shared.
And so; Ballet Boost was ‘born’ in 2015, out of a desire to support and nurture both the dancers and their families, but also to enhance the offering of ballet training in the UK to reflect the changing needs within the industry and keep up with international standards.
Information is key.
A thinking dancer makes astounding progress.
A confident dancer achieves beyond expectation.
A supportive environment breeds success.
Never say; ‘No, you can’t be a ballet dancer’. Instead, be honest with the hurdles, offer every insight possible and these young talented dancers will surprise you over and over again.
I am delighted to say that after 15 years of teaching those dancers with tricky physiques for ballet can still surprise me in the best possible way. Those that would have been turned away after being given all the vocational knowledge and insights can astound you with their achievements. And this is what drives me.
To see the utter delight for the dancer and their families when they achieve their dreams is everything.
Emma, 2023
It might helpful to note that Emma was also told she could not become a Ballet Dancer as she was “too short”. However, our Director went on to not only have a successful ballet career but also is a much-loved ballet teacher from student to professional achieving profound results. She is dedicated in her mission to support and nurture the next generation and will always be on hand to answer your questions and guide you.
Previous teaching experience
- Ballet mistress and Rehearsal Director for Ballet Black.
- Company class teacher for Mathew Bourne (current)
- Guest teacher – The Australian Ballet Company & BalletBoyz.
- Cover Teacher – English National Ballet School, RBS Associates.
- Artistic Director for Images of Dance at LSC.
Emma was proud to have been appointed the role of Head of Intensives at The Royal Ballet School 21/22. In her time there she ran her department and designed the new one-day courses open to all. To have gained the respect and trust of such an institution was most certainly a career highlight which she enjoyed fulfilling.
Emma however, decided to return to Ballet Boost and the studio; such is her desire to help these young dancers and to move Ballet forwards. There is nothing quite like the buzz of a dance studio – if your child has that ‘bug’ then you have come to the right place!
images
about1
30-10-2024 10:30:39
30-10-2024 10:30:39
about2
30-10-2024 10:30:43
30-10-2024 10:30:43
about3
30-10-2024 10:30:46
30-10-2024 10:30:46
about4
30-10-2024 10:30:49
30-10-2024 10:30:49
about5
30-10-2024 10:30:53
30-10-2024 10:30:53
about6
30-10-2024 10:30:56
30-10-2024 10:30:56
about8
30-10-2024 10:31:05
30-10-2024 10:31:05
about9
30-10-2024 10:33:14
30-10-2024 10:33:14
about10
30-10-2024 10:33:20
30-10-2024 10:33:20
about11
30-10-2024 10:33:26
30-10-2024 10:33:26
about12
30-10-2024 10:33:33
30-10-2024 10:33:33
about13
30-10-2024 10:33:54
30-10-2024 10:33:54
emma northmore 1
06-11-2024 10:10:15
06-11-2024 10:10:15
emma northmore 2
06-11-2024 10:10:29
06-11-2024 10:10:29
emma northmore 3
06-11-2024 10:10:33
06-11-2024 10:10:33
emma northmore 4
06-11-2024 10:10:39
06-11-2024 10:10:39
emma northmore 5
06-11-2024 10:10:42
06-11-2024 10:10:42