LOUISE BENNETT

Ballet teacher, Artistic Director, Rehearsal Director, Choreographer

TESTIMONIALS

I had the pleasure to be working with Louise for two years at Ballett am Rhein. As a Ballet Master she taught great classes in which you get your basic warm up but also advanced exercises that challenge you. As soon as she started class or rehearsal I had a smile on my face because Louise just has a talent for spreading joy and happiness. She worked with us on a great spectrum of repertoire going from Salt Womb by Sharon Eyal to classics like The Nutcracker. I also had lots of fun creating with her a virtual project as a dancing fairy that is still present in Düsseldorf.

- Niklas Jendrics (Ballett am Rhein)

After graduating from Rambert School, I was struggling to find a ballet class in London that offered me a place to continue growing and refining my technique. Louise’s class gave me new tools to work with and a refreshing approach to the way I train at the barre especially. It has been so useful to have this knowledge with me when I am performing a lot. I now have simple but highly effective exercises to activate the necessary muscles before performing, or just in my everyday training.

- Edd Arnold (BalletBoyz, Russell Maliphant)

During the two seasons I worked with Louise, I have felt a huge amount of support and gained a great amount of respect for her and her work ethic. She is very dedicated to not only her work responsibilities but, especially to how the dancers feel. Louise is a breath of fresh air and she approaches everything with positivity and belief.

- Charlotte Kragh (Ballett am Rhein)

Louise has been teaching at Company Wayne McGregor for several years now. Her ballet classes are such a exemplary way of warming up the body with attention to detail, in the speed of delivery, complexity of exercises and building of pace to the final grand allegro. As a professional dancer her classes are a perfect way for me to get warm, engaged, lengthened and on my leg. On another note she also is very relatable and brings a very positive and calm energy to the studio.

- James Pett (Company Wayne McGregor, Fabula Collective)

Cira Robinson: photo by Mthuthuzeli November

Louise is an excellent teacher and I thoroughly enjoy her classes. Her enthusiastic yet chill personality makes for a great atmosphere in the studio.

- Cira Robinson (Ballet Black)

Louise’s class is very structured, physical and beneficial for a dancer, with the right amount of style and simplicity. Whether it is utilised for a company in preparation for their rehearsals and performances ahead or simply for a dancer wanting to enjoy open class, it is a great class to participate in.

- Liam Mower (Matthew Bourne's New Adventures)

Louise is a motivational and caring teacher who is fun to work with. She has always taken the time to give me lots of individual feedback helping me improve both my technique and movement quality in every class. Her classes are always enjoyable, positive and massively beneficial. Over the last year that I have worked with Louise she has helped me work on increasing my confidence which I feel has made a huge difference to me, both as a dancer and in day to day life.

- Lowri Shone (Voices of the Amazon)

Marie Astrid Mence: Photo by Bill Cooper for Ballet Black

Louise is an excellent teacher. I feel very motivated in class by her energy and professionalism. She is truly passionate about her job, and that is reflected in her class. As a professional dancer, I appreciate that she gives us some freedom within the exercises to do what we need. When class is done, I feel warm, happy and safe to be able to do anything in rehearsal.

- Marie Astrid Mence (Ballet Black)

Hannah Williams. Photo by Abraham Quintana

I have had the pleasure of taking Louise’s class over the past years and have thoroughly enjoyed every minute. Her corrections have been instrumental to my dancing. Her diverse professional experience beautifully translates into her musical and dynamic combinations.

- Hannah Williams (Dutch National Ballet, Scottish Ballet)

Louise’s energy and passion for ballet and dance is what I love about her classes. Her clarity in details and ability to communicate how the body should work in ballet is just what I need when taking class. As a contemporary dancer who still has a lot to learn and understand about ballet I really appreciate how Louise is able to look at each individual and guide and correct with care yet control. Simple exercises, with the joy of moving, delivered by lovely Louise leads to a wonderful class!

