Susan Lucas
Associate Lecturer Ballet
Early Training & Education
Susan's early classical ballet training began with Gillian Dawson, studying Cecchetti Classical Ballet. Subsequently, she won the Cyril Beaumont Scholarship to the Royal Ballet School (RBS).
Professional Dancing Career
Susan graduated to Sadler's Wells Royal Ballet (SWRB) following the RBS annual matinee performance dancing the role of Swanilda. During her career with SWRB, which relocated to become Birmingham Royal Ballet (BRB), Susan worked her way through the company ranks. Additionally, she danced numerous Corps de Ballet, Soloist and Principal roles.
With BRB, Susan performed principal roles including Sugar Plum Fairy (Nutcracker), Aurora and Enchanted Princess (Sleeping Beauty), and Giselle (title role). Furthermore, her roles included Lise (La Fille mal Gardee), Swanhilda (Coppelia), Titania (The Dream), the Ballerina (Petrushka), Pineapple Poll, Symphonic Variations and the White Girl (Two Pigeons). Moreover, she created roles in works by Kenneth Macmillan, Peter Wright, Lynne Seymour, David Bintley and Michael Corder.
Teaching Qualifications
Following retirement from the stage, Susan continued her lifelong passion for ballet. Additionally, she trained as a teacher at the Royal Ballet School, passing the Professional Dancer's Teacher's Diploma with Distinction. Furthermore, she holds a Licentiate teacher qualification with the Imperial Society of Teachers of Dancing as a member of the Cecchetti Society. Susan also has a qualification in Pilates.
Current Teaching
Currently freelance, Susan has an ever expanding private practice coaching students of all ages. Additionally, she teaches for the Royal Ballet School Senior Associate Programme and for the Cecchetti society. Furthermore, her work includes Ballet Boost London, TNA Academy, Marylebone Ballet (Vacani) and Demi Moore School of Dancing.
Recently, Susan taught a British Ballet course webinar in Tokyo. Moreover, she participated in an online discussion about critical teaching points with leading classical ballet teachers from Australia, Germany, Italy and the Philippines. Susan joined the Birmingham Campus Ballet faculty of Performers College in September 2021.
Previous Teaching Experience
For many years at Elmhurst Ballet School Birmingham, Susan worked as a Principal ballet tutor. Additionally, she taught general technique, pointe, repertoire, solos, and pas de deux. Furthermore, Susan co-developed and led the Cecchetti programme at the school.
Other teaching work includes BRB company and Education department, White Lodge (Royal Ballet School, Lower), and Tring Park School for the Performing Arts. Moreover, she has taught at Birmingham DanceXchange, West Midlands Youth Ballet, Solihull Ballet School, Kokuma Dance Company, Bare Bones, Wolverhampton University, Coventry University and Birmingham University.
Susan has judged ballet competitions for the Cecchetti Society, the ISTD and the Royal Academy of Dancing in London and the West Midlands. Additionally, she served as a board member of DanceXchange Birmingham for twelve years.
