This month we welcomed the return of Madeleine, our Classical Ballet guest instructor. As an ex-professional ballerina and colleague of our co-founders, Madeleine brings a depth of experience and expertise to her classes.
Q: Can you share your story as a dancer? What inspired you to begin, and how did your experiences shape your journey from training to performing and eventually teaching?
A: My mother put me in dance class when I was 2 years old, as I used to dance around at home. At 6 I began classical ballet, and at 10 I auditioned for the Royal Swedish Ballet School, got in, and began training six days a week. I was rebellious in my teenage years and wanted to quit ballet, but in the end I stayed. When I was 15 I was offered a place at Royal Swedish Ballet School in Stockholm, and left home to attend. During the following years, I trained harder than ever and ballet became a true passion. I went on to train at the English National Ballet School and had the best year of my life there. The next step was of course to audition for ballet companies. Living in Singapore had alway been a dream, since my grandma and other relatives live here, so I auditioned for Singapore Dance Theatre (now Singapore Ballet), became an apprentice in 2009, and in the following year joined the company as an artist. It was during this time that I started teaching ballet too.
Q: What is it about ballet that resonates deeply with you, and how has it influenced your life both inside and outside the studio?
A: That it’s such a technical performing art form, you strive for perfection but will never reach it. That’s why you keep going; you can always get better and every second counts. There’s a beautiful intensity in that.
And in all that, it’s your movements that tell a story, trigger emotions, communicate with the audience and bring them into another world. That’s magical.
Q: How would you define your teaching philosophy, and what do you hope your students take away from your classes?
A: This is a tricky one as I feel it’s not about my philosophy, but rather for me to find a way to communicate ballet, the technique and its “philosophy”. How do I find the best way to pass on what I’ve learned all these past years; as a student, professional and artist? That’s the challenge, and that’s why I love teaching ballet.
I want the dancers to feel that they are dancing and not only doing exercises. Always wanting to improve their technique, but also feeling that they are saying something with their movements, evoking a feeling, telling a story, connecting with the audience, through their movements and their dancing.
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Thank you for sharing your inspiring journey with us Madeleine!
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