Deddington Ballet School

Deddington Ballet School, Banbury, Oxfordshire

The Windmill Centre & The Holly Tree Club, Deddington

&

Duns Tew Village Hall

1996 to 2021

https://www.facebook.com/deddingtonballetschool/

Founder & Principal - Joanna Cox

West Street Ballet School, Covent Garden, London:

Diploma in Dance (Classical Ballet), Council of Dance & Musical Theatre, London

ISTD - Level 4 Diploma in Dance Education (DDE)

BTDA - Level 4 Certificate in Dance Teaching

WDSA - Level 2 Wheelchair Dance Instructor

Arts Award Advisor (Bronze & Silver) - Trinity College, London

Deddington Ballet School closed in June 2021 after 25 years of teaching young people and adults in Deddington and the surrounding villages. The school was not sold on, and the ballet school is not affiliated with any teachers or schools who teach in the area presently.

A History of Deddington Ballet School

by Joanna Cox-Marshall, 2024

Deddington Ballet School was established in 1996 with classes initially taught at Deddington Primary School and Duns Tew Village Hall, later at The Windmill Centre and The Holly Tree Club before finishing at Duns Tew Village Hall. It started with 6 students and when it closed it had 180 students. It was a small school by choice, with small manageable classes spaced over 6 days of teaching.

From the start, Joanna had a vision for her ballet school, through her own experience of training as a child, her vocational training, the years of performing professionally, and being mindful that only a handful of students will be talented enough to attend a prestigious vocational ballet school, with a ballet company attached. The school's ethos was equal opportunities for all students regardless of ability, that classes were enjoyable and fun, and teaching was about a love for dance and music. Ballet teaching was to be taught at a high level that would stay with the students forever. It was a school that didn't have the hierarchy and favouritism found in some schools, and to run affordable lessons reducing the cost associated with local dance classes. Deddington Ballet School did not make the parents buy a new uniform after each examination and provided free costumes for all students in the biennial shows.

All younger students took a Grade exam each year with the rest of their class. Everyone took an exam together as a class and all students were exam-ready through hard work from the students, teacher, and their families. Deddington Ballet School prided itself on this approach. The school aimed to have all students take their BTDA Advanced Foundation (ISTD Intermediate) just before they took their GCSEs. This exam is the first stepping stone for those who want to teach ballet in the future and an excellent qualification to gain before the next part of a young person's educational or working career.

As the school grew, many students became teacher assistants who were invaluable in demonstrating for the students during their class. Many of these students were able to add this experience to their university supporting statements and CVs.

Deddington Ballet School was a hugely successful village school, with an emphasis on teaching young people a love of dance and music, making dance accessible and affordable for all, and encouraging confidence in all students to prepare them for later life.

Dance Classes Offered:

ISTD Cecchetti Classical Ballet

BTDA Classical Ballet

Adult Ballet - Beginners & Advanced with Examinations
BTDA Lyrical Dance Grades 1 to 7

BTDA Choreography Grades 1 to 5

BTDA National Grades 1 to 8

ISTD & BTDA Awards, Cups and Medals

Classical Ballet Examinations Passed at Deddington Ballet School:

Lower School:

Preparatory Ballet, Pre-Primary Ballet, Primary Ballet & Introduction to Grade 1

Ballet Grade Examinations:

Grade 1, Grade 2, Grade 3, Grade 4, Grade 5, Grade 6 & Grade 7

Ballet Vocational Qualifications:

Pre-Intermediate, Intermediate, Advanced Foundation, Advanced 1, Advanced 2 & Professional Development

Classical Ballet Teacher Training:

BTDA Level 3 Certificate in Teaching Assistant

BTDA Level 4 Certificate in Dance Education

All examinations are QCA-recognised qualifications, with vocational qualifications holding UCAS points.

