The Cecchetti Society Trust Background

The Cecchetti Society and The Cecchetti Society Trust were both created to perpetuate the unique work of Maestro Enrico Cecchetti. Generations of dancers and teachers are indebted to Cyril Beaumont and his foresight to recognise the importance of Cecchetti’s work and perpetuate it through the creation of these organisations. 2022 is the Centenary of the founding of The Cecchetti Society and the Trust will continue to work to develop the legacy of these two visionary men.

maestro ENRICO CECCHETTI & CYRIL BEAUMONT

Maestro Enrico Cecchetti (pronounced ‘checkétty’) was one of the greatest dancers and pedagogues of his time (1850-1928). His legacy, the Cecchetti Method is one of the great dance training methods of today and is taught around the globe. He learnt from the masters, assimilated, and applied the theories they taught. From his own experiences as a dancer and a teacher and from his associations with other dancers, artists, and musicians, he continued to learn, sharing his knowledge and wisdom throughout his long career.

Cyril Beaumont, a world-renowned dance historian and friend of Cecchetti recognised the need to record the method devised by the Maestro for future generations and with Stanislaw ldzikowski, recorded and published in 1922 The Manual of Theory and Practice of Classical Theatrical Dancing (Méthode Classique), now published as The Manual of the Theory & Practice of Classical Ballet, with further publications on Allegro enchainments and Pirouettes.

FORMATION OF The Cecchetti Society

From these beginnings, Beaumont felt it beneficial to bring together those dancers in London who had studied with Cecchetti and from this group was founded The Cecchetti Society in 1922, with Maestro Cecchetti as the first President. In 1924 the society was affiliated to the Imperial Society of Teachers of Dancing (ISTD), evolving to become the current Cecchetti Society Classical Ballet Faculty, ISTD. Further information can be found on the Imperial Society of Teachers of Dancing website Cecchetti Classical Ballet ISTD

Other Cecchetti Societies were subsequently established around the world and in 1997 Cecchetti International Classical Ballet (CICB) was founded to enable these societies to work together to maintain the legacy of Cecchetti. Further information about the CICB can be found on the website cicb.org

formation of the cecchetti society trust

Cyril Beaumont died in 1978 and left a large legacy that enabled the founding of the Cecchetti Society Trust in England. The purpose of the Trust is to advance the education of the public in the art of classical ballet and in particular that art as perpetuated by the Cecchetti Method to include the furtherance of the Cecchetti Method of Training, the holding of classes and courses in classical ballet, organising of conferences and seminars on teaching methods and the publication of educational literature on ballet. The Trust is a Registered Charity in England and Wales with articles of Governance and board of Trustees. Beaumont’s generous legacy has benefited generations of dancers and teachers.

the cecchetti society trust today

The Cecchetti Society Trust continues the benefit of Cyril Beaumont’s generous legacy through ongoing work and further information about the current Trust can be found in the website pages Trust Governance and Trustees & Patrons