An Interview with Second Year International Students

How did you find out about Central, and what made you want to audition?

Noa – I was recommended Central by a lot of my teachers, especially as two of my teachers also trained there! In 2021, I applied for the Summer Course and got offered a place. It was a small group as it was during Covid, but I instantly liked the vibe and found that it didn’t feel scary at all.

Aliya – My teacher also recommended that I look into Central. Another student from my school was training on the degree course, and she had talked highly of it here. The location was the main selling point, and I was looking to train abroad as the schools offer a higher level of training, specifically in the UK.

 

Did you audition in-person or via video, and what was that experience like?

Aliya – I auditioned via video, which I found quite stressful as I did so many takes to get it perfect! It wouldn’t have been my preferred method of audition, I would rather have auditioned in-person, but it got me here! So it was worth taking the time to film it and get it right. My teacher helped me to prepare my audition and film it.

Noa – I flew over to London for an in-person audition. I thought it was important to audition in front of the panel, and I found the audition very welcoming. The panel were always smiling, and although the class was hard I didn’t feel like I couldn’t do anything. It felt like the teachers wanted everyone to feel comfortable, and I think that is what ultimately made me want to come to Central.

 

What advice would you give to someone about to audition for a place at Central?

Aliya – Don’t overthink it. Perform as much as you can in your video audition. When I rewatched my video I realised that although it felt like I was performing so much, the expression is harder to convey on camera.

Noa – Try to show your individuality. You will be auditioning alongside so many other talented dancers, so to stand out you can think about the dynamics and textures of your movement. The panel is not necessarily looking for the most flexible or skilled dancers, they are looking for students who can be molded into a professional dancer, who have the passion and determination to want to succeed.

 

Can you summarise your first week at Central? How did you adjust to full-time training and what was that transition like?

Noa – The hardest part was settling into living in London independently, away from my family. More so than settling into the training anyway. But also it helps to know that everyone in the year is in the same boat. It’s nice to be able to talk about that with your friends because you’re all going through the same thing. Looking back now, I’ve made so much progress, like I’m meal prepping now!

In terms of the training, we were eased in over about 3 weeks. We were also given strength and conditioning exercises to do before our training started, to help us prepare for the more intense hours.

Aliya – I had done full-time training in Australia for 2 years before coming to Central, so it was less of an adjustment for me. I did find myself getting very tired though, as I was dancing right up until I left Australia, then I went into the Fonteyn competition, and then I started at Central. I did find it hard when my Mum left, especially with the time difference and wanting to call my family.

 

Applicants are often concerned about auditioning if they are older than 16. What is the age range in your class? Do you find that training with people older/younger than you makes any difference?

Noa – When we started in Year 1, the age range was 16 to 20. We’re all friends despite being different ages. Being around many different personalities and levels of maturity has shaped who I am now. We all start training in the same way, and although we move at different paces, it depends more on your determination and work ethic than how old you are.

 

Talk to me about class sizes – how many students are in your year and how are your classes split?

There are 40 students in our year, with 10 boys and 30 girls. We’re then split into two groups of 15 for our ballet classes. This size is good and works well, and there’s enough time for us all to receive personal feedback. Saturday classes are all together, which is nice because we get to learn from and see each other.

 

Could you describe an average day with some rough timings?

Noa – We come into warm up at 8am, with class starting at 8:30am on most days. We usually finish around 5 or 6pm. We have ballet class and coaching which is around 2 hours 15 minutes, then we have pas de deux and contemporary class. On the days we don’t have those classes we have contextual studios, jazz, choreography, improvisation or other styles. It’s quite a hectic day but the intense training is what we signed up for.

 

Does anything ever come up outside of normal school hours?

Aliya – We also come in on Saturday mornings for class, and this year we have assigned studios to work on our choreography assessment. We sometimes work on group assignments outside of school, especially if we live together or we turn it into a sleepover! We also go to open classes at Pineapple or Danceworks sometimes, which is a perk of being in Central London.

