Chris Larsen, R.A.D P.D.T.D R.T.S

Dance Education: Graduate of the National Ballet School of Canada, Exchange student with Royal Danish Ballet’s Apprentice Program, Competed the Royal Academy of Dance Professional Dancers Teaching Diploma

Professional: Apprentice with National Ballet of Canada, Dancer with Ballett-Art Francois Klaus (Switzerland), Coryphee Dancer with Hong Kong Ballet, Solist Dancer with The Birmingham Royal Ballet (UK)

Why I love teaching:  I love teaching because I get to share something that I was so passionate about and was my whole world for so long. Ballet has always been so special to me: the physicality, the feeling of losing oneself in something, the artistic challenges, having the feeling of the music flowing through your body and inspiring your movement. It means so much to be able to pass on my knowledge, experience and love of ballet and hopefully inspire my students

Chris is a graduate of the National Ballet School of Canada and a highly qualified professional with over 15 years of experience in international ballet companies around the world.  Working for the National Ballet of Canada, Ballett-Art François Klaus, Hong Kong Ballet, and the Birmingham Royal Ballet (BRB) in a variety of contexts, Chris climbed the ladder from apprentice to soloist dancer.  Dancing a large range of roles spanning from corps de ballet through to principle parts, he was given a multitude of opportunities to dance many of the great classics as well as being a part of the choreographic process of many new works. Through extensive work with BRB’s Education Department and working on a number of projects in the role of leader, Chris became motivated to further develop skills and knowledge in teaching dance. Chris was also a leader in Ballet Changed My Life: Ballet Hoo!, a collaboration between BRB, Youth At Risk, Channel 4 and four local authorities in the West Midlands, UK.  Responsibilities included teaching dance, rehearsing and general support for the individuals involved in the project. Chris has his Professional Dancers Teaching Diploma from the Royal Academy of Dance in London.