Profiles

Daniel Mulligan - pupil from 1991 to 1999. Daniel was also accepted as a Junior Associate of the Royal Ballet School in 1996 aged 8 and attended on Saturday mornings. Whilst a JA and throughout his time at the Royal Ballet School, he was involved in many productions with the Royal Ballet and Birmingham Royal Ballet Companies, including playing Fritz in the Nutcracker with the Birmingham Royal Ballet. He attained 94%, Distinction, in his RAD Advanced 1 Ballet Exam in February 2004. In March 2004, he was a finalist in the Young British Dancer of the year and in April of the same year received a Commendation in the Phyllis Bedells Bursary. He was again a finalist in the Young British Dancer of the Year in March 2005 when he danced solos from La Sylphide, (James), and the Paquita Pas de Trois.
In September 2006, after achieving distinction in the RAD Advanced 2 examination, Daniel competed in the Genee Awards - a prestigious annual ballet competition, which was held in Hong Kong. He reached the final twelve - one of only two British entrants to do so - and he received some very encouraging comments about his performances.
Daniel was accepted for the Zurich Ballet - one of the world's top ballet companies - and started a contract there in August 2007. He has since toured in Germany, Austria, Italy, Egypt, Shanghai, Thailand and Singapore and he is thoroughly enjoying his first professional engagement. Daniel has been offered a contract three ranks higher in the company - 'gruppe mit solo' from August 2009.

Liam Mulligan - pupil from 1994 to 2003 and 2005 to present. Liam was also accepted as a Junior Associate of the Royal Ballet School in 2001 aged 9 and attended on Saturday mornings. While at JA's he played an Attendant in Romeo and Juliet, an evil dwarf and page in Swan Lake both for the Royal Ballet. In 2003 aged 11, he was accepted at Elmhurst School for Dance (in association with the Birmingham Royal Ballet) but found that the boarding school environment was not for him, so he auditioned successfully for the Mid Associates of the Royal Ballet School.
Liam's interest currently lies more in tap dance and so he is concentrating more on that.

Caroline Doolin - pupil from 1991 to 2001. Caroline
was accepted for the Urdang Academy in 2001 aged
16 and graduated with her teaching qualifications in 2004. She then taught dance and singing at Variations from 2004 to 2007.

Renata Carvalho and Amanda Pegrum were both accepted for a three year performing arts course at The Centre in South East London and started there in September 2006. They joined the dance teaching staff at Variations in January 2008. Renata was offered a contract as a dancer on a cruise ship and began this new challenge on March 1st 2009. Amanda bid farewell to Variations in August 09 to embark on a Bollywood dance career.

Imogen Bailey, (age 10), having completed her run in Billy Elliot - the musical', successfully auditioned for The Lion King at the Lyceum in the West End. She was also accepted on a half scholarship for the Sylvia Young Theatre School in Marylebone and started there in September 06. Imogen returned to classes at Variations in September 09 to work for her dance exams.

Scarlett Hepting - pupil from 1993 to 1997. Scarlett was accepted at the Royal Ballet Lower School aged 11 and went on to further training at Elmhurst School and the Central School of Ballet.

Dinah Berger - current pupil.
Dinah was accepted for the
Central School of Ballet's pre-16 associate course. She was then accepted for the Hammond School, Chester and given an aided place for entry in September 2007, but unfortunately, injury prevented her from starting there, so for the time-being, she remains at Variations.

Sasha Magnus appeared in the London Chidren's Ballet performance of The Scarlet Pimpernel for a week in May 06. She also successfully auditioned for the Central School of Ballet's pre-16 Associate course and has transferred her Saturday training from London Junior Ballet to Central. Sasha also attended the Royal Ballet School summer course two years running. In November 2006, she successfully auditioned for Elmhurst School for Dance in association with the Birmingham Royal Ballet. The director was so impressed with her that they asked her to join in January 2007 rather than waiting for the new academic year in September.

Eloise Passey was also accepted for the London Junior Ballet in September 2005 (aged 9). She was accepted for entry in September 2007 for Central School of Ballet's pre-16 Associate programme and has transferred her Saturday training from London Junior Ballet to Central. Eloise continues to attend classes at Variations during the week.

Ele Carruthers - Ele successfully auditioned for the Urdang Academy and began a three year Musical Theatre Diploma course there in September 2007.

Mariama Cisse - Mariama was accepted for London Junior Ballet and commenced Saturday classes there in September 2007, whilst continuing to dance at Variations during the week.

Charlie Ames has been accepted as an associate at the 'The Centre' performing arts school, which will supplement his training at 'Variations'. He has also been cast in the lead role in 'Oliver!' at the Kenneth More Theatre in July 08. 2008 to 2009 has been a very successful year for Charlie, who firstly appeared in 'Joseph' and went on to successfully audition for 'Oliver!', both in the West End.