Sarah-Maria Barton

Sara-Maria Barton ARAD AFHEA

Originally from San Diego, Genée International medallist, Sara-Maria, has had contracts with all of the major British ballet companies: The Royal Ballet, Birmingham Royal Ballet, English National Ballet and Scottish Ballet. She has also danced by invitation in the UK, Europe, USA and China. In 1997 she was awarded the RAD Solo Seal and became an Associate of the Royal Academy of Dance (ARAD) and in 2013 became an Associate Fellow of the Higher Education Academy (AFHEA).

Her film credits include “Rob Roy” with Liam Neeson and Jessica Lange, “Mrs Brown” with Billy Connolly and Judi Dench. She has appeared on numerous television programmes and has danced in MTV music videos. She has been featured in various magazines in the UK and USA, including Hello and Vanity Fair.

Sara-Maria was appointed Assistant Artistic Director of the Ballet West Scotland performing company in 2013, Creative Director in 2014, then Edinburgh Associate Programme Director in 2015. She has in excess of 20 years teaching experience and has been recognised for her expertise in, and commitment to teaching. She worked as a Classical Ballet Module leader and was actively involved in the delivery of the BA (hons) degree, HND and HNC courses at Ballet West from 2006-2015.

Now based in Glasgow, she continues to teach classical ballet privately and also freelances in a number of schools in Glasgow and Edinburgh, as well as in England and overseas. She works intensively with dancers on all aspects of technique, artistry and pointe and also provides coaching for prestigious competitions and RAD exams.

Sara-Maria is Head of Ballet at Dancepoint Glasgow and has been working on the development of a classical training programme within the school over the past two years, in addition to teaching weekly open classes.

In August 2017 she launched ‘Inspire Masterclasses’, a workshop style programme based in Glasgow which offers first class training with leading industry professionals.

She is thrilled to be joining the faculty at GAMTA and is very much looking forward to working with the talented and dedicated students of the school.