Laëtitia
Lo Sardo
Ballet Teacher M.A. PDPTC (RAD), PBT cert.
Former First Soloist with Birmingham Royal Ballet.
Regular ballet teacher and ballet coach for Birmingham Royal Ballet.
Ballet teacher at Blommaert Ballet School.
Freelance ballet teacher for Birmingham Royal Ballet, Elmhurst Ballet School, BBO Dance, Centre for Advanced Training at DanceXchange, Kings International Ballet Academy.
Choreographer for Ballet Academy Cymru.
PRIVATE LESSONS and ONLINE CLASSES
Email: lklosardo@yahoo.com
Instagram: laetitialosardo
Facebook: Laetitia Lo Sardo NW
Images by Bill Cooper and Tim Cross
In Person and Online Classes
PRIVATE LESSONS (all levels, including audition preparation) in studio or online
Adult Repertoire class online
*Wednesdays 10:30am - 12pm (UK)
Body Conditioning class online
*Mondays 10am -11am (UK)
A former First Soloist with Birmingham Royal Ballet with over 20 years teaching experience, I am delighted to bring these classes to you, which are designed especially for you to do at home.
I love sharing my passion for ballet. I always aim to bring a fun, friendly, encouraging atmosphere in class, with group and individual guidance and corrections to bring progress, development and fulfillment. Although regular attendance is encouraged for progression, lessons are on a drop-off basis, so you can join in as often as you can/wish.
Image: in “Sleeping Beauty”, taken by Bill Cooper
Private Lessons
These lessons are specifically designed and tailored for you. I can offer ballet class, pointe class, repertoire, coaching, strength and conditioning, and audition and exam preparation. It is YOUR class, and I would be very happy to help you with any area you would like to work on. These are available in person in a studio in Birmingham or Online.
Through private lessons, I have helped dancers getting into Elmhurst Ballet School, The Hammond, Brussels Ballet School, The Royal Ballet School Associate Programmes.
For details, contact me by email: lklosardo@hotmail.com
or on Instagram: laetitialosardo.
Some comments:
"My daughter is absolutely loving her lesson every week. She looks forward to it so much and says it is her favourite class of the week." from Debra.
"She really appreciates your detailed eye." from Nicola.
“I have had many teachers telling me to use my upper body more, but you are the first teacher so far to tell me HOW to do it.” From Anny
Photo: Dancing 'The 1st Movement girl' in "Concerto" - credits: Bill Cooper
Adult Repertoire class
*Wednesdays 10:30am - 12pm (UK)
Repertoire classes are a fun and insightful way to learn and explore sections and variations from classical ballets, and their different styles.
Steps are adapted in order to dance at home. We cover the same piece for several weeks to allow improvement and really grasp the movement. However, I know life is busy and commitment every week may not be possible. Therefore, every lesson is constructed so you can join in when you can, without feeling that you have missed out.
LEVEL: INTERMEDIATE onwards
-Though classes will always be catered and adapted to attendants' level.
Some comments:
“I’ve been doing these classes for a while now and highly recommend them. Laetitia is a fantastic teacher, really breaking down each movement to help you add the little extra touches that help make it a performance rather than just steps and the classes are very enjoyable.” On BalletCoForum
"The class was magical! Thank you so much for your inspirational instruction." from Ilona
"I love the zoom element too as I can really throw myself into it without being worried about others watching. I was definitely on stage in my tutu today!" from Philippa
Image by: Tim Cross
Body Conditioning class
*Mondays 10am -11am (UK)
Body conditioning classes are a great complement to your ballet class. With a combination of Pilates and strengthening exercises, they focus on core, strength, alignment, balance, turnout and flexibility to give you greater control and strength in your ballet class.
These exercises were pivotal in my dancing career, making me a better dancer, as they gave me more strength, control, power in my allegro and contributed to my injury prevention management. Such an important tool for any dancer!
Online Workshops
**Experience the Magic at home**
20th May
Sleeping Beauty
Aurora Act 3 Variation
2pm - 3:30pm (UK)
Especially adapted for small spaces. This workshop explores the elegance and intricate footwork of this most famous variation - a right of passage for any ballerina’s journey.
