Joan Weston, (Née Godden) a former dancer at the Paris Opera Ballet established The Weston Ballet School in 1939 when she retired from performing. She realised that her senior students needed performance opportunities and set up The Broomfield YMCA Ballet Company in 1947. In 1949 the Company gave a performance of Coppelia at the Shire Hall in Chelmsford, leading the Mayor to suggest its name be changed to the Chelmsford Ballet Company. A small committee met and the company came into being.
For many years they were very lucky to be able to rehearse in Duhy, a wonderful studio in the grounds of Sir Neil Sutherland’s property in Springfield Green. Sir Neil was Managing director of Marconi, his wife was Dona Naruna, a famous Brazilian dancer and choreographer. (a pioneer of Style Dance – choreography that combined ballet with rhythmic gymnastics and physical culture. In 1952 she represented Brazil at the United Nations Festival at the Royal Albert Hall) ). Dona Naruna instigated a move by the Company to approach the local council to sponsor an Arts Festival, and from 1959 onwards the festival became an annual event, following its inaugural week of performances in the Regent Theatre. The Chelmsford Ballet Company also performed at festivals and with the Association of Ballet Clubs. Its annual performances moved to the Civic Theatre in Chelmsford in 1962.
The connections that these formidable women, Joan Weston and Dona Naruna, brought to the company enabled many notable dancers and choreographers to work with the company. Stanislav Idzikovsky, Maryon Lane (also company president from 1976 to 1989) and Jennifer Pennifeather were amongst them. Joan was taught by Stanislav Idzikowsky, (former dancer with both Anna Pavlova’s company and the Ballet Russes), who in turn was taught by the great Enrico Cecchetti himself.
Amongst other distinguished guest choreographers for the company were Terence Etheridge, Jaakko Helkavaara, Sandra Madgwick, Carl Parriss and Christopher Marney.
Dame Beryl Grey was a patron of the Company for many years, followed by Doreen Wells (Lady Londonderry) and Christopher Marney.
When a corporate member scheme was introduced, the Weston school, the school created by Joan Weston, became its first corporate member.
The company had a very wide repertoire, including dance genres other than ballet. Specially commissioned pieces were created and performed, often for special anniversaries. Many former dancing members have gone on to have professional careers performing or teaching, crediting the company with giving them confidence and dance opportunities beyond those traditionally offered by dance school training and shows. The company depended on the enormous contribution of many volunteers; the wardrobe department created wonderful costumes whilst many others working behind the scenes enabled the creation of props, lighting, special effects and scenery that transformed the stage, elevating the performances to professional standards.
Artistic directors have included Joan Weston herself, Brighid Buchanan-Wollaston sister of Elizabeth Twistington-Higgins who taught dancers from her wheelchair, Maidie Russell, Alan Hartley-Smith, Elisabeth Swan and Gillian Toogood. After the last Artistic Director Annette Potter resigned in 2025 the committee of the company was unable to recruit a successor; the company has sadly been put into “dormancy”.
