Summer School 2025 - Watch this space for 2026 applications!
Summer School 2025 Awards
REVIEWS
"I just wanted to say a huge thank you for all the hard work, time and effort you put into organising and running the summer school. My daughter Molly, had a brilliant time, and was so sad when the week ended. The first thing she said when I saw her after the show was 'Please can I do it again next year?' I thought the show was really impressive (particularly given the short amount of time they had to work on each piece), and a lovely way for the students to end the week." Mrs A
"I was initially a bit nervous about leaving my daughter at summer school as she didn't know any of the other students attending, however she made contact with me the first evening to say that she was having 'the best time ever'. Lots of effort clearly goes into helping the students get to know each other, and it felt like there was a very supportive and inclusive environment, not only from the teachers but between the students themselves. The facilities were amazing and the teachers experts in their field. The show at the end of the week was a lovely way to share and celebrate the students and all their hard work. My daughter is already asking if she can do it again next year!" Alison A
"Thank you so much for the course last week. Both our children had a wonderful time. I would highly recommed the Cecchetti Summer School. Both my daughters (aged 15 and 12), thoroughly enjoyed it and are keen to return next year. It's a great opportunity both to develop ballet skills but also to try new forms of dance. The pastoral care is great, dance teaching really high quality and end of course showcase an astonishingly high standard." Alison Ismail
"We wanted to say thankyou again for the amazing experience Otto had at Frensham last week. He thoroughly enjoyed himself. It was clear from the showcase how hard everyone worked. He is very much enjoying the award too.
Kind regards" Rae and Duncan Wisbey
"Just a quick note to say a big thank you for all your hard work organising and running the summer school. The show was amazing and Pheobe had the BEST week." Debby Finnegan
"I just wanted to say that, following the initial wobble, Libby had an absolutely lovely week away. She thoroughly enjoyed the dancing, the fantastic teachers, all the staff and making some lovely new dancing friends. She even enjoyed having a much-needed break from her phone! She is very much looking forward to joining you again next year. Thank you for all your hard work in making this wonderful experience possible." Hannah Harragan.
"I would like to thank you, as well as the entire team, for working so hard and collaborating to create such a wonderful week with an amazing show. It has been a week full of new discoveries from being away from home to working every day, constantly developing a greater sense of independence, personal organisation, adaptability, and trust in new teachers. Above all, it has been a week of exploring and nurturing a new and 'big' friendship with all the other kids involved a bond I'm sure my daughter will cherish in her heart forever. Thank you for all your dedication, effort and love you've poured into these days of work, but also for the joy and fun you've given our wonderful children. Truly, thank you!" Greta and the Frasson Family
"Thank you so much for another amazing summer school. The cucumbers were delicious! the ballet and commercial jazz classes were phenomenal! The guest teachers for the Secret Garden, I truly enjoyed it. All my teachers were brilliant. I made some amazing friendships. We all got on so well. Thank you for a great summer and I can't wait for next summer." Zoe
"A note of thanks for the wonderful week that was curated. Ava had the best time. I was slightly apprehensive given she is 10 and did not have many connections there, but I need not have worried. The results of the showcase in a short space of time were amazing. Ava is really looking forward to next year." Emma Samples
Summer School Teacher Review
Since 2019 I have been invited as a regular teacher to the Cecchetti Ballet Associates Scheme and given classes in classical ballet and character to all the age groups. Last year I was delighted to be asked to teach at the Cecchetti Summer School for children organised by the Associate Committee. The friendly and welcoming environment was managed with far-sighted organisation and professionalism, and literally around-the-clock by the Associates' team who were based on site.
It was the most enjoyable summer school I have been invited to teach at and all the more rewarding because I could see how much the students benefited from a week of dancing every day and to have the opportunity to perform onstage in a real theatre.
For children who are not vocationally oriented but who love their ballet classes, we all know the Associates' scheme provide more opportunities to dance with like-minded students and make friends. Their confidence grows in all areas and I am always delighted by the exponential progress they make in their regular ballet classes after attending Associates even for just one year.
In the more intense and weeklong programme that was Summer School, the results were that the dancers at my ballet school who had attended, returned to classes in September with renewed enthusiasm, determination and increased capability for learning.
These are the main reasons why I fully support and commit to sending my dancers to audition for the Cecchetti Associates scheme and why I was very happy to be asked to teach at their Children's Summer School this summer past.
One other very important aspect of summer school was the pastoral care. The children were looked after so well. I was really impressed. This pastoral care was one of the aspects that struck me as being particularly valuable and unique about the whole week.
In summary, not only was the location magnifcent and with a purpose-built theatre on-site, the classes being perfectly tailored to the expectations and abilities of the students, but also the time not spent dancing was fun, positive and managed by a team who were completely dedicated to looking after them.
Having spoken recently to a friend and colleague in Sweden she would like to send two of her younger students to the summer school in 2025. We had students from far and wide including Brecon and Southern Ireland attending in 2024 and many students experienced their first stay away from home and were so well looked after, making friends and memories to treasure
Julie Cronshaw RBS Dip. TTC (FISTD) CDE Principal/Director Highgate Ballet School
