Fonteyn Academy Methodology
Dame Margot Fonteyn’s belief was that young artists of divergent fields of expression would enter into conversations about the core issues of art (expression, interpretation, focus et cetera), and would consequently develop a deeper understanding of the artistic purpose of their endeavours. This means each student would gain comprehensive knowledge of all components of fine art theatrical concert performance, including all sister arts of theatrical performance; music, visual art, dance, drama, scholarly arts and technical arts, fully integrated.
Fonteyn developed the Academy Method to teach the fundamental principles of movement as they relate to Classical Theatrical Dancing. The approach is a study of classical ballet technique as recipes of force, and therefore the dancer trains a sense of how the body moves efficiently and effectively. A dancer in their career has the job of performing choreography with authenticity and integrity. Choreography of any kind is by definition unique, each work with it’s own specific movement language. The Academy Method technique allows dancers to perform all styles with alacrity, and present choreography artistically and with maximum impact on the public.
Emma Body
Emma has spent the last 2 years as Director of the Lower School of the Margot Fonteyn Academy of Ballet (Arizona, USA). During her time in the United States, Emma worked alongside Artistic Director, Ken Ludden, and Associate Artistic Director Rainer Krenstetter to implement an integrated arts curriculum and open the world headquarters of the Margot Fonteyn Academy of Ballet in Arizona, USA. Now back in Australia, she is offering the Academy Method here in Melbourne. Emma was trained and mentored by Ken Ludden in the Academy Methodology, Emma holds her International Training Certification in Pedagogy (MFAB, USA), alongside her Associate Diploma in Classical Ballet Teaching (UK). Diploma of Anatomy (UK), and her Royal Academy of Dance teachers registration. With extensive teaching and professional experience across the globe over the past 30 years Emma has worked closely with artists and faculty in companies and institutions across Europe and the world including the Baldovin Ballet and National Theatre of Croatia, Stefania Pigato and The Bridge Contemporary (Italy), Stefania Stepanov and Riga Spring (Latvia), and the New Zealand School of Dance and Royal New Zealand Ballet. In May 2023, Emma was awarded the Fonteyn Centenary Award as an Educator, Choreographer, Director and Leader of Fine Arts Education.
