International ballet star to lead major education programme across West Midlands schools
World-renowned ballet educator and former prima ballerina Viviana Durante has joined a West Midlands arts education initiative to lead one of the most ambitious ballet education programmes for children in the UK.
Birmingham-based Transformation Partnership has appointed Durante as its new Artistic Director: Ballet, strengthening its mission to deliver high-quality cultural education to children and young people in disadvantaged communities.
The programme is being delivered in partnership with Solihull Chamber member Summit Learning Trust and is currently running across five of the Trust’s academies this year, providing bespoke arts education sessions to pupils in both primary and secondary schools.
Durante brings extensive international experience, having performed as a principal dancer with The Royal Ballet, American Ballet Theatre and Japan’s K-Ballet.
She has also held senior leadership roles, most recently as artistic director of the English National Ballet School, where she supported the development of emerging dancers from across the UK and overseas.
In her new role, she will oversee weekly ballet lessons for more than 850 children, while also shaping curriculum design, teaching approaches and performance opportunities across the Partnership’s growing network of schools and academy trusts.
The initiative aims to give children access to high-quality classical ballet training and performance experience rarely available in mainstream education, with a focus on creativity, discipline and confidence-building.
Durante said: “I’m honoured to be appointed Artistic Director: Ballet of Transformation Partnership’s ambitious programme to bring world-class arts education to communities where it can make a genuine difference,” she said.
“The arts have the power to enrich lives profoundly, and it is a privilege to inspire primary and secondary learners across the West Midlands to discover ballet and perform together.
“Ballet is a universal language of beauty and discipline, empowering children and young people through the transformative experience of shared expression.”
John Barneby, CEO of Oasis Community Learning, said: “We are incredibly proud to be working with Transformation Partnership.
“This is a fantastic opportunity which will open doors, raise aspirations, and ensure that children and young people, regardless of background, have access to world-class cultural education.”
Vince Green, CEO of Summit Learning Trust, said: “The appointment of Viviana Durante is amazing news for our school children involved in this project.
“For Summit learners to be able to work directly with an individual of this calibre is a unique opportunity.
We look forward to seeing our primary and secondary children perform at the culmination of their work with Viviana.”
Khadeem Duncan-Banerjee, founder and CEO of Transformation Partnership, said: “Every child deserves access to an exceptional cultural education.
“Viviana’s appointment is a defining moment in that mission. Her dedication to widening access will transform our ballet provision and open new possibilities for every child who walks into our classrooms and studios.”
