Liss Forest Ballet School
Cecchetti Classical Ballet
Liss, Greatham & Petersfield

​The school exists to inspire and engender a love of Classical Ballet that will last throughout a dancer’s lifetime. Regardless of natural ability, when taught with fun and encouragement, dance becomes a lifelong pleasure either to go on to perform or to teach or to observe. The training engenders good stance, grace, fitness and confidence, valuable transferable skills.

Children are encouraged to obtain the highest possible standard within their capabilities whether dancing as recreation or aiming to be professional. Classical Ballet training bestows the ability to learn other styles of dance and is complimentary to those already learnt. It also awakens a love, and consequently wider appreciation of all styles of music, an intrinsic component of dance. For the already-musical child or adult, knowledge and pleasures are broadened. Many adults cherish their childhood memories and return to classical ballet; the school caters for them too. Much fun is injected into both children’s and adult’s classes for this highly technical art and achievements are rewarded whether or not exams are taken.

​Children have been accepted into Central School of Ballet, Tring Park, the Legat School, Ballet West, Italia Conti and Young Dancer’s Academy for full time vocational training. Children have also been accepted into Royal Ballet School Associates, Central School of Ballet Associates, all levels of Cecchetti Associates, Legat Associates and into the English Youth Ballet. Ballet qualifications (gaining UCAS points) and their knowledge of the subject and surrounding disciplines aids successful offers to University for numerous professional studies including Drama, Theatre Studies, Film Studies, Physiotherapy, Sports Therapy and many more. Every child performs in the school shows and opportunities for competitions and other appearances are available to the talented and confident child. Adults are also welcome to tread the boards either backstage or in the limelight.

Performing is at the heart of the art, and – coupled with a good technique – style, musicality and confidence flourishes

​Yolande Parkin won a scholarship to Elmhurst Ballet School and trained under the direction of Bridget Espinosa, gaining RAD Majors. She performed professionally for 10 years, dancing in all styles including with La Compagnia Di Operetta Italiana and Masque Dance Theatre (MDT). While with MDT, Yolande taught Jazz and Ballet to adults. Injury led her to pursue a new artistic career in interior design, working in Surrey and finally as resident Interior Designer, Fabric Manager and Buyer within a large Hampshire-based firm. After 12 years away from dance she returned to retrain. Previously trained in Cecchetti as a young child with Gillian Dawson (FISTD and Examiner), Yolande gained teaching qualifications with the Imperial Society of Teachers of Dancing as well as the Cecchetti Vocational exams to Adv2. The school’s biennial performances are a culmination of all these experiences, amassed into a refreshing variation of ‘the school show’. She writes pupil summaries for Duke of Edinburgh Awards and funds the Dance Prize for The Petersfield School. She has taught for the Cecchetti Associates and also taught private lessons for many years at Bedales Schools. Yolande is an invited member of Cecchetti Group and now sits as Vice Chair.

Cecchetti Teaching Qualifications :
1997 - Associate - AISTD
2002 - Associate Diploma - AISTD (Dip)
2006 - Licentiate - LISTD
2008 - Advanced 2 - Adv2
2010 - Certificate in Dance Education - CDE

Awards :
​May 2006 - Peter Pearson, Teacher’s Scholarship
July 2014 - IDS School of the Year 2013, Silver Award
April 2019 – Diana Barker Memorial Award for Fellowship Studies

James Forbat, English National Ballet 

We are honoured to have James Forbat as our Patron. James trained at the Royal Ballet School, graduating in 2005 with Honours. On graduation he joined English National Ballet, rising regularly through the ranks to become First Soloist. He has danced Principal roles in many of the traditional and modern ballets. Find his biography on English National Ballet’s website, http://www.ballet.org.uk/.  James has always taken a keen interest in Liss Forest Ballet School and is very proud to accept the position of Patron. He helps the school in any way he can, and has already selected winners for the 2014 school performance awards. More events in which he is giving his support are constantly taking shape.             

Yolande receiving the Award from Wayne Sleep OBE

James Forbat at ENB company class