Rania Leontiou
dance artist | choreographer | ballet teacher |
pilates instructor
About
Rania is Greek-Cypriot, London-based freelance artist and Pilates teacher.
Always a mover, Rania graduated from the Royal Academy of Dance with a Batchelor of Arts degree in Ballet Education (First Class Honours). Her need to explore movement and find her own choreographic voice, led her to further her studies at Roehampton University, where she obtained a Masters degree in Performance and Creative Research.
Rania was introduced to Pilates as a form of body conditioning for ballet, later on for rehabilitation from an injury. She chose to follow a career as a Pilates instructor, to share the passion she developed for Pilates. After she qualified with BASI (Body Arts and Science International) Mat Teacher Training and Comprehensive Teacher Training Program, Rania has taught Pilates in various settings throughout London.
Credentials
MA in Performance and Creative Research at Roehampton University completed September 2011
First Class BA (Hons) Ballet Education, graduated from Royal Academy of Dance July 2010
LRAD - Licentiate of the Royal Academy of Dance, June 2007 – June 2010
BASI (Body Arts and Science International) Pilates Mat Teacher Training and Comprehensive Teacher Training Program with Amit Younger, completed January 2011.
Ballet
Rania is full member and a registered ballet teacher with Royal Academy of Dance since 2010. She has been teaching the RAD Pre-Primary and Primary levels, Graded and Vocational Graded levels, entering pupils for RAD exams, at various dance schools in London and Cyprus since 2011.
Rania has fulfilled the role of Ballet school manager, organising, producing and choreographing dance shows. Furthermore, she has worked as artistic director and choreographer of Prelude Dance Company, a youth ballet company based in South London.
Rania has the ability to offer a wide range of dance genres and styles with an absolute passion for working with a diverse range of people. Rania has been teaching ballet and dance in various dance sectors, from Private ballet schools to Primary schools running dance classes and clubs as part of their curriculum.
Since 2010, she has been leading dance sessions for children with learning and sensory integration needs in a Primary School in South London. A percentage of children have a diagnosis of Autistic Spectrum Disorder and all dance classes are designed to accommodate children with Speech, language and communication needs.
As a dance educator working with children and young people in various settings and different needs, Rania has a great understanding of the importance of dance in supporting children’s physical and mental health and wellbeing.
"I believe in nurturing pupils' love of ballet and instinctive joy of movement,
whilst ensuring they reach their own level of potential."
Rania Leontiou
Through personal experience, body conditioning for ballet and rehabilitation from an injury at the age of 16, Rania was introduced to Pilates and eventually followed a career as a Pilates Instructor.
Rania’s passion for precision and clarity in movement, as well as the biomechanics of the body, led her to complete BASI (Body Arts and Science International) Mat Teacher Training and Comprehensive Teacher Training Program.
Since 2011 Rania has taught Contemporary and Classical Pilates for rehabilitation, pregnancy and physical fitness at various Pilates Studios in Central London. You can visit Rania in Tao Collective in South London where she teaches Studio Equipment and Mat classes or contact her for online sessions.
Studio Tao Pilates
201, Access House
141-157 Acre Lane
SW2 5UA
Ethos
"For me, Pilates is about precision in movement, strength and control. To achieve that, you need inner focus, therefore allowing your mind to explore how your body works. This creates a balance in exercising mind and body, exploring or rediscovering muscles and movement.
I value the importance of Breath as the centre of Pilates; Helping you to focus, it becomes the music to your movement, provides a rhythm to the exercise and a feeling of deep muscular engagement. It also allows you to relax, grow longer and work towards a better posture and flexibility."
Rania Leontiou
