Leonard School of Dance is proud to announce that one of its long-standing students, Flora Hawker-French, has successfully secured a place at the prestigious Trinity Laban Conservatoire of Music and Dance in London. Flora will begin her BA (Hons) in Contemporary Dance this September.
Flora began her ballet training with Leonard School of Dance at the age of seven. Over the years, she has demonstrated exceptional dedication and talent, achieving Distinction in all her Royal Academy of Dance (RAD) Grades, Higher Grades, and Vocational ballet exams—including Advanced 1, a remarkable accomplishment given the high standards of the RAD.
In addition to her offer from Trinity Laban, Flora received offers from several other dance schools. However, after careful consideration, she felt Trinity Laban was the best fit to help her realise her long-term goals in contemporary dance.
“I am looking forward to continuing with my ballet training as part of the Contemporary Dance degree course, and I will be keeping in touch with Leonard School whenever I’m back home in Nottingham,” Flora said.
Leonard School of Dance was established 43 years ago by Helen Taylor, who built the school from just a handful of students into a thriving and respected ballet school, now home to over 300 pupils. Over the decades, Helen Taylor has entered thousands of students for their RAD ballet exams, with consistently high results—a testament to the school’s enduring commitment to excellence.
In September 2024, Helen Taylor officially retired, marking the end of an extraordinary era. Her departure was met with great sadness by students, parents, and colleagues, as she has been an inspirational figure throughout her career. Mrs Taylor will be greatly missed, and the school wishes her every happiness in her well-deserved retirement.
Taking over the role of Principal is Michelle Widdison, who has taught at Leonard School of Dance for the past 20 years and is dedicated to continuing the school’s tradition of excellence.
The school’s most recent exam results reflect this commitment, with a 100% pass rate with students achieving High Merit and above—an outstanding achievement by both students and staff.
To enrol in a class or for further information, please contact the school at: [email protected]
Leonard School of Dance Ltd is registered with the Royal Academy of Dance and offers highly qualified tuition from Pre-Primary to Advanced levels.