I'm Annette, Principal and teacher at Nicholson School of Dance.

A brief history of my background…

I trained at The Royal Ballet School from age 10 to 19. I graduated into Sadler's Wells Royal Ballet achieving soloist status before moving with the Company to Birmingham Royal Ballet where I was promoted to Senior Soloist.

I was lucky enough to have a very fulfilling 14 year career, dancing many leading roles in full length classical ballets such as Swan Lake, Sleeping Beauty, Romeo and Juliet and The Nutcracker, as well as many one act ballets. I have had roles created for me by Will Tuckett, choreographer for The Royal Ballet and enjoyed choreographing two ballets myself which were performed at the Hippodrome for a project with Birmingham Royal Ballet. 

Upon my retirement I immediately started an apprenticeship teaching the Associates of The Royal Ballet School in London, just where it all started for myself, all those years ago!

I have been teaching the Royal Ballet Associates for over 24 years now and am based with the Birmingham Centre at BRB.

Within my own school, I teach a wide range of ages and abilities and always look forward to teaching students who come to class to try their best no matter how talented, because they love what they are doing.

I have also taught on a freelance basis for various other dance colleges and Companies, Birmingham Royal Ballet education department and Elmhurst School for Dance.

Private tuition is a large part of my teaching, as through my Royal Ballet training and experience at vocational schools, I enjoy coaching students preparing for auditions, exams or competitions.

Many of my students have gained places at highly regarded schools such as The Royal Ballet School, Elmhurst School for Dance, Rambert, English National ballet School, Tring, Hammond, Laban, Kate Simmons, Bird College, Central and Moorlands.