Academy of Balletic Arts Saturday

The Academy of Balletic Arts Saturday is a brand new training programme affiliated with the ABA for the progression of Vocational standard ballet dancers.

Classes are delivered in a highly intensive environment and are based on our own version of a Paris Opera style training methodology. This complements current UK training methods in order to help every student excel and meet the demands of the rapidly evolving world of ballet.

ABAS Teachers

Lorraine Swain

Lower & Upper Associates
Lorraine trained at Laine Theatre Arts where she graduated with three teaching qualifications and the ARAD.
Her professional career was with with Italiana Compagnia di Opera touring Italy, Sicily Sardinia and Malta for 7 years. Musical Theatre credits include Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, Godspell, and Stop the World.
Returning home she then pursued her teaching career opening her own highly successful school alongside her sister, with many of the students gaining places at at Royal Ballet School, Northern Ballet, Rambert and Central. At this time Lorraine was teaching full time at Performers College as Head of Ballet for 18years, and the following 14years at Masters College as Head of Dept.
Lorraine is a Senior Vocational ISTD Ballet Examiner and newly appointed Committee Member.
In the past Lorraine has had many of her students invited to demonstrate on ISTD videos, Congress and demonstrations, and at the annual ISTD Ballet Awards she has conducted numerous Bursary and Vocational Classes. Recently she co choreographed the New Girls Advanced2 syllabus and has lectured for many teachers courses both in the UK and Internationally.
Lorraine was part of the classical teaching faculty coaching the Billy Elliot boys in the West End from 2005 until the close of the show in 2017.
Lorraine was the first recipient of the Joyce Percy Choreographic Award and in 2018 Lorraine was honoured to be awarded the Jean Campbell Award for services and choreography for the ISTD.

ABAS Schedule

Classes are held approximately twice a month on Saturdays at the Siobhan Davies Studios, Elephant and Castle, London, SE1 6ER.

Winter 2022

September 10th

September 17th

October  1st

October  15th

November 5th

December 3rd

Spring 2023

January 7th

January 14th

February 4th
February  18th
March 4th
March 18th

Summer 2022

April 29th

May 13th

May 27th

 June 17th

 July 1st

 July  15th

Siobhan Davies Studios 85 St George's Rd, London SE1 6ER

LOWER: 12.15 - 14.15

UPPER: 14.30 - 16.45

Apply to ABAS

Academy Audition

Applications are open to male and female students. In addition to completing the application form, you will also be required to submit the following photographs:

  • Arabesque en l’air
  • A la seconde en l’air
  • Plie in first position
  • Fourth position on pointe (for girls on pointe aged 12 plus)