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Welcome
To our site
Our Story
Ballet Soul was born from a simple but powerful, that ballet shoulkd belong to everyone.After an international careerPerforming with some of Europe's leading ballet companies, Artistic Director /Choreography Ben Love reurned with a question that had stayed with him throughout his journey. Why are so many African folk stories, cultures, and communities still absent from the ballet stage..
About Us
"Honourring African heritage through the timeless language of ballet"
"The body remembers what the heart cannot always speak".
Learn, Grow,
Create, and Dance
"We believe ballet should reflect the richness of the communities it serves, where every dancer can see themselves in the art form."
"Trickster "
Spirits - Scene
Kenya National Theatre
our creative team
Xeniya Shalimova - Creative Director
Xeniya was born in Riga Latvia and got her first modelling gig for Londacolour at the age of 14. At 15 she won a local beauty contest and became the face of Gshock Baby G watch. At the same time she took classical vocal classes and joined a youth theatre group. At the age of 19 she came to London and joined modelling agencies Perfect Management and Zone models. She took private vocal and dance classes and went on to complete a foundation course in Vocal Performance at ICMP. Later on she worked as a booker and eventually returned to freelance modelling. Previously she has put together a fashion show, created conceptual shoots, performed in independent short art movie projects, reality shows, staged performances as well as managing events. Xeniya is a visionary person who loves working and developing talent.
Julian Joseph - Composer & Creative Partner
Acclaimed as one of the finest jazz musicians to emerge this side of the Atlantic, Julian Joseph has devoted his long career to championing the music across the British Isles and into the far corners of the globe. He has forged a reputation beyond his formidable skills as a composer and performer, and is universally recognised as a highly knowledgable and engaging broadcaster, musical ambassador and cultural advocate. His charitable work and generous skills as an educator have made a major contribution to Britain’s cultural landscape and heritage. He is a greatly admired and respected figure in British Jazz, celebrated for his service to others and for sharing all the benefits of his life in music to inspire the musicians of the future. Julian shares his unique insights into the philosophy and practice of jazz performance in his recent book, Music of Initiative.
For more information about Julian please click here
James Joseph - Producer
For more information about James please click here
Ben Socrates - Company Pianist
Ben Socrates is a classically trained pianist whose interests have taken him from the concert hall to the field of dance accompaniment, with forays into contemporary improvisation, jazz and electronics.
Ben read music at The University of Chichester in 2007 before being accepted on to the Masters programme at Trinity Laban Conservatoire, with a scholarship from the TCM Trust. Winning numerous prizes for solo and concerto performance, song accompaniment and contemporary composition, he went on to perform recitals throughout the UK, in Spain, Portugal and France. Later Ben would perform as a classical artist on cruise ships around the world.
Ben’s interest in improvisation and collaboration have led to his involvement in a number of innovative projects. This has included work with both emerging and established composers, theatre, ballet and contemporary dance companies, installation artists and musicians from an array of disciplines. Currently Ben accompanies numerous ballet companies, masterclasses, workshops and vocational dance schools.