MICHAEL RAYNAUD

Michael Raynaud was born in Antony, near Paris. He started dancing at the age of 7 locally in the south of France before beginning his formal training at The Paris Opera Ballet School under Claude Bessy at the age of 10 for six years. Whilst at the School, Michael performed all over the world touring to Japan, New York, Greece and around France. Michael went on to train at the National Conservatoire in Paris, where he gained his Arts Baccalauréat and Unités de Valeurs in anatomy, ballet history and musicality.

 

On completing his training Michael joined the English National Ballet for their worldwide tour of Swan Lake. He then became a permanent member of the company, performing many roles in the companyʼs repertoire, from Rudolph Nureyevʼs Romeo and Juliet to Derek Deaneʼs Swan Lake and Michael Corderʼs Cinderella. His favourite ballets to perform are Harald Landerʼs Etudes and Kenneth Macmillanʼs Rite of Spring.

 

Michael has taught ballet classes to students of all ages and helped ice skaters with their choreography for international competitions. He was Associate Tutor for Ballet Studies at the Guildford School of Acting at Surrey University and ballet teacher at the London Boys Ballet School,  Junior/Senior ballet teacher at Arts Educational School,  as well as teaching the Professional Dance Experience course in Leeds, and London Studio Centre.

 

He is now a member of the faculty at The School of Ballet Theatre UK and also works with its parent company regularly. Most recently, and upon graduating and receiving the Royal Academy of Dance (RAD) Professional Dancers Teaching Diploma; Michael was invited to teach workshops and summer schools at the RAD Headquarters in Battersea as well as in Fondo. He was also a guest teacher in Italy , Germany , Sweden and a judge in ballet competitions for Italyʼs Trofeo IoBallo , Japan MIE , São Paulo Pridansp and Singaporeʼs Masterpiece IBC. He will be returning to New Zealand for DanceMasters International series of workshops and classes in the near future.