Who's Involved

Everybody Ballet has a roster of current and former Royal Ballet dancers teaching for us, including current Royal Ballet Principal Character Artist, Bennet Gartside. We also have the opportunity to provide the chance for our students to take classes from guest teachers who are world class dancers associated with some of Europe's leading ballet companies. 


Everybody Ballet Teachers

Screen Shot 2018-02-26 at 19.10.18.png

Bennet Gartside

Bennet Gartside is a Principal Character Artist of The Royal Ballet and has performed with the company since 1995. His wide variety of roles with the Company have included Crown Prince Rudolf, Leontes, Prince Gremin, Widow Simone, Drosselmeyer, Hilarion, Tybalt, and Lescaut. Gartside has been the driving force behind Everybody Ballet since the summer of 2017 and in addition regularly teaches group and private classes.

head shot Leire.jpg

Leire Ortueta

Leire was born in Bilbao, Spain. She trained in Classical Ballet with Ion Beitia for 7 years and continued her dance education at The Royal Ballet upper school before joining the The Royal Ballet Company in 1990 where she danced for 12 years, as a soloist. In 2002 Leire joined George Piper Dance (The Ballet Boyz). Leire is a certified dance teacher (R.A.D. Professional Dancers Teaching Course) as well as a certified Pilates and Gyrotonic instructor.


Guest Teachers

Headshot - KJM1.jpg

Kristen McGarrity

Kristen McGarrity trained at the Royal Ballet school before joining the Birmingham Royal Ballet, where she danced most of the company's soloist and corp de ballet repertoire. Retiring early due to injury she completed a diploma in vocational training at the Royal Ballet School. Kristen has taught at the RBS, and performed the female lead in Christopher Wheeldon's hit Westend musical An American in Paris.

leanne.jpg

Leanne Cope

Leanne Cope is a former First Artist of The Royal Ballet. Her repertory with the Company included Clara (The Nutcracker), Princess Louise (Mayerling), pas de six (Giselle), White Cat and Red Riding Hood (The Sleeping Beauty). 
She retired from the Company in 2016 to create the role of Lise Dassin in Christopher Wheeldon’s award-winning An American in Paris.