Yorkshire Ballet Institute
YBI specialises in classical ballet training, focusing on providing our students with the skills needed for a strong classical technique alongside a highly developed sense of musicality, poise and self-confidence. Our aim is to provide an exceedingly friendly and welcoming environment in which the disciplines of classical ballet can be explored, new friendships formed and where a lifelong passion can be inspired.
The school caters for absolute beginners through to seasoned dance students of all ages and provides the perfect platform for anyone who wishes to discover and enjoy the countless benefits of this beautiful art form.
School Principal
Lucy emery PDTD, RTS RAD
Yorkshire Ballet Institute was founded in 2016 by Lucy Emery. Born in Yorkshire, Lucy studied ballet from an early age with Angela Reynolds and was selected to be a Junior Associate of The Royal Ballet School at the age of 8.
At 11 years old she was accepted to The Royal Ballet Lower School, White Lodge, becoming Head Girl in her final year and later moved to The Royal Ballet Upper School in Covent Garden.
During her 8 years of training at The Royal Ballet School, Lucy developed a passion for choreography alongside her dancing, winning The Sir Kenneth MacMillan Choreographic competition and second place at The Ursula Moreton Choreographic Competition.
In her graduate year Lucy danced with both The Royal Ballet and Birmingham Royal Ballet, before moving to Norway to dance professionally with The Norwegian National Ballet.
During her professional career, Lucy also performed as a member of Ballet L'Opera National de Bordeaux in France and Scottish Ballet back in the UK. A passion for teaching led her to complete her Professional Dancers Teaching Diploma with The Royal Academy of Dance, which she completed with Distinction.
Lucy preparing for a performance of Swan Lake.
Lucy has since taught for The Norwegian National Ballet School, Norsk Balletinstitutt and Oslo National Academy of The Arts, as well as leading the Classical Ballet program at Attic AS in Drammen, Norway. She has also taught for The Royal Academy of Dance at their Summer School in Norway and has been an RAD teacher mentor.
