A PROFESSIONAL ballet dancer who trained at London’s Royal Ballet School and has performed for the Queen at Covent Garden is opening a new dance school in Barnsley just nine weeks after giving birth.
Catherine Alba, who is also a prison officer, opens Alba Dance Academy later this month, and hopes to inspire Barnsley’s young dancers by drawing on her own experience.
Despite dancing since she was a young girl, Catherine decided on a change of career at 22, becoming a prison officer at HMP/YOI Wetherby young offenders’ institute. She will now juggle her job, teaching at the school and caring for her nine-week-old daughter, Belle.
“I left home at 13 to go to the Royal Ballet School, which is a boarding school, and stayed there until I was 16,” Catherine said. “Then I went to the English National Ballet School for a year, and then to Laine Theatre Arts.
“I’ve danced for the Queen at Covent Garden and at the Royal Variety Performance.
“I did a cruise ship for a while and wanted to move back home and do something different. A lot of friends have said they don’t know I’m a dancer, they just know me as a prison officer.
“But I knew I wanted to come back to dancing.”
Catherine, who grew up in Wakefield and now lives on Hunningley Close, Stairfoot, said she was optimistic about bringing ballet to Barnsley.
She added: “We didn’t know how many dancers there were in Barnsley. There’s a lot of good talent but some don’t know what they’re capable of, and that’s where I hopefully come in, to guide them towards what path to go down and what school to apply for.
“If they really want to do it, I think Barnsley has these opportunities. I know what I’m looking for.
“I have been there so I know what it’s like, and I know what my weaknesses were when I started and can help students overcome the same things.”
Catherine is completing her IDTA dance teaching qualification alongside teaching at the school.
While she has performed at a high level for most of her life, Catherine stressed that the opportunities are there for everyone who wants to put in the time and effort with her path a perfect example.
Catherine, 27, said: “It’s every little girl’s dream to do ballet, so I asked my mum if she’d take me to lessons. And I was really bad.
“My mum said it took her quite a lot of private lessons, a lot of hours and money, just for me to learn how to skip.
“But then I just progressed faster, I enjoyed it and I started winning competitions.
“Some kids will want to be professional dancers, but you’ve got to enjoy it first and from there you don’t know where it will take you.”
Alba Dance Academy will open on Monday October 15 with classes throughout the week.
People who are interested in the classes can contact Catherine on 07925472742.
