Our Story
About Us
We are a ballet school based in the heart of the Korean community in New Malden. We have been running for over 10 years and specialise in children and adults of all ages.
Ballet is where artistry and athleticism meet, and this theme carries through all classes taught at Shine Ballet School. Students receive the type of training that turns them not just into successful dancers, but accomplished human beings, prepared to achieve whatever they set their minds to. Our teachers have great experiences and top notch qualifications that allow students to have a great time here at the Shine Ballet School.
Meet the team :
Heayeon Lee
Principal Teacher
Originally from South Korea, Heayeon is a highly qualified ballet dancer and teacher. Starting ballet at the age of 9, she continued to pursue her ballet journey gaining an undergraduate and postgraduate degree in ballet. As a ballet dancer she starred as Odette/Odee from Swan Lake, Sugar Plum Fairy in the Nutcracker and more at the Korean National Ballet before leaving to achieve a PDTD (Professional Dancers Teaching Diploma) at the Royal Academy of Dance in England. Since then, she has founded the Shine Ballet School and has been teaching children for over 15 years.
Larisa Kovacevic
Ballet Teacher
Larisa is a classically trained ballet dancer and teacher with an international background. She trained at the State Ballet Academy of the Romanian Opera and later completed an eight-year teacher training programme at the Vaganova Academy. She has performed across Europe and participated in international ballet competitions, including Varna, Moscow, and Lyon. Larisa has taught in Italy and the UK, working with both children and adults. While rooted in the Vaganova method, she is experienced in adapting her teaching to RAD, French, and Cecchetti systems. She focuses on developing strong technique, musicality, and confidence in her students.
Heejin Lee
Ballet and Contemporary Teacher
Heejin started ballet at the age of 5 in London and began her training at the Royal Ballet School. From an early age, she played notable soloists roles including Le Corsaire, La Bayadère, La fille mal gardée and the Blue Bird from Sleeping Beauty. She trained competitively, competing at the Russian Ballet Awards 2019 and won 1st place in both Take the Stage 2021 and the Magnetar Competition 2020. Now, she is currently training at Trinity Laban Conservatoire of Music and Dance for her BA(Hons) degree in Contemporary Dance to broaden her range of style and technique as a dancer.
Heeyoung Lee
Ballet Teacher
Originally from London, her training journey began at The Royal Ballet School, followed by her time at the Young Dancers Academy. She also gained extensive experience through intensive training with the English National Ballet and Central School of Ballet, and later advanced her skills in Russia. Throughout her early career, she performed a variety of notable soloist roles, including Raymonda, Odette from Swan Lake, and the Sugar Plum Fairy from The Sleeping Beauty. Heeyoung gained a Disinction on her ballet teaching course and is a full member of the Association of Russian Ballet and Theatre Arts in the UK.
Narangi Badlueva
Guest Teacher
Originally from Russia, Narangi is a professionally trained ballet dancer and teacher, and holds a degree in Ballet Choreography from a prestigious Russian Academy of Dramatic Arts - GITIS. During her dancing career, she performed in productions of The Nutcracker, The Sleeping Beauty, The Swan Lake and others. In London Narangi taught at West Wimbledon Dance Academy, Natalia Kremen Ballet School in Kensington, as well as privately.