Elisabeth Swan

FISTD, CICB, Enrico Cecchetti Diploma, Principal and Partner

Cecchetti Classical Ballet

Elisabeth undertook her early training at the Weston School of Dancing in Essex of which she became Principal in 1988, and which she owns in partnership with her husband, Geoff Wheatley. She trained for two years at The Royal Ballet School during which time she danced with the Royal Ballet Company in Rudolf Nureyev's The Nutcracker at The Royal Opera House, Covent Garden. Upon her return to Chelmsford Elisabeth gained a Cecchetti Scholarship to attend classes in London, and qualified as a teacher in 1973. She performed extensively throughout the UK, mainly liturgical works with The Chelmsford Dancers, features in the film and book The Dance Goes On and has made many television and radio appearances.

Elisabeth holds the Enrico Cecchetti Final Diploma and, in 1993, she gained the Fellowship of the Imperial Society of Teachers of Dancing. In 1995 she was awarded the Margaret Marsh Scholarship to attend the annual Summer Seminar of the Cecchetti Council of America in Michigan, USA and, in 2011, was the recipient of the Imperial Award for outstanding services to the ISTD of which she is now a Life Member and for whom she is a Senior International Examiner of Cecchetti Classical Ballet.