Principal

Ballet, modern & musical theatre – dance/movement 

Hannah began dancing at the age of 2…her teacher wouldn’t take her any younger! She went on to win many awards including a number of gold medals at the All England Dance National Finals, the Janet Cram Modern Awards, and the Imperial Ballet Awards. Hannah has danced on many of London’s big stages including the Collesium, Sadlers Wells, Her Majesty’s, The Royal Albert Hall and The Royal Opera House.

She danced with the National Youth Ballet for 7 seasons with 7 Blue Peter appearances and won the prestigious Bronze Statuette in her final season. Hannah was a Junior & Senior Associate of The Royal Ballet School and went on to train there full time at the Upper School. She received the highest examination certificates with the I.S.T.D. and Royal Academy of Dance and passed with the highest grades. She performed in Coppelia and The Nutcracker with the Royal Ballet at the Royal Opera House.

Hannah furthered her musical theatre training and gained her teaching qualifications in ballet and modern at Laine Theatre Arts, and went on to teach for three schools in Kent as well as ballet private coaching. Having met her ‘normal’ (not a dancer) now husband Tim and craving a ‘normal’ life, Hannah was lucky enough to fulfill her second passion – fashion! She spent a decade in the ‘big smoke’ pursuing a Buying career, climbing the ladder to manage her own team on the biggest department for the brand. Hannah absolutely loved this period of her life, however, she always knew one day she would return to the world of dance and having had her first baby in February 2018, 2019 seemed like the perfect time! Thus, Cygnets To Swans was born beginning only with baby & adult ballet.

In Summer 2022 Hannah was accepted to be one of only 30 teachers worldwide in the first cohort to train to become an affiliate of the Royal Ballet School’s brand new, ground-breaking ‘Affiliate Training & Assessment Programme’ for recreational dance schools. After rigorous training and assessment, Hannah was awarded full affiliate status of The Royal Ballet School in January 2023.

Qualifications:

  • Affiliate of The Royal Ballet School

  • A.I.S.T.D.

  • A.R.A.D.

  • National Diploma in Professional Dance

  • DBS CHECKED

  • First aid trained

  • CPD Certificate in Safeguarding Children Level 3

Hannah Risbridger