Noa – I do A Level Maths outside of school. My parents encouraged me to do something alongside my training. It’s difficult and I put most of my focus on ballet, but it has taught me to be disciplined and manage my time effectively, otherwise I would’ve fallen behind on my work.

 

How did you find your accommodation in Year 1? What was that process of applying and moving in like?

Noa – I’m living in student accommodation conveniently located close to school. I spoke to a student who was in their first year about where everyone was living, and then I viewed the ones recommended when I came for my final audition. I requested to be with the girls in our year group too so that we could all live together.

Aliya – I left finding accommodation until quite late so I didn’t have the full choice of sites. I ended up living 30 minutes away from school, which made it harder to get up in the mornings but it was manageable. Now I’m living in a site closer to Central, with just 1 other student which I quite like, as it’s nice to have some time alone.

 

Do you have many opportunities to perform throughout the year?

Aliya – The main performances are the Winter and Summer Showcases. We also have the chance to perform in donor events, the choreography showcase and other in-house productions. I like that we’re doing jazz in the Winter Showcase this year.

Noa – I loved the Summer Showcase last year, the vibes were so good and the weather was good! We get more performance opportunities this year, and we get more again next year when we join Ballet Central.

 

What non-practical work do you have to do on the course? Does it feel like a lot and how does it compare to the practical training?

Noa – We don’t have a huge amount of non-practical work. The modules are Professional Practice and Contextual Studios and we are assessed through essays and presentations. We are fully prepared for these, and we get lots of support from the tutors. It links to our practical training so it’s always relevant to what we’re doing in class.

Aliya – In Professional Practice we learn how to write citations and bibliographies, present our research and formulate our essays – so all of the academic skills that we need to learn. And then in Contextual Studies we analyse performances and learn about dance history. We also have singing lessons which we all love, because it’s a chance to be loud and have fun.

 

Have you applied for any bursaries to support you financially and if so, what was that process like?

Noa – I filled in a form when I started, answering the relevant questions. This form is sent out every term, and I didn’t get one the first time I applied. You need to make sure you are clear and specific in order for the school to understand what you need. As an international student you are not eligible for the majority of the bursaries, but just because you didn’t get it once doesn’t mean you won’t get it ever. I would say though, that it isn’t super common for international students to be given bursaries.

 

What is the thing that motivates you every day to keep going, even when you’re tired or your body is feeling sore?

Aliya – I remember how much my parents have given for me to be here, and how I don’t want to disappoint them. When it’s hard to get up in the mornings, this is what keeps me going. I have so much fun dancing with my friends too.

Noa – I’ve been doing dance for so long, I want it to go somewhere. Everyday, I’m motivated to get better. The process of getting to ballet class can be difficult, but I love being in classes all day once I’m there! You look at your fellow classmates and you see how hard they are working, and you know that you want to get there too. Wanting to achieve your goals, for me being in a company and dancing everyday, is also another thing that motivates me.

 

And finally, what for you is the most special thing about training at Central? What would you say is different about training here?

Aliya – My favourite part is the friendships I’ve made along the way. I didn’t imagine that I would become this close with my classmates, even after a month I had made such good friends. I also heard such good things about Central before coming here, from those that were studying or had been to the school.

Noa – At Central, you feel like you’re very welcome and you’re part of a home. I never feel that I need to look or dance a certain way, everyone is encouraged to be the best version of themselves. The audition was like a preview into the school – I felt welcome and I didn’t feel judged or scared to go wrong. Having been here over a year now, nothing has changed and the positive vibes still feel the same.

 

What else would you like to highlight about training at Central?

Aliya – We have an onsite physio! If something happens in class you can go straight to physio and they will be able to help you or advise you where to go.

Noa – At 15, I was worried that I wouldn’t be able to deal with it all, but I didn’t realise I would feel so at home and that the atmosphere here isn’t scary at all. You don’t feel babied – it’s a degree at the end of the day – you feel independent but you have guidance. I’ve grown a lot as an individual – I’m a different person now than when I arrived.