The Russian Ballet Society, alone, has the remit
to foster and promote the Legat System of ballet
training in the Russian classical style.
On her retirement in 1967 she passed the responsibility of fostering and teaching
the Legat System of Classical Ballet Training to her former pupil, Eunice Biedryski
Bartell, (nee Gibson), (Ballerina, Anglo-Polish Ballet, Dancing Act, "Leon and Eunice
Bartell", Principal Legat School, 1967-1986).
In 1986, Mme Biedryski Bartell transferred the Head Quarters of the Russian Ballet Society to Edinburgh and since that time, has introduced the Legat System and the Russian Ballet Society Syllabus of Examinations to many schools in other parts of the world.
Teachers in Italy, Germany, Malta, Cyprus, Slovenia, U.S.A, Thailand and Japan have
studied and/or adapted to the Legat System through the personal effort and attention
of Mme Bartell. Former pupils have opened schools in other countries and in Scotland,
England and Wales, all of whom are associated with the Russian Ballet Society and
hold examinations annually or bi-annually
Mme Nadine Nicolaeva-Legat
Clara Wincza
Christopher Taylor
Mme Biedryski Bartell
History of the Society
Our roots were planted when Nikolai (Nicholas) Legat and his wife, Nadine Nicolaeva, came to Great Britain from Russia in 1923. After a brief spell in France, they returned and opened a school in London. Famous dancers of the day Flocked to the Maestro's classes and included such famous names as, Anton Dolin, Margot Fonteyn, Andre Eglevsky, Moira Shearer & Nathalie Krassovska etc.
In time, a system of examinations was devised for the benefit of the younger pupils and graduating students, many of whom went on to have successful careers in ballet.
The Russian Ballet Society, alone, has the remit to foster and promote the Legat System of ballet training in the Russian classical style.
After the death of her husband in 1937, Nadine Nicolaeva Legat retired from the theatre to continue with the training in the school which he had established. In 1939, with the outbreak of World War Two, she evacuated her school from London to a place in the country, taking with her many of the schools students, and thus established the first ballet boarding school in Great Britain.
Nikolai Legat and Anna Pavlova
Lisa Rawson and Jonathon Broad
As with many artistic ventures the way has not always been smooth but we are proud of our achievements and of the successes of our students and teachers at home and abroad who continue to arouse interest in the Russian Ballet Society and the Legat System of training, the one being synonymous with the other.
In 1996, the 25th anniversary of the death of Nadine Nicolaeva Legat, a Scholarship was launched by the Society to give a promising student a free place at our International Summer Ballet Course
Preparations for the 2008 Summer School are already underway with accommodation booked
in Edinburgh and of course the Theatre for our End-of-Course Perfor mance where renovations
and the installation of a lift have taken place, allowing for disabled access. A
licensed bar has also been incorporated which will be open to the public where other
refreshments will also be provided.
Negotiations are underway with prospective dance staff and we anticipate a return visit by some members of staff who were new to our Course this year and whose presentations scored a big success with pupils and public.
Dates for the Course will be the 12 of July to the 26 of July 2008, with our performance on the 25th. And we surely hope to be welcoming some of our members among the variety of students from countries around the world who have all benefited by the experience.
Shot through Mme, Bartell's office window at Summer School 2003 , in July, a group of students rehearsing on the lawn where the Summer School was housed and where it will be returning in 2008. Five classes per day plus rehearsals were evidently just not enough for these enthusiastic students, one of whom had returned for the third consecutive year from Milan.
International Summer Ballet
Course 2008
For more information and to participate in this years summer school please contact the Russian Ballet Society to receive a brochure and application form.
A few years ago we set up a "Friends of the Russian Ballet Society" asking those interested to support us by becoming a member for a fee of £5 per annum.
Friends receive a Newsletter annually and are kept in touch throughout the year. They are also welcome to watch a class during the Course, though we must have prior application and there is a small charge for meals taken.
If you would like to support the Russian Ballet Society and to be involved in our artistic endeavors, please send your name and address to The Secretary, enclosing your payment of £5
Friends of the Russian Ballet Society
To The Secretary,
Russian Ballet Society, PO Box 17319, Edinburgh EH12 1BB
Thank you for your generosity.
Email enquires to -
russianballetsociety@hotmail.com
For all enquires, please contact the Russian Ballet Society via the postal service or by email.
