Ballet teacher Christina Phillips-Kelly, principal of The Studio at Averham, offering free classes at Newark’s YMCA to celebrate achieving prestigious Royal Ballet School affiliation
A Newark ballet teacher has become the first in the region to achieve a prestigious affiliation with The Royal Ballet School.
Christina Phillips-Kelly, principal of The Studio at Averham, is now the is the only teacher in the East Midlands authorised to deliver The Royal Ballet School’s ground-breaking Affiliate Teaching Assessment Programme to children.
The programme sets a new standard in dance education, and offers an inclusive and holistic approach to ballet training which emphasises the joy of dancing.
Christina was selected by The Royal Ballet School as one of only 15 teachers in the 2024 cohort — due to her skill, dedication, and contribution to ballet education — and earned the affiliation after successfully completing the programme on January 10.
“It’s a dream come true really,” she said.
“Everybody aspires to the Royal Ballet School, it’s the best ballet school in the world, so when I was told they had selected me it was almost unbelievable. Then, when I got my results back on January 10 to say I’d passed I was just elated.
“I was just so proud of myself for all the hard work I’d put in to get to this point — and it’s two-fold, I’m absolutely thrilled to be given this opportunity to pass on this first class training to the next generation of students in Newark and the Nottinghamshire area.”
To celebrate her achievement, Christina is offering free ballet classes for an entire term for children aged six to eight years old. Classes take place every Friday at 4.30pm at the YMCA Community and Activity Village, Newark.
The offer is available immediately and will run until April half term. Spaces are limited, so to secure your child’s spot, contact Christina via email at thestudioataverham@gmail.com.
Christina has more than 25 years of teaching experience, and is also a registered teacher with The Royal Academy of Dance.
