Every time we announce open calls for dance intensives or workshops, we receive inquiries from young dancers in remote areas. Many of them face challenges completing applications because they lack high-quality visual materials that demonstrate their skills—such as a portrait, a full-body ballet pose photo, and a video demonstrating their abilities. Additionally, we often hear from 16-year-olds who are too old for local community courses and are searching for new training opportunities with studios or teachers within a reasonable distance. Unfortunately, in many cases, the nearest qualified dance educator is miles away.
After our successful virtual dance residency with Olivia Mitterhuemer in 2021, we saw that a well-designed virtual curriculum can be invaluable for dancers with limited access to in-person training. This November, we are collaborating with Rosy Pigott, a dancer with New Works Ballet Theatre in Bristol, to test a new format. If successful, this initiative would become the foundation for developing a toolkit and online training program specifically designed for teachers and students in remote areas and small-town studios who lack exposure to performances by major dance companies.
Together with Rosy, we will conduct training sessions focused on Nutcracker choreography adapted for virtual instruction. Later in the season we will also host a live Q&A session on Instagram to discuss the unique challenges of choreographing for virtual performances and teaching variations online to students of different skill levels.
Through this initiative, we aim to broaden young and recreational dancers’ exposure to the industry, foster a sense of belonging, and provide valuable experience working with professional artists.
Rosy Pigott
Rosy Pigott, a graduate of the Bodywork Performing Arts Company in Cambridge, is a former soloist with the English Youth Ballet and currently a dancer with the New Works Ballet Theatre in Bristol. Since her 2016 graduation, she has performed professionally across various genres, with a strong emphasis on ballet and contemporary dance, in Spain and throughout the UK. Rosy made her choreographic debut with a piece focused on mental health and continues to create original works that explore challenging topics. She is certified in a range of cross-training skills and has extensive experience coaching pre-professional and vocational dancers with diverse backgrounds and abilities. Her purpose and passion in this field are to help students achieve their dance aspirations through evidence-based conditioning and detailed technique practice.
New Works Ballet Theatre (NWBT)
New Works Ballet Theatre (NWBT) is a dynamic ballet and dance company based in Bristol, UK. Founded in 2018, it is recognized as one of the youngest and most vibrant ballet companies in the country. The company is committed to community involvement, offering programs to nurture young, talented students between the ages of 8 and 18 in pursuit of excellence in pre-vocational and vocational ballet and contemporary dance training.
