Ballet Black

Ballet Black is a professional neo-classical ballet company for international dancers of black and Asian descent. Founded in 2001, Covent Garden based Ballet Black runs educational schemes including the BB Junior School and the Ballet Black Associate Programme for teenage and professional dancers of black and Asian heritage. Ballet Black's ultimate goal is to see a fundamental shift in the number of black and Asian dancers in mainstream ballet companies, making BB wonderfully unnecessary.

Ballet Black is a registered charity no 1101599

Ballet School The Ballet School is based in Shepherd's Bush, West London. We currently run classes for three to eight year old children and offer Non-Syllabus and Royal Academy of Dance Syllabus Examination classes.

When:
Saturday classes: Non-Syllabus
3-4 years: 9-9:30am
5-6 years: 9:30-10:30am
9-10 years: 10:30-11:30am
Tuesday classes:
4:30-5:15pm - Pre-Primary Ballet (4-5 years)
5:30-6:30pm - Grade Four Ballet (9-10 years)

Where:
Phoenix Fitness Centre and Janet Adegoke Swimming Pool Bloemfontein Road London W12 7DB (membership fee to the Phoenix Fitness Centre applies)

Public Transport: Nearest tube: Shepherd's Bush (Hammersmith & City Line) Nearest bus: 283, 207 & 260 Parking is available: £2 deposit (£1.80 refund on exiting) Click here for additional London Transport information

Teachers:Cassa Pancho, Artistic Director, Ballet Black, LRAD, Royal Academy of Dance Tsumugi Misaki, ARAD, LRAD, Royal Academy of Dance

Prices:Classes start at £5 for 3-4 year olds and £6 for 5 years and upwards. We charge by the term. We also sell required Ballet School uniform and RAD examination wear.

Events 2009

Pioneering company Ballet Black perform their biggest show to date on July 2nd at the Hackney Empire, following sell out performances at the Linbury Studio Theatre at the Royal Opera House. Three Linbury ballets top the bill: Pendulum, the raw and dynamic pas de deux from Martin Lawrance, Kinderszenen, Antonia Franceschi’s salute to Schumann and Depouillement, Will Tuckett’s musically driven pure dance piece.

Two pieces have been added to the programme due to popular demand: Umdlalo kaSisi, the ballet by Zimbabwean-born choreographer Bawren Tavaziva, which ‘melds the classical aesthetic to the spiritual rapture of South Africa', and Somente, a 'fiery, passionate and fun' pas de deux by Liam Scarlett. This colourful programme will be performed by Ballet Black dancers; British-born Sarah Kundi, Jade Hale-Christofi and Chantelle Gotobed, and US dancers Cira Robinson, Jazmon Voss and Damien Johnson. Cassa Pancho, founder and Artistic Director of Ballet Black, looks forward to incorporating Ballet Black into The Hackney Empire’s fantastic summer season as part of their annual Spice Festival:

"I am very excted to introduce Ballet Black to a new and diverse audience through the Hackney Empire. It is a prestigious, historic venue, we’re proud to bring our show here, and I hope we can inspire a new generation of black and Asian dancers."

Frank Sweeney, Head of Programming at the Hackney Empire comments: "Ballet Black is an innovative charity, producing top quality ballet and proving that it is an art form that can and should be open to all. We are delighted to welcome them to The Hackney Empire."

2nd July 2009, 7.30pm - Hackney Empire, 291 Mare Street, London. E81EJ - Tickets: £12.50 - £16.50 Box Office: 0208 985 2424 or boxoffice@hackney empire.co.uk