Tia Noakes Academy
The Cecchetti Method...
The Cecchetti Method led to the birth of Ballet in Great Britain. The Royal Ballet was founded on the principles of Enrico Cecchetti and both school and company were influenced by it.
Cecchetti's disciple
Dame Ninette de Valois
Founder of The Royal Ballet
Cecchetti's disciple
Dame Marie Rambert
Founder of Rambert Dance Compamy
Cecchetti's disciple
Dame Alicia Markova
Co-founder of English National Ballet
It was in 1820 when the renown Italian ballet dancer, choreographer and teacher, Carlo Blasis codified his ballet teaching techniques. His grand-disciple, Enrico Cecchetti (1850 - 1928) inherited these teaching methods from Giovanni Lepri and developed them further.
Cecchetti added the ‘days of the week programme’ which was designed to ensure that during the course of the working week - Monday to Saturday - the qualities of all steps and movements were practiced. The theory and exercises of Cecchetti’s method are recorded in several books, written by Cyril Beaumont, Stanislas Idzikowski, Margaret Craske and Derra de Moroda. Cecchetti’s programme, requires great precision of executions and cultivates awareness of pure lines and sense of rhythmic co-ordination. His "Port de bras" and "Adages" exercises also fosters the sense of balanced arm lines and subtle use of the head.
The invention of partitioning the stage into eight directions (Picture 1) is also a significant advancement to his method. This allows the dancers to confidently grasp their positions and directions of the movements. It also provides for more complex and dynamic turning skills (pirouettes, etc) and movements.
Cecchetti's method and original programmes are widely supported throughout the world for over 100 years, and it is also said that they have helped transform classical ballet to modern ballet.
Cecchetti Across The Globe!!
This method is taught all over the world today. From across Europe, United States, Canada, Australia and South Africa.
Dame Ninette de Valois, the founder of the Royal Ballet Company was a disciple of Maestro Enrico Cecchetti.
Sir Frederick Ashton, the artistic director and choreographer of The Royal Ballet strongly supported the Cecchetti Method. There are records that he recommended dancers to practice Cecchetti “Port de bras” (arms, head, and upper body exercise) on a daily basis(*1).
Many pieces being performed by The Royal Ballet are strongly influenced by the Cecchetti Method.
Darcey Bussell, a former principal dancer of the company was also trained by the Cecchetti Method. She attributes her success at the Royal Ballet to the Cecchetti training she received, and says that she realised how lucky she was to have the training.(*2)
The Cecchetti Method has a long-established tradition and is widely acclaimed throughout the world. The teachers of Cecchetti Method undergo strict accreditation under globally recognised procedures and examinations. And our goal is to bring this prestigious Cecchetti Method to TNA to give our students the oppotunity to learn this beautiful way of Ballet.