Laura Radford
Laura is founder and principal of the Nottingham Ballet School. She is an experienced artist, teacher, director, mentor, and choreographer who trained on the BA (Hons) Ballet Education course at the prestigious Royal Academy of Dance (RAD) in London. Whilst training, Laura also obtained her Licentiate (LRAD), Associate (ARAD) and Registered Teachers Status (RAD RTS).
She began dancing at the tender age of 3 years with Janina Gieralt in Nottingham. Here she was inspired by her teacher and from the age of 10, knew she wanted to be just like Miss Gieralt. Her teachers challenged and motivated Laura to pursue a long term career in Dance Education.
Laura has worked in private, public and community dance sectors around London teaching Ballet, Contemporary Ballet, Creative dance and Pilates to people of all ages; with a passion to provide access to dance for all. She has also choreographed for many dance productions, both on film and on stage and has worked on live streamed shows, video and photography projects. She has collaborated with many filmmakers, photographers, choreographers and artists on multiple community funded and private projects.
Laura is enthusiastic and encourages diversity and creativity in dance; she is a youth mentor working alongside LambethELEVATE, has taught and examined for the worlds first Muslim Ballet School (Grace & Poise) and taught and developed the Associate programme at Marble Hill Dance Studio, alongside dear colleague and mentor Abigail Cova. Laura has also mentored RAD undergraduate students on their teaching placements.
Her pupils have gone on to gain places at the Royal Ballet School (White Lodge), Royal Ballet School Junior Associates, Central School of Ballet Associates, Ballet Boost, The BRIT School, Arts Ed., Performers College, Bird College and The Urdang Academy.
Whilst studying at the RAD, Laura performed alongside Darcey Bussell, for the Queen and members of the Royal Family, in celebration of Her Majesty’s 90th Birthday. She was also a Soloist dancer with the Semaphore Ballet Company and later went on to be Director of the Company; here she managed, organised events, collaborated with dance artists, choreographed and taught undergraduate dancers studying at the RAD.
Laura acknowledges the importance of continued professional development and is delighted to be a student on the MA (Hons) Education (Dance Teaching) at the Royal Academy of Dance. She is also a Founding Partner of The Dance Teacher LLP, a peripatetic dance education service which offers classes across the Midlands, London and Hampshire.
With a wealth of experience and ever expanding knowledge of teaching Ballet, Laura looks forward to welcoming and educating the next generation of dancers at the Nottingham Ballet School.
