Ballet school opens in Docklands

A new ballet school opened its doors last month, becoming the first of its kind in Docklands.

Collins Street Ballet, which is part of the Push Fitness Gym, offers classes for adults and children.

Andrew Ward, owner of The Push Group, said it had decided to open a ballet school in Docklands to provide more after-school activities for families in the area.

“There’s some football, soccer, and baseball, but there’s limited activities especially for girls, young women, and anyone who wants to learn to dance,” he said.

The school has seen strong demand since it opened its doors, with Mr Ward describing the community’s response so far as “fantastic”.

The classes are run by Cindy Leung, a Royal Academy of Dance qualified teacher. She graduated from the Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts with a major in Ballet Performance and minor in Choreography.

Ms Leung said that it was “exciting” to start a new ballet school in the area and is passionate about nurturing the love for the sport.

Her initial goals are to teach students proper technique, and how they can find enjoyment in ballet as a hobby.

Mr Ward shared his excitement for having Ms Leung on the team.

“It’s very rare to have someone of that standard teaching,” he said.

Principal of Collins Street Ballet Jean Ward said that the school’s goal was to support current dancers, with the long-term goal of starting classes for different dance genres.

“Right now, I think the focus is just to get this group started … and to get them into a routine,” she said, adding that they were considering opening more children’s ballet classes to meet increased demand.

For now, the school encourages interested children and adults to try its classes.

The school is running an Open Day on April 20 at 10.30am, where children can try the class for free.

Adults can also try classes, with free trials available for Docklands residents. 

People of all levels are welcome to join the classes, which run on Monday evenings at 7.30pm for adults, and Saturday mornings at 10.30am for children.

Jean Ward said that some students had danced when they were children, while others were completely new to ballet.

“I think everybody just comes here for the love of movement, of dance,” she said. “They really enjoy themselves a lot”.

Collins Street Ballet is located at 833 Collins St, Docklands. •