ABOUT JUDY BREEN

An accredited professional, Russian-trained, Judy Breen has a unique background in Classical Ballet. She has worked with many artists of international acclaim, including Kirov Ballet former director Oleg Vinogradov. Judy has placed graduates into the Kirov Academy, the Bolshoi Ballet School, The Royal Ballet School and English National Ballet School.

Former students, personally trained by Judy, have gone on to join international companies, including Kirov Ballet, Universal Ballet of Korea, Boston Ballet and Zurich Ballet.

PROFESSIONAL BACKGROUND - Classical Ballet Training

1990 - Studied in St. Petersburg at the Vaganova Academy, official school for the Kirov Ballet Company.

1982, 1983 - Russian/Vaganova Teachers' Course with Marika Besabrasova, director of the Princess Grace Academy of Classical Dance.

1979-1996 - Teacher training in the Russian/Vaganova method, based at the Sun Hwa Performing Arts Centre, official school for Universal Ballet Company, Korea.

Teacher training included work with the following international artists: Oleg Vinogradov, Kirov Ballet former director; Sergiu Stefanschi, National Ballet of Canada ballet master; Mireille Briane, Co-director of the Briansky Saratoga Ballet Centre; Geta Constantinescu, Rumania State Ballet former principal dancer.

Work Experience (Overseas)

17 years teaching professional level classical ballet.

1984-1986 - Ballet Mistress for Universal Ballet Company.

1986-1996 - Director for Ballet, Sun Hwa Performing Arts Centre.

Coaching students who successfully entered Kirov Academy, Bolshoi School of Ballet, The Royal Ballet School, English National Ballet School and Princess Grace Academy of Classical Dance, Monaco.

Choreographed original pieces for national competitions and annual School performances.

1994-1995 - Assistant to Vaganova expert Christina Saru, introducing the first Vaganova Teachers' Course in Korea.

UK-Based Work Experience

1996-2001 - Private coaching to vocational ballet students for successful entry into English National Ballet School. Guest teaching in the Russian/Vaganova method at the Legat School of Dance.

2000 - Sadler's Wells Theatre, London: hired by Kirov Ballet former director Oleg Vinogradov, to audition and rehearse a group of English dancers to perform "Don Quixote" with his company, Universal Ballet.

2001-2004 - Initiated Vaganova Intermediate and Advanced level Open Classes in Sussex.

2003-2004 - Guest Teacher and Consultant at Dance Laines, an affiliate of the British Ballet Organisation, offering classes and Summer School in the Russian/Kirov tradition.

2005 - Opened Hampton Ballet Academy.

Set, rehearsed and produced highlights from the Classical Repertoire, for studio and theatre performances, including: Sleeping Beauty, Paquita, Nutcracker and Swan Lake (Kirov version used for all)

2008-2010 - Coached Academy students for subsequent entry into Central School of Ballet, Legat School of Dance, London Studio Centre and Rambert School.

2011 - Kirov Academy: 14 year old Academy boy student awarded full scholarship to world-renowned Kirov Academy in Washington DC.