Curriculum
HISTORY OF THE SCHOOL
The Balletschool van de Koninklijke Vlaamse Opera (Ballet School of the Royal Flemish Opera) in Antwerpen, which became in 1964 the Stedelijk Instituut voor Ballet (SIB) and in 2001 de Koninklijke Balletschool Antwerpen (KBA), was founded by Mrs. Jeanne Brabants in 1951. It was the first and only professional dance training in Flanders, and in barely five years several dancers were trained who went on to become soloist in Belgium and abroad.
Although the first results were positive a thorough reorganisation was necessary. This happened in 1961 when the Ballet School of the Royal Flemish Opera was incorporated in the municipal education system of the city of Antwerpen and became the Municipal Institute for Ballet (SIB), independent of the opera house as from 1964.
Also a primary ballet course was set up, so that the complete ten-year training was offered. This transfer to the municipal education system opened up a whole range of possibilities and enabled the school to make its definitive breakthrough. The greatest benefit was the combination of dance with general education and the possibility of receiving a legally recognised qualification. The school received an adequate subsidy enabling it to offer free education.
With the foundation of the Ballet of Flanders in 1969, new horizons were opened to the school in terms of both artistic vision and social status. When Jeanne Brabants became director of the Ballet of Flanders, her sister Jos took over the school. She became principal of the school from 1970 until 1990.
In 1970 the SIB was integrated in the renewed secondary education system, thereby raising its academic level. From 1992, SIB has progressively been integrated in the arts education system.
The school took up residence in Antwerp’s new Stadsschouwburg (City Theatre) in 1980, where she has remained till this day.
Marinella Pañeda became artistic director in 1990 with Elli Faict and later Walter Mast as general director. In 2003 Kimmy Lauwens was appointed artistic director and in 2004 Nadine Delannoy as general director.
SIB/KBA has participated more or less annually in international ballet competitions since 1965, and has consistently won prizes. Between 1965 and 2008 more than 80 medals, prizes, diplomas and final places have been won at Varna, New York, Jackson, Lausanne, Houlgate, La Baule, Béthune, Brussels, Paris and during the Eurovision Competition for Young Dancers. Also members of the ballet staff have won prizes with their choreographies.
Many of the graduates have a leading role in the dance world, as dancer, choreographer, director, coach or teacher. Many of the students enter the (since 1976 Royal) Ballet of Flanders, now under the direction of Kathryn Bennetts where they dance leading roles in the classical and modern repertory.
Pupils are instructed in the different techniques and stylistic movements including classical ballet, pas de deux, pointe work, classical and modern repertory, modern dance (Graham and Cunningham), contemporary dance, improvisation, composition, jazz dance, character dance, Spanish dance, yoga and choreography. Belgian and foreign teachers and choreographers are often invited to the school to broaden its basic techniques or to enrich its repertory with additional dance pieces and ballets.
Apart from its own performances, from the beginning the school has collaborated on countless productions for the Royal Ballet of Flanders, various opera and theatre houses, festivals and television productions. Special mention ought to be made of the major full-evening co-productions with the Royal Youth theatre, including The Nutcracker, Coppelia, La Fille mal gardée and The Sleeping Beauty.
The KBA organises performances for schools and organisations (‘In the coulisses of the Balletschool’), modern dance workshops, international dance festivals, gala performances (‘Sterrendansgala’s), lectures and all kinds of dance happenings such as the yearly international summer dance courses and a special course for young children, called ‘On holiday in the Ballet School’. Since many years the school organises exchange programmes with international ballet schools such as the dance academies in Budapest, Madrid, Lyon and Lisbon.
Students in their last year work on a special item, the ‘Geïntegreerde Proef’ (the integrated test), a co-operation between the dance and the general education. Students have to succeed at this final test and at the exams to obtain their diploma.
Once a year, all the students from 9 to 18 years perform in a programme ‘Selfmade’ for which they themselves make the choreographies, costumes, scenery, sound, lighting, the publicity and run the entire management.
In 2001 the Stedelijk Instituut voor Ballet celebrated its 50th birthday and the school was granted the permission to use ‘Royal’ in its name. It became the Royal Ballet School Antwerpen.
The option Dance Scala (modern dance section), established in 1999 became an official subject Modern Ballet in 2005.
At this moment the school is part of the Municipal Secondary Education, School Community North ( including 9 schools)
Meanwhile the school produced more than 1000 performances, more than 100 productions from Belgian and international choreographers like, dancing in Belgium and abroad, as far as in Japan.
The Royal Ballet School Antwerpen is a professional ballet school with international charisma, witness of which are the many graduates who are member of important companies, the many foreign pupils who study at the school and the numerous international teachers and choreographers who pay the school a visit.
LOCATION AND INFRASTRUCTURE
The school is situated in the centre of Antwerp, near the main shopping street, the Meir and easily accessible by public transport (De Lijn and NMBS). The school accommodation is part of the Stadsschouwburg (in use since 1980). This building is used by 3 participants: K.B.A., Het Paleis and the Stadsschouwburg.
The school occupies parts of the building between the 1st and 11th floor. The official student entrance is at Maria Pijpelincxstraat 1, but via the service entrance at Meistraat 2 the school is also accessible. Here a doorkeeper is always present, keeping a close eye on whoever goes in and out. The school being dispersed over so many floors can make it sometimes hard to have a clear overview, but elevators make moving from one spot to another rather easy. Nevertheless during daytime students will use the staircase if not with the entire class.
For a long time now, the school is planning, after consulting the Governing Body to move to new buildings or to get a building expansion.