BALLET
FRIDAY · AAKASH · SHIRLEY DE MUER
Classical ballet for adults — building strength, posture, and a technique that lifts everything else you dance.
What is Ballet?
Adult ballet at Shoonya is about building a solid technical foundation — alignment, musicality, and expressiveness — with encouragement at every level. Shirley focuses on developing strength, posture, and a love of movement rather than pre-professional pressure. Whether you are stepping into a studio for the first time or returning after years away, she guides every student with patience and personal attention.
Read full bio ▸
During her final year at the Royal Ballet School, Shirley had the unique opportunity to apprentice with the Ballet of Flanders, where she participated in productions like Romeo & Juliet and Beyond the Tutu. This professional experience honed her artistic vision and provided her with a deeper understanding of the demands of a ballet career.
As a teacher, Shirley strives to instill not only technical proficiency but also a deep passion for dance in her students. Her teaching approach is both challenging and nurturing, focusing on developing a solid technical foundation, musicality, and expressiveness. Whether she's working with beginners or advanced dancers, Shirley is dedicated to helping each student reach their full potential while fostering a lifelong love for the art of dance.
Levels & registration
About this level
Foundations ballet programme for complete beginners or anyone wanting to build a strong classical foundation. This class focuses entirely on barre work and introduces the essential building blocks of ballet: posture, alignment, positions of the feet and arms, coordination and basic technique. You will learn at a steady pace in a supportive environment. No previous ballet experience is required.
About this level
Beginner / Intermediate programme designed for dancers with some prior ballet experience who already know the basic positions and posture of classical ballet. While classes still focus largely on barre technique, students will begin moving away from the barre to explore au milieu work, simple turns, short combinations, jumps, and musicality. Generally suited for dancers with approximately 1–3 years of experience, though placement also depends on individual technique and confidence.
About this level
Intermediate / Advanced programme for experienced dancers with a strong technical foundation who enjoy being challenged artistically and physically. Classes include full barre and centre work with more advanced combinations, turns, jumps, coordination, strength, and performance quality. Recommended for dancers with 6+ years of ballet training or equivalent technical level.
16 sessions · Sep–Jan · see all dates
Spring 2026 classes still running — view the spring schedule →
Practical
What to wear
Comfortable, form-fitting dancewear. Appropriate dance shoes or socks.
What to bring
Comfortable, form-fitting dancewear • Ballet shoes or socks (no street shoes in the studio) • A bottle of water
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