Staff & Teaching Faculty

All Academy Programmes are coordinated by the Classical Training Department.

Hannah Kirkpatrick – Classical Training Officer

Hannah is responsible for the day to day running of the programmes including recruitment, planning, dance school and teacher contact, co-ordinating programmes, outreach and working together with the DCSF on the CAT programme. Hannah is also in charge of pastoral care. She can usually be contacted Monday - Saturday from 10.00 - 18.00

Email Hannah

Faye Cardwell – Classical Training Assistant

Faye works alongside Hannah on the day to day running of the programmes. She will take calls and emails from parents and young people with regards to lateness, sickness and other abscences. She will also answer any general enquiries about Open Days, auditions, performance visits and intensive weekends.

Email Faye

For further information regarding any Programmes please contact Faye or Hannah on 0113 274 5355 or email us.

Teaching Faculty

Yoko Ichino - Classical Ballet / Curriculum Manager

Yoko Ichino was born in Los Angeles where she trained with Mia Slavenska. In 1977 Ms Ichino became the first American to win a medal at the prestigious Third International Ballet Competition in Moscow. Following the award, she joined American Ballet Theatre and danced opposite Rudolf Nureyev in Don Quixote. In 1982 she joined the National Ballet of Canada as principal. Yoko has been an invited guest of The Joffrey Ballet, Stuttgart Ballet, Tokyo Ballet, Ballet de Monte Carlo, Australian Ballet, Sydney Ballet, Royal Ballet New Zealand and the German Opera Ballet. As guest artist she has been partnered by Fernando Bujones, David Nixon, Helgi Tomasson and Anthony Dowell.

Yoko has been Director of Professional Training at BalletMet since 1995, training the company using her own teaching method which embraces not only dance technique, but takes on a holistic approach with particular emphasis on personal development. Yoko looks forward to working with Northern Ballet Theatre whilst continuing her successful international teaching career.

Additional teachers will be employed throughout the year to lead enhancement courses.

Guest teachers will be invited to teach at the summer school.

Teachers

• Cara O'Shea
• Tony Louis
• Shannon Parker
• Douglas Thorpe
• Jane Tucker
• Viki Westall

Musicians

• Sam Bell
• Richard Kenwood Herriott
• David Plumpton
• Gerard Power