The Worthing ballet school for aspiring Billy Elliots

Frustrated with the lack of boys only ballet schools in Sussex, two mums decided to take matters into their own hands by starting their own.

The aim of the Boys Ballet Academy in Worthing is to provide a fully inclusive, supportive and enjoyable setting for boys who love to dance and for those who take part in sports.

The two women behind the school are Lea Smith, mum to two boys, and Claire Jones, who has four boys.

“I was frustrated that there weren’t opportunities down here for my sons to dance,” reveals Lea, the academy’s business manager.

“I was talking to Claire about it and we started talking about the concept.”

At this time Claire was taking her second eldest son Ellis from Rustington to a boys only ballet school in London every weekend.

“I would travel to London for my son to attend an all male ballet school and found people from Newcastle and the Isle of Wight were travelling there as well so I could see there was a need for a boys only dance school,” explains operations director Claire.

“I worked as a secretary at the school as I was there while my son danced and worked my way up to operations manager over the four years he attended.”

The classes in Sussex are aimed at those aged four to 16.

“In mixed classes boys can be put off by the tutus and all the pink while playing fairies,” says Lea.

“In the classes we run they can be superheroes or soldiers, we just want it to be more neutral and less feminine.”

Claire adds: “It isn’t about separating boys and girls as they will dance with each other eventually but it is giving boys a space where they can learn the moves they need.