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Sefton Clarke

@seftonclarke

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Spent the last three days with Sefton Clarke, S&C Coach at Dutch National Ballet, deepening our conversations around dancer assessment, jump testing, programme design, and conditioning for dancers working within a company.

Thank you so much, Sefton, for your time and for sharing your approach to this work with me.

There are things you simply cannot learn from books, and I’m really grateful I had the opportunity to come here, observe, ask questions, and learn from your experience.

Thank you! 🙏

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so grateful for this unforgettable experience🤍

my time at the Dutch National Ballet Academy Summer Intensive has inspired me beyond words. i’m incredibly grateful to @denationaleballetacademie for this opportunity to learn from exceptional teachers, dance alongside talented dancers from around the world, and continue growing in the art form i love most

I’m leaving with so many amazing memories, new friendships, and so much inspiration to take with me

thank you to everyone who made this experience so special. i’ll cherish these memories forever🩰

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Amsterdam International Summer School 2026 💗🌷

Thank you @denationaleballetacademie for having me this year in the Senior Summer School program! I am so grateful to have learned from so many inspiring teachers from around the world over the past two weeks. I will cherish this experience so deeply, along with all of the memories and friendships that came with it!
Thank you @schoolofcadenceballet for always supporting me!!! 💞

#aiss26 #dutchnationalballetacademy #ballet #amsterdam #scbdancers

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These past two weeks in Amsterdam flew by so quickly!🌷🇳🇱
It has been such a pleasure to be taught by so many great teachers and I have learnt so many new things!
#ballet #dutchnationalballetacademy #dutchnationalsummerintensive #amsterdam🇳🇱

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End of the summer intensive at @denationaleballetacademie ✨
I really want to thank @dario.elia.nba and @denationaleballetacademie for giving me the opportunity to learn and improve during these two amazing weeks !💗
I also want to thank all these wonderful teachers @myrnakamara , Ana Jojic Begovic , @walter.madau , @seftonclarke , @rutkay.o , @bexybg and Alessandra Pasquali who were so motivating and caring.. 💖
I’ve met such incredible people who I’m really gonna miss!!🥲❤️
Thank you for all the memories.. love u Amsterdam🌷

📷 @yrene_ballerina ❤️❤️
🧠 @dbabrainschool

@danseacademievevey 🩵

#summerintensive
#dutchnationalballet
#blochstoreparis

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Thank you @denationaleballetacademie for the amazing summerschool☀️❤️ Thank you to @dario.elia.nba @janedl79 @didyveldman @seftonclarke @walter.madau for the amazing lessons ❤️ I’m really looking forward to next school year and dancing in NBA 5❤️🩰 @denationaleballetacademie #ballet #dance #pointe #summerschool #nba

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season 25-26. so many beautiful moments on stage and in the studio; learning, growing. I’m also learning that life will never be the way you planned, that disappointment can hit you out of nowhere and force you to step back for a while. Injuries are a part of our careers, but that doesn’t mean they get easier each time.
It has been a challenging end to the season, managing this injury and a 2 week violent stomach flu all at once. Now that the storm is passing, I’m looking forward to next season & being healthy again so I can twirl & jump around on stage 💪🏻

1. shade variation in La Bayadère by @r.beaujean
2. absolute joy in this variation
3. 5 Tangos by master HVM in NYC
4. revisiting 7e Syphonie in a new role
5. Paquita pd3
6. stage rehearsals
7. dancing alongside this star was very special ✨
8. forever friend
9. a little Jampé lead
10. R&J
11. cracking nuts in lead flowers
12. unexpected hospital visits
13. these guys keeping me strong while in a cast
14. back in the studio

All stage photos : Nationale Opera & Ballet | ©️Altin Kaftira

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My time at the @denationaleballetacademie summer intensive has come to an end 🇳🇱
I’ve had the absolute best two weeks and loved every single second!
Thank you so much @dario.elia.nba for this incredible opportunity 🙏🏻
And a huge thank you to all the teachers for their corrections and support. I learned so much from each of you and truly enjoyed every lesson! ❤️ @walter.madau @myrnakamara @j_ryancarroll @rutkay.o @seftonclarke @bexybg

Thank you once again to everyone who made these weeks so special!🫶🏻

@accademia_danza_milano 🙏🏻💕

#dutchnationalballet #nationaleballetacademie

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I had a wonderful time teaching for our school’s Amsterdam International Summer School - Senior Course. Teaching alongside this beautiful group of humans and remarkable educators was so wonderfully fun. This combined with the stellar group of young artists in attendance made this a beautiful time. How inspiring! 🙏🏻🌈❤️🤩

Thank you dearest musical artists for your transformative collaboration! 🙏🏻❤️🌈🤩

And thank you dear Dario for asking me to join the summer school this year! 🙏🏻🌈🌸

@denationaleballetacademie
@dario.elia.nba
@anna5tsygankova
@rutkay.o
@janedl79
@myrnakamara
#anajocic
@walter.madau
@seftonclarke
#alessandrapasquali
@didyveldman
@bexybg
@minnnjung_
@seentunglee
#rexlobo
#craigedwards

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The End of season 2025/26❤️

The season didn’t go the way I imagined. But I wouldn’t change it.

Injuries are scary — we tend to see them as setbacks, as an end. This one taught me otherwise. The time off gave me space to do the mental and physical work, to think about who I want to be as a dancer. After a long rehab, I had the privilege of closing out the season on stage, at the final gala — and I know I’ll be coming back next season stronger, sharper, and more sure of myself than I’ve ever been. I don’t think I’d say that without having gone through this.

Endless thanks to the theater’s health team @nob__healthandwellness for getting me back on my feet, to @leilaspilates for teaching me to have a deeper connection with my body and movement, and to @seftonclarke for making me a stronger dancer and helping me achieve goals in the gym and with my body I never imagined possible — I can honestly say I enjoy strength training now — and to Judy for helping me find my way back into class, showing me new ways to explore and work differently, and better, in the studio.

And to my family, friends, and colleagues — the support this year was unreal. Every message and comment kept me going. Grateful to be exactly where I am, with exactly the right people around me.

Now, some well-deserved rest — and then back stronger for what’s next❤️💪🏼✨

#recovery #stronger #comebackbetter

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The Comeback…it’s been quite a journey and it’s still not over

The last 6 months have been eye opening. As a dancer you are sometimes made to feel superhuman and like your body is invincible. But at the end of the day we are still human. We have one body and have to take the most care.

This journey has been humbling and difficult. I am constantly learning what the right balance is and I am so thankful to be surrounded by so many incredible people who have helped guide me on this journey. I cannot thank all of you enough, your patience, dedication, and love have allowed me to get to this moment.

I am reminded that I am very lucky to be able to do what I love. I am excited to see what the future holds and continue the work to stay healthy, strong, and mindful. But for now still continuing to process the last couple months ✨

Nationale Opera & Ballet | © Altin Kaftira

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