The Cecchetti Associate Scheme was started in 1996 by Susan Handy having been asked by the then current Society Chairman Mary-Jane Duckworth to set up classes for students of the Cecchetti method; 

The first committee was  Susan Handy, Juliet Locks, Anthea Barnes, Tessa Barker and Hazel Turner who took on the role of treasurer.

 

Tracy Brown, a First Soloist with the Royal Ballet Company accepted the role of Patron

 

The classes would be in addition to the usual weekly lesson and would consist of a ballet class and a second class in a different dance genre. The Associates were introduced to Classical Greek Dance Character, National, Contemporary, Repertoire, Mime, National, Modern Jazz, Pas de Deux, Street Dance, Spanish.

 

The first auditions were held at the Arts Educational Schools, Chiswick with one hundred and eleven children attending divided into four auditions. Forty five instead of the thirty students originally planned for were chosen and placed into three classes. Children came not only from Cecchetti teachers but from Imperial Ballet, RAD and BBO teachers too.

 

We were fortunate in being able to offer three scholarships which were given by Juliet Locks and Sonia Bond of the Buckhurst Hill and Woodford School of Dancing, Antonia Young The Antonia Dugdale Scholarship and the Cecchetti Group. We now have seven scholarships and the special Lobo Award which is awarded to the student who has gone right through the whole scheme from JA1 to Graduates.

 

In 30 years of the scheme the number of classes has increased to 12 including classes for boys, Graduates, Upper Graduates and the introduction of our Young Assoicates. We out grew the facilities at Arts Educational and so for the past 15 years have operated out of  the lovely studios of the Rambert School of Ballet and Contemporary dance in Twickenham.

 

We offer trips  to the ballet, have workshops in many different dance genres and have the opportunity to watch various Company classes and rehearsals. The Students are encouraged to audition for the Cecchetti Scholarship Scheme, and enter the Mabel Ryan Competition.  We also support and advertise the Cecchetti Southern Area Awards on our website. www.cecchettiassociates.dance 

 

We run an annual Cecchetti Ballet Associates Cheoreogaphic competition held at Central School of Ballet ,which is open to non- associates and encourages students to choreograph and show their talents in front of a small audience.  We  launched the Cecchetti Ballet Associates residential summer school for young students 3 years ago for ages 8 to 17 which has been a roaring success.  The Cecchetti Society Trust have been kind enough each year to give funding to students to attend our summer school.

 

Our 10th year was celebrated at the Royal Ballet School with a performance as part of Cecchetti Society day,  our 20th anniversary  was celebrated with fizz and cake at Rambert School of Dance in Twickenham.  Our 25th anniversay was celebrated in the gardens of the Rambert School of Dance Twickenham with fizz, strawberries and ice-cream.

 

Many past Associates have gone on to vocational schools, dance professionally and become Cecchetti teachers, spreading the Cecchetti word and keeping the Cecchetti method alive. Past students have come back to assist with the younger classes, giving them an introduction to teaching.

 

There is a wonderful committee of volunteers who work tirelessy to run the classes each month.

 

This academic year  we are celebrating our 30th annivesary  of the scheme with a Gala to be held at the Millennium Theatre, Woldingham School on 28th March 2026 at 7.30 pm.