- Matthew Sandiford (BalletBoyz)

Hícaro Nicolai and Ariany Dâmaso: photo by Paulo Lacerda

I met Louise when I came to London to join the cast of the musical Voices of the Amazon. During the rehearsal process and the shows, we had the privilege of having her as our ballet coach. Louise's classes prepared us physically for the show and she helped us focus and be fully prepared to perform. Her technical and precise tips during class or during rehearsals were like a finishing touch to what the audience would see. And when it came to the cast of Voices, artists with different backgrounds, Louise's respect for the technical and artistic abilities of each member was fundamental.

- Hícaro Nicolai (Voices of the Amazon)

Louise’s class is always a joy to take. Her energy leads you through her exercises focused on basics and placement at barre into her centre emphasising movement and musicality. Her all inclusive attitude gives a friendly atmosphere where both newcomers and professionals come to work and enjoy it! I’ve found her classes give me a fresh take on technique, where she often makes a suggestion I hadn’t thought of - and it works!

- Alexander Nuttall (Estonian National Ballet, Polunin Project, freelance)

Alexander Nuttall: Photo by Paul Winstone

Louise has a gift for explaining (and demonstrating) with a clear and concise voice that speaks of the years that she has dedicated to her craft. Her class has a great structure: well thought out and logical in its progression. She has a great energy about her: humorous and totally engaging - although I am sometimes distracted by watching her rather lovely footwork!

- Alice Williamson (Freelance, ex-Staatsballett Berlin)

Over the years I have watched Louise grow: from a talented ballet dancer to a choreographer and a teacher. Her experience as a professional dancer translates refreshingly into a company class environment. She has an honest and modest approach that contributes to a relaxed environment, where each individual is nurtured. With a strong emphasis on understanding clean and efficient technique, her exercises allow for a successful progression from posture and placement, to strong supporting legs and effortless balances. Louise’s classes have enabled me to correct my alignment and make consistent progress in each class - I have taken these lessons with me to all situations, be it class, audition or performance.

- Rachel Louisa Maybank (Freelance, New English Contemporary Ballet, Voices of the Amazon)

Rachel Louisa Maybank: Photo by Photography by ASH

I have taken many of Louise’s classes over the past years, during which I have been able to find a new dynamic as well as grow as a performer within my technique and style. She has been able to give me specific corrections which have aided me further. Louise has a good flow to her classes with a excellent focus on making sure you are prepared for the rest of the class as well as pre-performance preparation. Louise has a vast wealth of knowledge which in turn gives her great focus on precision of movement as well as the style of the performance or technique. I have also had the pleasure to work with Louise within a company environment as a ballet mistress/rehearsal director. She has a great eye for detail which is reflected in her attention to each performer individually as well as in a group collective within a production, as well as giving a company a warm and enthusiastic working environment in which to flourish as a performer.

- Alex Whittaker (Voices of the Amazon)

Louise has been teaching / coaching me in various companies for the past few years and I still look forward to taking her class. Her class has got the perfect balance of structure, speed, technique and freedom and all of this is taught through her calm and positive manner. Louise is a teacher that encourages you and helps you improve without actually knowing it. Whether she is teaching your daily class, or preparing you for a show day she always gets it just right and I hope she carries on passing on her wisdom for many years to come .

- Joshua Barwick (Company Wayne McGregor. Previously: Rambert, Northern Ballet.)

Louise's class is so well rounded and structured really well for body maintenance and overall strength. Her barre is planned in a progressive way so that my body is not forced into anything too soon, and I get warm and ready for harder steps. I love how I always come to center and feel more free to dance and explore as I've been set up well on my leg at barre. Not only is her class amazing, but her presence and personality is so vibrant & welcoming that I always want to come back!

- Natalie Payne (Milwaukee Ballet II, Ballet Theatre UK, Rehearsal Director- INALA A Zulu Ballet)

I'm really grateful to all these wonderful dancers for their kind words!

If you would like to contribute a testimonial, please contact me at louisefrancesbennett@gmail.com or through one of the social media links below. Thank you!