Sadler's Wells School correspondence

S/SWT/2/4/9

1931-1953

Correspondence relating to the Vic Wells Ballet School and Sadler’s Wells School. Some items relating to the school are included with the Sadler's Wells Ballet correspondence (see S/SWT/2/4/1).The school originated from the private ballet school set up by Ninette de Valois in 1926 – the Academy of Choregraphic (sic.) Art. In 1931, the school moved to Sadler’s Wells Theatre following its reopening and was managed as part of the theatre. It was named the Vic Wells Ballet School. A fundraising appeal was launched and its funds enabled the school to introduce scholarships for gifted students who were unable to afford the fees.Following the Second World War it was decided that the school would provide general education in addition to ballet training and the school (which was now known as the Sadler’s Wells School) moved to self-contained premises at Colet Gardens in west London. The school continued to be a part of Sadler’s Wells following this move and also after the Sadler’s Wells Ballet departed to Covent Garden. The school now began to receive a grant from the Arts Council (a guarantee against loss) and from Covent Garden, but Sadler’s Wells still managed the school and bore the brunt of the costs.

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