Online workshops are some my favourite classes to teach as they are great fun! The workshops are based on ballet repertoire, or on particular aspects of ballet technique.
Repertoire workshops are much more than learning steps! It's an opportunity to become and embody a character.
It's also chance to apply what you learn in ballet class, explore and bring your own interpretation to a role. It's also great addition to your work in the studio as it gives an opportunity to really focus on the clarity of movements and the artistic qualities of the dance.
I was very lucky to perform so many roles and ballets, and to be coached by world-renowned directors, ballet masters, teachers and choreographers. I love bringing all of this experience to the workshops.
If you would to be added to my mailing list to find out about future events, please don’t hesitate to email me at lklosardo@hotmail.com or follow my Instagram page: laetitialosardo
Some comments from previous workshops:
"Absolutely fantastic...You worked so well with our daughter and made the experience highly enjoyable." from Karen
"Laetitia provides very inspiring and motivational workshops, my daughter loves your classes!...She came away very inspired, feeling motivated and challenged. " from Leoni
"I felt like I was on stage. I was there! It was my moment." from Linda
"My daughter has her sparkle back because of it" from Lorena
"Great corrections given, lovely atmosphere in the class" from Emily.
Dancing Career:
I discovered ballet at the age of 6 and did most of my ballet training at the Studio Ballet in Marseille, in the South France. I won many National and International competitions, including the Prix de Lausanne in 1996 with a scholarship to the Royal Ballet School.
I joined the Birmingham Royal Ballet (BRB) in April 1997 and danced there for 17 years. I rose through the ranks of the company and was promoted to Soloist in 2003, then First Soloist in 2012. This has given me a wealth of experience from corps de ballet to principal roles.
I have danced most of the company's repertoire from choreographers including: Sir Peter Wright, David Bintley, Kenneth MacMillan, Frederick Ashton, Marius Petipa, George Balanchine, John Cranko, Jerome Robbins, Twyla Tharp, Stanton Welch, Kim Branstrup, Mickael Corder, Vaslav Nijinski, Mickael Fokine.
Dancing the 'Sugar Plum Fairy' in "Nutcracker" -credits: Jonathan Caguioa
Teaching Career:
PDPTC (RAD), PBT certified
I am passionate about ballet and feel very privileged to share my professional experience in my classes. I was always very interested in teaching and whilst dancing. I regularly delivered classes for BRB's Learning Department and Summer Schools and Elmhurst Ballet School Summer Schools.
I have taught all ages within many different settings, including vocational schools, private ballet schools, Primary and Secondary schools, and adult groups. I also taught ballet at the Centre for Advanced Training Programme (CADT) at DanceXchange.
In 2013, I assisted BRB’s ballet mistress Marion Tait to rehearse the company’s production of “Giselle”. Later that year, after the birth of my son, I decided to retire from dancing and became a freelance ballet teacher.
I continued my work with BRB's Learning Department and the Centre for Advanced Training. I also taught ballet in private schools, DanceXchange's class program and Midlands Theatre Ballet, where I also choreographed. In 2018, I was ballet mistress for DeNada's Dance Company for their production of 'Beauty and the Bull'.
In 2019, I completed the Royal Academy of Dance's Professional Dancers' Postgraduate Teaching Certificate (PDPTC) with Distinction.
For three years I was at Elmhurst Ballet School, teaching both Lower and Upper School, as well as their Associate program.
From September 2021, I went back to freelancing again offering my own online classes and private lessons.
In 2022, I joined Blommaert Ballet School as part of their teaching team to prepare students to audition for vocational schools.
Recently, I have been regularly teaching ballet classes for Birmingham Royal Ballet and coached Swan Lake for their Spring Season.
I also guested for Kings International Academy and I have teaching for BBO Dance on their Scholars Scheme.
Qualifications:
2018: Royal Academy of Dance Postgraduate Teaching Qualification with Distinction (PDPTC)
2019, I also became certified for the Progression Ballet Technique programme, which provides conditioning and strengthening for dance.
Whilst dancing, I also completed an M.A. in Dance with Birmingham University and was awarded a Distinction (2007)
Image by Tim Cross
