Your Stories

Brentwood born ballet dancer Ruan Crighton, 19, is set for stardom. He recently made his debut at the Civic Theatre in Chelmsford, when he took to the stage in Ballet Centrals’ annual tour in Chelmsford.

His love of ballet started out at a young age when he was introduced to dance during a gymnastics class. Then at 12-years-old he decided to take ballet lessons at Brentwoods Central School of Dance and Drama.

He is now furthering his career at London’s Central School of Ballet where he will leave with a degree in Professional Dance and Performance.

Ruan has already taken his first leap to a professional career by accepting a job offer with the Slovakian National Ballet and will move to Slovakia for when he graduates.

What made you start ballet classes?

I was forced to as part of my gymnastics training. That was at the gym, just half an hour a week. I started to enjoy it and asked my mum if I could start taking dance classes so she sent me to a local dance school. (Central School of Dance and Drama, Brentwood). I carried on with gymnastics until I was 15 but then decided to focus on my dancing.

When did you realise that you wanted to be a dancer for a living?

After my first term at Central School of Ballet. After watching the second years and third years and being in the environment of dancers and having watched dress rehearsals and gone to a few shows it felt like something I wanted to do.

Tell us about your training to date?

I first came to the Easter course here. I came with some friends because I thought it would be a laugh. I really liked it and so auditioned for the Pre-Senior course the year before I joined. Doing that I got the insight of what it was like here and made me want to audition. I'm guessing I put in 35-40 hours at school so it’s a lot of work to get to the point where you are about to begin a professional career.

What do you like most about Central School of Ballet and Ballet Central?

The atmosphere of the school when you come in is great. There’s not a big divide between even the most senior staff and the students. They all are there to talk to and offer their own individual advice. You don't feel scared to approach anyone and they all have time to talk. Now that I am in Ballet Central, I like starting a bit later than 8:45 but I'm really proud that we're treated as professionals. My favourite role is the ‘Gentleman’ in the Waltz of the Flowers. I like putting the costume on and feeling like a different person. It’s a fun piece.

What do you hope to do when you graduate?

I've got a job with the Slovakian National Ballet. I'm nervous because I don't speak Slovak and I've only spent a day there but I'm really looking forward to spending a few years there and dancing as much as possible.