Dancer offers free school ballet class in Leeds to boost inclusion

The classes for children in Woodhouse, Leeds, will run twice a week for the full academic year

A professional dancer is running free ballet lessons for children in Leeds in a bid to attract young people from all backgrounds into the art form.

Martin Howland is a Royal Ballet School graduate who has gone on to dance all over the world.

He now runs dance classes for children aged between nine and 11 at Little London Community Primary School in Woodhouse.

Mr Howland said he wanted to challenge "stereotypes and clichés" about ballet.

The former principal dancer founded a non-profit company called Project Resurgence, which aims to improve access to the arts.

"I miss performing but I love teaching and I believe that anyone can do ballet," the Brighouse-born dancer said.

"You feel like you are making a difference because they're learning a trade, they're learning a discipline and that's a transferable skill."

The programme, which started in September and will run for the entire academic year, has given 20 pupils the chance to learn the basics of ballet.

Ruth, one of the pupils taking part, said "it started easy until it turned hard", adding that she liked "doing the spins and balancing".

Another said: "It made me feel happy, it was challenging but fun."

Martin Howland, a professional dancer, attended the Royal Ballet School from the age of 11

Josh Mayfield, a teacher and PE lead for the school, said the opportunity for the children to learn dance in this way was "incredible".

"I come and visit the ballet [class] every week and to see the improvements they've made is spectacular," he said.

"In one of the first few sessions I attempted to do a pirouette properly - you have to have such core strength."

Alongside the classes, the children are also given ballet shoes and books.

When asked how the children reacted when they received their shoes, Mr Howland said: "They were more excited about that than when they started doing their pirouettes."

He concluded: "Whether or not they ever go on to do pirouettes again, they can use these skills in the future."