MURILOVA BALLET SCHOOL

The Murilova Ballet School must be one of the longest established ballet schools in Dorset, having been opened by Nalda Murilova well over 50 years ago. Mme.Murilova was a professional dancer in Diaghilev's Company, performing with Anna Pavlova. Later, the school was passed on to Grace Greenway, soloist with the Sadlers Wells Ballet, and in 1985 Sandra McAuliffe, soloist and resident choreologist with the Northern Ballet Theatre, took over as Principal. So you can really say that it is a school for professionals, run by professional dancers.

Sandra trained from the age of 3 at the Murilova Ballet School and qualified as a teacher with Distinction before being accepted at the Institute of Choreology, London. Here she spent 2 years studying Benesh Movement rotation (a shorthand of movement) as well as many styles of dance. She joined the Northern Ballet Theatre at the age of 19, working with many distinguished teachers and choreographers, performing all over the country, teaching Company class and supervising rehearsals.

The Murilova Ballet School is for children from 3 years to Advanced. Pupils are encouraged to take exams and as well as boasting 100% pass rate, for the past few years, almost half the candidates have achieved Honours or Distinction. A handful of pupils entered solos in the Bournemouth Music Festival last year, and came away with 5 first places as well as 2 additional trophies for the dancer showing the most potential. Also, 2 group ballets entered the All England Dance Competition and were placed 3rd and 4th in the finals at the Sadlers Wells Theatre, London. An annual display and Prizegiving in aid of the Albanian Orphan Mission gives parents the opportunity to see the work of the school, and last summer 2 performances at the Layard Theatre were an experience enjoyed by all.

Many pupils graduate to full time dance schools or Universities to take up a theatrical career. One familiar name locally is Tina Doyle who many of you will have seen starring in the Poole Pantomimes over recent years. Others go into teaching, physiotherapy, stage management, T.V. etc. No matter which career a pupil wishes to pursue, the training they have received at the Murilova Ballet School gives them an everlasting experience of dance, musicality, confidence, discipline and poise. Classes are held at Broadstone Community and Arts Centre, Dunyeats Road, and the school is privileged to have the services of 3 pianists. Madame Murilova once quoted: "You can pass exams to become a teacher of ballet, but it is only when you have had the experience of dancing in a professional ballet Company, you can really teach children how to dance."

Senior pupils from the ballet "Scenes of change"

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