Donate Payments Search Contact Training Ballet Central Classes & Courses About Us Community & Outreach News & Events Support Us About Us Central School of Ballet is a world-leading centre for professional dance training based in the South Bank arts community in London’s Southwark, led by Executive Director Mark Osterfield and Artistic Director Kate Coyne. Central offers vocational degree courses in dance at undergraduate and postgraduate level, all validated by the University of Kent. In Southwark, Central will become a thriving hub for the dance industry providing: professional training degree courses for those aiming for a career in dance, a thriving Junior School with classes in ballet for children after school, and an Associate Programme for young people aiming for professional dance training. A range of adult dance classes in the evenings and on Sundays provides the chance to improve general fitness and wellbeing. Central is an independent training organisation and charity, registered charity number 285398. The school is currently a member school of the Conservatoire for Dance and Drama (CDD), but over the next few years will be moving towards greater independence. Central is seeking self-registration as an independent Higher Education Provider with the Office for Students, with plans to end its membership of CDD by 1 August 2022. This is earlier than the 2023 exit date formerly published on our website. This path towards greater autonomy and independence will allow the School to respond dynamically to the changing needs of the dance world, as well as engage in new partnerships and activities locally, nationally and internationally. All Central courses will continue to be validated by the University of Kent and we will work to ensure this transition has no impact on the learning experience of our students. Updated Central School of Ballet’s Policies and Procedures for the academic year 2022 – 2023 are currently under review and will be made available in due course. If we do not self-register by 1 August 2022, our existing and new students will continue to be registered with the Conservatoire of Dance and Drama under their existing Policies and Procedures. Vision Central School of Ballet offers education and training for individuals to realise their potential for excellence as dancers, and in so doing, supports an increasingly diverse and innovative, internationally recognised culture of dance in the UK. Mission In the next 5 years, The Countess of Wessex Studios will become a thriving dance hub in the South Bank arts community in London’s Southwark with a local, national and international reputation for producing versatile and highly accomplished dancers while championing broad engagement with the joys of dance. History Christopher Gable and Ann Stannard The school was founded in 1982 by Ann Stannard and the late Christopher Gable CBE to provide professional dance training for young people aiming for a career in the dance industry. Ann and Christopher established the school’s values of artistic expression in dance, and the importance of technique. Christopher was a ballet dancer, choreographer, and actor. Born in London, Christopher studied at the Royal Ballet School, joining the Sadler’s Wells Royal Ballet in 1957. He was promoted to soloist in 1959 and principal in 1961. In 1987 he was appointed Artistic Director of Northern Ballet Theatre, then a small regional company. Under his leadership Northern Ballet became a company of national renown by presenting imaginative new works and staging impressive revivals of old classics. Christopher was awarded the CBE in 1996 and died 23 October 1998. Ballet Central is Central School of Ballet’s touring company formed in 1984 by Christopher Gable to provide student dancers with professional touring experience. Ballet Central’s annual tour typically visits on average 20 towns and cities across the UK, performing in mid-size theatres to ticket-buying audiences. Populated by the final year students of the BA (Hons) Professional Dance & Performance degree, joining the Ballet Central company forms a core part of the degree course and, most importantly, supports graduate employment. The repertoire each year is informed by Central’s relationships with leading choreographers and dance industry influencers who provide the opportunity for students to work on new pieces, often created especially for the tour, or spectacular revivals of much-loved classic ballets and theatrical productions. This experience, working with industry leaders in the studio and the resulting performance experience, makes the students particularly employable. They become very versatile and highly skilled with specific performing knowledge that can be directly transferred to dance companies and international theatrical productions. Central is the only professional dance training school in the UK providing touring experience on such a scale. Sign up to our email, stay up-to-date and receive regular news bulletins Central School of Ballet Ballet Central Media Centre Work With Us Policies & Procedures Central School of Ballet The Countess of Wessex Studios 21 – 22 Hatfields, Paris Garden London, SE1 8DJ 020 7837 6332 info@csbschool.co.uk Reg. Charity No. 285398, Co. No. 1657717, VAT Reg. No. 305 6274 18. Executive Director: Mark Osterfield Artistic Director: Kate Coyne Photographs by ASH Photography, Bill Cooper, Drew Forsyth, Belinda Lawley, Kate Parkes and Patrick Baldwin unless otherwise stated. Web design by Strudel, web development by The Lonely Pixel.