Many students of Deddington Ballet School successfully auditioned and gained places at the following:

1996 to 2021 - Full-Time Vocational Places at:

The Royal Ballet School (White Lodge)

Elmhurst School of Ballet (Birmingham)

The Hammond (Chester)

Northern Ballet School (Manchester)

Tring Park Performing Arts School (Classical)

London Studio Centre (Classical & Musical Theatre)

Ballet West (Scotland)

KS Dance (Classical Ballet)

Northern School of Contemporary Dance (Leeds)

1996 to 2021 - Associate Places at:

The Royal Ballet School Associate Programme (Birmingham & London)

Elmhurst Ballet Associates (Birmingham)

Central School of Ballet Associates (London)

Graham Fletcher Ballet Associates (Leicester)

London Studio Centre Classical Associates (London)

Tring Ballet Academy Associates (Tring)

The Urdang Academy Associate Programme (London)

The Cecchetti Society Associate Programme (London)

The Cecchetti Scholars (London)

Joanna, 1999

Artist's Photoshoot, 1993

About Joanna Cox
Joanna started Ballroom Dancing at 3 years old, before switching to RAD Ballet with Mrs. Nettie Paulsen in Risinghurst, Oxford aged 8 years old. Joanna was then trained one-on-one by Catherine Marks (1983 to 1988), a ballerina in the ‘The Markova & Dolin Ballet’ & 'Lydia Kyasht Russian Ballet', founder of 'Glasgow Theatre Ballet' and later the ballet mistress to ‘The Scottish Ballet’, Glasgow, Scotland. As a young dancer, Joanna performed in a Scottish Television Production with Scottish Ballerina Elaine MacDonald with Catherine's choreography.

Joanna trained in Classical Ballet at The West Street Ballet School, Covent Garden (1988 to 1991). Her teachers were: Maryon Lane, Julia Farron, Svetlana Beriovosa, Natasha Lisakova, Judith Maden, Anita Young, Doreen Wells, David Wall, Michael Woodwark & Gary Sherwood. During her second year at West Street, she started her career as a professional singer, working with, The Alan Cobb Big Band (1989 to 1991), a 10-piece big band, as the lead singer until graduation from ballet school.

After graduation, Joanna worked professionally (1989 to 2000), including four years with Sylvia Young Productions, as a professional singer. She toured the UK performing shows with artists and performers such as Freddie Garrety (Freddie and the Dreamers), Brian Poole (Brian Poole and The Tremeloes), The Beverly Sisters, Susan Maughan, Marty Wilde, Wee Willie Harris, The Rockin’ Berries, Tom O’Connor, The Wayne Dobson Show, Twist and Shout Show, That’ll Be The Day Show; T C Productions, Trevor Payne. Other show credits include the supporting act for well-known American R&B singer, Geno Washington, and the comedian and actor, Joe Pasquale.

Joanna was a studio singer and songwriter, which included the composition and writing of 'Take it to the World', which she recorded for the ‘Raise the Roof’ album in 1997. This venture included a live-performance show, featuring Fairport Convention, Chris Leslie, Adrian Snell, Alex Soddy, The Oxford Concert Party, Barry Pratt, Richard Stilgoe, and other artists.

Joanna gained her ballet teaching qualifications (1995), with Mrs. Gillian Robinson, a major ISTD Cecchetti ballet examiner. She worked at Mrs. Robinson's ballet school, Thatcham Ballet School, and later called West Berkshire Ballet School in Bucklebury, Berkshire. Joanna also taught ballet to students at Bradfield College, Berkshire during this time.

1989

Why Deddington?

Joanna was born in Oxford and in 1993 her parents moved back to Deddington. Some of her family have lived in Deddington since the beginning of the parish registers. There is a strong musical history on the Cox side, with the 'Cox Band' being formed in the 1890s by Joanna's Great-Grandfather and two Great-Great Uncles. They started their musical career at a very early age at Deddington Church under Rev. Boniface. They would have weekly band practices in The Grove, Deddington. Joanna's father was a choir boy at Deddington Church and was offered a place at Christ Church Cathedral School, Oxford because of his singing and musical talents. He chose not to go so he could stay in Deddington to play in the fields with his brother and friends. Joanna is married with three grown children, she lives in Northamptonshire.

Joanna would love to hear from past students, the email is still the same:

deddingtonballet@hotmail.co.uk