Abigail Boyle Workshop

Our students had the amazing opportunity of doing Ballet and Contemporary workshops with Abigail Boyle over the weekend of October 14 and 15 held at our studio. Abigail was a principal dancer with the Royal New Zealand Ballet and also occupied the position of Ballet Mistress with the company. She now tutors the New Zealand Youth Ballet. On the Saturday Abigail tutored ballet workshops for our Grade 1 ballet students up to Advanced 2 and contemporary workshops for Grade 1 jazz up to Senior level. Our Adult Ballet class also had the amazing opportunity to take class with her.

Sunday workshops were one on one coaching for our senior students on their ballet variations - Abigail gave fabulous detailed guidance to our students. Variations were 3rd Odalisque (Arabella), Teresina (Rose), Sugar Plum Fairy (Amelie), Raymonda's Entrance (Abby), Fairy of Generosity (Briar) and Fairy Doll (Jessica).

The workshop finished with a repertoire lesson for our senior ballet students with Abigail teaching Pas de Trois de Odalisques from Le Corsaire. An amazing finish to an amazing weekend.

Our students now have wonderful memories of being tutored by Abigail - and have learnt so much from her over the weekend.

Junior Ballet working on alignment with Abigail

Abigail coaching Senior Ballet through balances at the barre

Thea and Zelmari were lucky enough to learn part of 'Artemis Rising', Abigail's retirement piece from RNZB

Senior Contemporary learnt a section from RNZB's 'Stand to Reason', covering women's fight to vote. Very topical on election day!

Arabella being coached through her variation 'Third Odalisque' from 'Le Corsaire'

Abigail helping Abby find her spacing in 'Raymonda's Entrance'

Abigail and Briar working on arm alignment in 'Fairy of Generosity' from 'The Sleeping Beauty'

Jessica gets tips on arabesque alignment from Abigail for her variation 'Fairy Doll'

Abigail helps Rose find the right position in her variation from 'Napoli'

Abigail coaches alignment for Amelie in 'Sugar Plum Fairy' from 'The Nutcracker'

Tired smiles after the repertoire class (missing Sian, Amelie, and Sophia who had to scoot off)

Thanks for reading!