EN POINTE

Kingsley Sixth Former and scholar, Morgan, took up ballet at the age of five. Her commitment and training over the years have really paid off and she’s keen to share the benefits with others.

When asked who has inspired her journey as a ballerina so far, Morgan, replies: “Darcey Bussell, one hundred percent! I gave a presentation on her as part of my Sixth Form scholarship application. She’s such a strong and determined woman, and she’s proven that dance can take you anywhere - from the stage to being a judge on Strictly! I’ve seen so many of her performances and, although she’s very elegant, she’s also original and, at times, unconventional.” Like other accomplished dancers, Morgan’s dedication to ballet sees her spending anywhere between three and five hours a week training. However, in contrast to many of the individuals she dances with, she doesn’t aspire to become a professional ballerina, with her sights set on a very different career. “I’m studying maths, physics and geography at A-level,” says Morgan, “and my dream is to become a meteorologist. Ballet is very much a hobby for me, but it gives me so much pleasure. I plan to continue with it alongside my degree at university. Not only does it help me to relax and unwind, but it’s really improved my memory. I’m dyslexic so my short term memory isn’t great, but ballet has taught me that, with practice, I can successfully learn and remember complex dances.” Morgan attended her first ballet lesson at Love Ballet - one of the leading dance schools in Warwickshire and Northamptonshire - at the age of five. She started in Baby Ballet and progressed all the way through to Inter Foundation with the British Ballet Organisation (BBO), a vocational level embarked on by individuals with the talent and commitment to make it past Grade 5, including those who wish to teach ballet. Morgan currently has three lessons a week with Miss Sharon, an ex-professional dancer, lasting an hour and a quarter each. She attends additional sessions in the

run up to exams and productions. “In the first couple of training sessions for any production you think, ‘Am I ever going to get this?!’… but then you do and it’s such a great feeling!” Morgan enjoys performing on stage. “I get butterflies in my stomach,” she says, “but as soon as the music starts I forget everyone’s there.” She recalls one of her most memorable performances when she was chosen to represent her dance company at the Royal Albert Hall. “It was in 2020, just before lockdown. Our dance was based on the theme of Harry Potter and combined modern, commercial and ballet dancers, so it was dynamic and really impressive. The stage was amazing too - circular with the audience wrapped all the way around us. We were the only ballet school with pointe dancers, so we got a huge applause at the end!” Our conversation turns to ballerinas going ‘en pointe’. “I think it’s every young ballerina’s dream,” Morgan says with a smile, “but it places the ankles under a lot of stress, so it shouldn’t be attempted too early. At my ballet school you don’t go en pointe until the end of Grade 5. Traditionally only female ballerinas went en pointe, with males being portrayed as strong rather than dainty… but lots of male ballerinas are going en pointe these days, which is great to see.” Morgan pulls her ballet shoes from her bag. “These are Russian pointe shoes. They’re pretty uncomfortable, especially after a full hour! I have all sorts of cushioning in mine to help my poor toes - see!” Morgan explains that it’s not just about strength, but also flexibility. “Most people have strong ankles or flexible feet, but not both, so you have to work hard at one or the other. I try to do 10 minutes of core a day, usually before bedtime. I also have a free period on a Wednesday afternoon, so I often go to the Drama Studio and practice then. It’s a great way of destressing and forgetting about my A-levels for an hour.” It was during one these sessions that Mrs McCullough saw Morgan and had a brilliant idea. “She asked me if I’d ever considered teaching ballet in Prep,” says Morgan. “I hadn’t, but I was excited by the idea!” Morgan approached Miss Fennell, who coordinates the Prep School’s Enrichment Programme, and arrangements were put in place for her to offer ballet lessons on Thursdays. The lessons have proved extremely popular, and, when we called into the Prep School to see the pupils in action, they were excited to show us their moves! “Going over to Prep is one of my favourite times of the week,” says Morgan. “Teaching the children how to plié, and the difference between ‘good toes’ and ‘naughty toes’, takes me right back to when I was a child and learning everything for the first time. It’s magical and the children are so sweet. They all want to bring in their favourite ballet outfits, so I think their days of doing ballet in uniform are numbered!” Morgan’s passion for ballet is a wonderful example of how a hobby or sport can enrich someone’s life - improving both their physical and mental wellbeing - and the lives of others. Bravo, Morgan! Keep on dancing!