International Ballet Intensives (IBI) is fast becoming a go-to training ground for the next generation of dancers. Founded by Monique Aaliyah, IBI connects young talent with world-class artists in programs that go beyond technique, focusing on artistry, mindset, and career pathways. From London to Dubai, IBI is building a global network that inspires and equips dancers for the professional stage. We sat down with Aaliyah – and guest teachers Ashley Shaw (of Matthew Bourne’s New Adventures) and Lukas B. Brændsrød (First Soloist, The Royal Ballet – to talk vision, philosophy, and the joy of working with the dancers of tomorrow.
How was IBI founded, and why the focus on young dancers?
Monique Aaliyah
“IBI was founded with a clear mission: to inspire, provide the highest quality dance training, and connect talented young dancers to further opportunities. The idea grew from seeing how many gifted students had the drive and potential, but needed a bridge between their local studio and the professional world without the need to sign up to long-term commitment associate programs, which can often be difficult for families to access. By focusing on young dancers, we can nurture technique, artistry, and mindset at the stage when habits are formed and confidence is built – setting them up not only for auditions and scholarships, but for a long, healthy, and fulfilling career.”
What teaching philosophies guide your guest teacher selection and programming?
Aaliyah
“We shape our programs around the ‘whole dancer.’ This means combining strong technical foundations with artistry, conditioning, injury-prevention, and mindset training. Every guest teacher we invite is chosen for both their excellence, and their ability to mentor, inspire, and share their knowledge openly with students. Programming is carefully structured, so each class builds on the last – students don’t just take isolated workshops, but experience a cohesive training journey.”
How do your guest artists’ styles complement one another?
Aaliyah
“We have been blessed to have so many great artists join us over the past year, with many more exciting events to come. Our guest artists represent different but equally vital dimensions of professional dance. For example, Anna Rose O’Sullivan (Principal Dancer of The Royal Ballet) brings the precision and elegance of The Royal Ballet’s classical tradition, refining musicality and épaulement. Ashley Shaw (Principal Dancer, Matthew Bourne’s New Adventures) adds depth through theatrical storytelling and grounded contemporary movement, encouraging students to embody character as well as technique. Lukas B. Brændsrød (first soloist of The Royal Ballet) contributes virtuosity, buoyancy, and musical clarity, while also offering pas de deux masterclasses that give students invaluable early experience in partnering. Together, their diverse strengths encourage dancers to adapt, experiment, and expand their artistic voices, preparing them for the multifaceted demands of today’s dance world, we also value the importance of having that studio connection we believe it is important to dancers – to see these artists they see on stage up close in the studio.”
How are events like ‘Back to the Studio’ at Sadler’s Wells structured to nurture technique, artistry and mindset?
“We design these events to create balance: technique to strengthen foundations, repertoire to cultivate artistry, conditioning to sustain safe practice, and mindset training to unlock performance confidence. By rotating age groups through these different focuses, students experience a complete training cycle. The structure is purposeful — what is learned at the barre is applied in repertoire, and what is practiced in mindset is tested in performance moments. This way, every dancer leaves with both immediate takeaways and long-term tools they can bring back to their home studios. We are excited for this to become an annual event with the second year in row being a sold-out event. This year, the event was lead by Bethany Kingsley-Garner (Former Principal of Scottish Ballet) and Meaghan Grace Hinkis (First Soloist, The Royal Ballet) with the support our lovely Patron Mrs Ramsden, along with our friends at the Ballet Boutique London, we were also able to offer two Cash Scholarships to help dancers with their ‘Back to the Studio’ needs.”
What’s next for IBI?
Aaliyah
“We are excited to be expanding our reach beyond London and the UK. We are very excited to have Paul Kay, Head of Intensives and Talent Identification at The Royal Ballet School and former soloist of The Royal Ballet, joining us for our January Masterclass Series in Dubai. We are also in the planning of upcoming masterclasses and intensives in Europe, Asia, and Australia. Alongside this, we are continuing to grow our scholarship offerings, referral pathways to vocational schools and innovative program formats such as smaller coaching labs and residencies. The vision is an international network where young dancers can be inspired, trained, and connected to opportunities across the globe – wherever their talent may take them.
Our next London event will be held on the 9th of November for our younger dancers, led by Yasmine Naghdi (Principal Dancer of The Royal Ballet), and for our senior group a Pas de Deux Masterclass led by Australian dancers Amelia Townsend and Harry Churches of The Royal Ballet. You can find all our upcoming Masterclasses on our website.”
When working with the young dancers at IBI, what do you try to emphasize most in the studio?
Ashley Shaw
“I like to emphasize musicality and performance. Most of the kids come from excellent schools and already have great technique. Of course, that can always be improved, but in these shorter sessions, I love to push them to use their face and emotions…and the music informs this.”
Lukas B. Brændsrød
“The times I’ve come to teach for IBI, I’m seeing a lot of people for the first time, so I try to focus on energy and the joy of dancing with music, which luckily has been with a live pianist. I think building a connection with rhythm and movement is the most fundamental step for any dance form.”
How do you balance technical precision with nurturing individuality and artistry?
Shaw
“Precision and technique are the foundation of every great dancer. It’s important that we nurture and emphasise the importance of that. Once that is in place, it’s easier to layer on that uniqueness and artistry. I like to create a safe space where students can explore their performance style without feeling silly or embarrassed. Just like technique performing, acting, emoting requires practice. The sooner I can get them feeling comfortable and confident to express their individuality, the better!”
Brændsrød
“I think artistry lies in technical ability. How much pressure do you put into your leg pushing off the floor, how far can you stretch your line, how much care do you put into your landings or how precise are your accents and positions. Challenging these things are both technical and artistic at the same time.”
How should students make the most of an intensive like this — both in and out of the studio?
Shaw
“Students should soak up all aspects of these amazing intensives. Dancing with and learning from some of the most talented and experienced people in the business (IBI has an incredible list of guest teachers!) is something to cherish. Students should learn everything they possibly can from them! Try new things, push beyond their comfort zone and ask all the questions. And beyond all that, they just get to have fun and bond with other like-minded, ambitious young dancers who they might one day share the stage with.”
Brændsrød
“Come in with an open mind, ready to try something new and look around and see what you can learn from other people you don’t usually train with.”
What do you hope students take away from your classes?
Shaw
“I hope my students take away a sense of joy and confidence. And that they find a true love for dance during our time together. I like to pick really fun but challenging repertoire. There’s such a sense of achievement when they manage to get it. I tend to work fast, and try to mimic the daily experience of the professional world to prepare and inspire them.”
Brændsrød
“Hopefully some inspiration and some joy of what we do! Especially for partnering, the fact that there is fun in working together is actually quite crucial. In a career as a dancer, it’s rarely a solo mission. It’s always collaborative, whether it’s with your partner or an orchestra or your coach. So, I hope to make that part something that the students enjoy.”
Have you had a standout or surprising moment while teaching at IBI so far?
Brændsrød
“No one in particular, but the moments that stand out are of course the moments of little breakthroughs. When someone discovers a way to make a step or a move work for the first time and the visible satisfaction that brings. Teaching these classes have definitely sparked a joy of teaching in me.”
For more information on International Ballet Intensives, visit internationalballetintensives.com.
By Linda Badger of Dance Informa.