Postal enquires to -
Russian Ballet Society
P.O. Box 17319 F/2
Edinburgh
EH12 1BB
Scotland
Nocturne Eb
Op9 Chopin
A high quality Video/DVD of the 2007 performance is available for purchase by members/friends from the Russian Ballet Society.
Click on the images to view excerpts from the recording of both the classes and the final show.
A registered charity
Welcome to our website. We hope that you will find the following information of interest.
Included are photographs of students preparing for our performance which culminates our two week summer ballet course as well as information about the course which runs annually and is led by our president. Short video excerpts from the classes and show can also be watched here.
Information about the society and how we organise ourselves along with a description of our history can also be found here. Historical pictures of some of our esteemed dancers can be viewed in the history section.
If you wish to contact the society with queries or for information on the summer school our postal and email addresses are available. We look forward to hearing from you.
A high quality Video/DVD of the 2007 summer school and performance is available for purchase by members/friends of the Russian Ballet Society.
Click on the images to view excerpts from the recording of both the classes and the final show.
The excerpts are in AVI format and will require a media player to view. Download speed will depend on your connection.
Excerpts from the 2007 summer school classes.
Excerpts from the 2007 summer school final performance
The Russian Ballet Society is the only society with an unbroken link from Nicolas Legat to the present time and has the remit to offer a complete training in the unique Legat System of Classical Ballet.
The aims of the Society are: to preserve and maintain the Russian Classical Ballet Style in its purity and tradition, and the Legat System in its classical timelessness. While also to further develop the Legat System according to contemporary requirements with a view to the future.
About the Society
The Legat System is a distinctive style of training producing free flowing movement on a sound technique with intelligent inclusion of musical form (rhythm/accent), and a differentiated consideration of the space perspective (epaulment). Clear and consistent in structure, the training, by constantly changing movement sequences, develops in the student a quite specific flexibility and quality of presentation.
As soon as basic technical requirements have been achieved, the available material of steps is put together in always varied combinations of movement so that the brain is stimulated and activated all the time.
Legat’s methodology prevents dull exercising and a certain automation, and results in the greatest possible versatile and efficient body control.
The benefits of training with the Russian Ballet Society and the Nicolas Legat System of Classical Ballet include:
discipline and perseverance – the ability to pursue a training programme to an achievement level;
the ability to assert oneself and on the other hand to adjust and co-
an alert reaction and development of concentration;
a distinctive awareness of an inner and outer posture;
mental and physical agility;
the ability to give feelings expression and form, and to interpret them;
a sense of style and tact;
and of course, a healthy and aware relationship with one’s own body and to physical
well-being in general.
Dancers, teachers, students and others who are interested in the work and practice of the Russian Ballet Society should contact us using the details found here.
If you have a website concerned with ballet or dance in general, please contact us to swap links.
This web site and all of the information and images herein are copyright of the Russian Ballet Society and may not be used without prior permission.
A Corporate Member of CDET
Here is a listing of accredited Legat schools worldwide.
For details of these schools and other Legat System teachers in your area please contact the society with your query.
CYPRUS
Deborah School of Russian Ballet -
Deborah Schade Adamou, MRBSoc., (SIT), PDTD
MALTA
Olivia Dow School of Russian Ballet -
Olivia Dow, MRBSoc., (SIT), PDTD
SCOTLAND
Eunice Biedryski Bartell,
MRBSoc., S/T, PDTD, Prof. Bal.
ITALY
Limelights Center -
Enza Bracciale, MRBSoc., (S/T)
Music, Dance & Mime Studio -
Desiree Motta, MRBSoc., (S/T)
Ass.Amici della Danza'Bice Cinquini'-
Simonetta Cinquini, MRBSoc., (S/T)
Stefania Bonuccelli, MRBSoc., (S/T)
Centro D'Arte Coreografico'CAD'-
Elena Repetti, MRBSoc., (S/T)
Studio Danza Visconi, Alpignano
Patrizia Visconi, MRBSoc., (S/T)
Studio Danza'Le Silfidi'-
Eva Sabatini Rondinelli, MRBSoc., (S/T)
Danza and Ricerca
Lia Preite, MRBSoc., (S/T)
Sinfonia Della Danza
Tabitha Valensin, MRBSoc. (S/T)