Amelia O’Hara

Amelia (she/her) is a passionate and experienced classical ballet teacher, and former professional dancer, who is committed to ensuring that the next generation of young people have the opportunity to experience the joy and transformational power of dance. She believes in creating positive and safe environments where young people can develop their artistic confidence, and advocates for wider access routes into the arts.

As a dancer, Amelia trained at The Royal Ballet School and Tring Park School for the Performing Arts, where she performed with The Royal Ballet Company and Northern Ballet Theatre. She went on to work and tour extensively with Scottish Ballet, Ballet Cymru, Peter Schaufuss Ballet Company and Ballet Ireland, as well as working with Arielle Smith, Drew McOnie, Jenna Lee and International Arts Collective for various productions worldwide. 

After her successful career as a dancer, Amelia undertook the Royal Ballet School’s Diploma of Dance Teaching and currently teaches for the Royal Ballet School’s Associate programme in Manchester, and for Birmingham Royal Ballet’s Dance Track department. She has also taught for multiple organisations such as; Ballet Boost, Ballet Ireland, ACE Dance and Music, English National Ballet’s Youth Co, Elite Ballet Project, Laine Theatre Arts, and as Movement Rehearsal Director at Mountview for Arielle Smith. 

Amelia first experienced NYB as a student, when she received a scholarship from Eve Pettinger MBE which enabled her to attend. This was where she met NYB’s wonderful founder, Jill Tookey CBE, who would later invite Amelia to work with them whilst on her breaks from performing. This opportunity allowed Amelia to explore and develop another side to her work, and over the years her roles and responsibilities at NYB have grown. In 2022 she became the Associate Artistic Director and she is honoured to now become the Artistic Director for the Residential Performance Company 2024/2025.

 

Photo (c) Tina Frances

Amelia O'Hara Artistic Director, Residential Performance Company 2025