Deborah Schade was born in Mombasa 1956, spending most of her childhood in East Africa and Belgium. Her ambition to dance took her to The Legat School of Russian Ballet, where she graduated in 1976 under the Ballet Principal, Madame Biedryski Bartell.
From 1976 to 1980 she danced professionally in various Musical Theatre productions throughout the South of England.
In the autumn term of 1980 she returned to The Legat School, where she attained her Teacher Degree with Honours, again under the direction of Madame Biedryski Bartell. Subsequently she made her home in Cyprus, where she married and became Deborah Schade Adamou. In 1982 she began teaching and in September 1983 she founded her own School of Russian Ballet in Larnaca, becoming a member of the Cyprus Association of Professional Dancers and Teachers as well as continuing her membership of the RBS. She first entered her students for RBS exams in 1985 and her school was Accredited by the RBS in 1988.
In 1989 she danced in the Cyprus Opera Society production of La Traviata and attended the International Summer ballet course of the Russian Ballet Society in Edinburgh, accompanied by one of her more senior students.
In the 1990’s Deborah had her own custom made studios constructed in Larnaca, as well as dancing in The Nutcracker ballet for a season and performing in a contemporary ballet production ‘Dekatris’. Throughout this period she regularly attended the Summer Ballet Course in Edinburgh, together with a number of her more dedicated students. She was subsequently invited to teach at the Summer School and at the Teacher Refresher Course.
The end of the decade saw her adding Teacher Training to her school syllabus, whilst also undergoing Examiner Training under Madame Biedryski Bartell.
In 2005 Deborah was appointed Russian Ballet Society Examiner and was invited by Mme Bartell to become a Trustee which she accepted, immediately beginning the process required for The Russian Ballet Society to achieve CDET Validation.
In the same year she became Assistant Ballet Mistress for the children dancing in La Scala di Milano Ballet’s local production of ‘A Midsummer Night’s Dream’, choreography by Balanchine.
In 2006 Deborah was invited to become vice-president of the Society, while continuing her efforts for CDET Validation.
In 2011 Deborah was appointed President of the RBS and in 2012 the Russian Ballet Society achieved its aim of CDET Validation and Ofqual Accreditation for its qualifications in Partnership with RSL.
Graduates of Deborah’s ballet school include professional dancers and RBS Teachers. Two graduates have gone on to become professional actresses. At the present time her school has Graduates at several Professional Schools worldwide including the Alvin Ailey School, the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland, the Hamburg Contemporary Dance School and several professional Schools in Greece. Many others have branched out into other areas of the performing arts or have followed different careers, always acknowledging that their childhood was enriched by their Legat System ballet training.
