Monica Loughman facts for kids

Monica Loughman is a famous Irish ballet dancer, teacher, and writer. She was the first dancer from a Western country to become a solo dancer with the important Perm State Theatre of Opera and Ballet in Russia. She danced there for 16 years. When she came back to Ireland, she started many ballet schools. She also appeared on TV shows like Ballet Chancers and The Late Late Show. Monica has also written a book about her amazing experiences.

Early Life

Monica Loughman grew up in Santry, a part of Dublin, Ireland. She went to Manor House School in Raheny. Her parents are Edward and Monica Loughman.

Ballet Career

Dancing in Russia

When Monica was just fourteen years old, she left Ireland to join the Perm State Ballet in Russia. This was a very special opportunity because not many dancers from Western countries got to dance with the famous Perm State Theatre of Opera and Ballet. She trained and danced with this company for 16 years, becoming a solo dancer.

Dancing in Ireland

After her time in Russia, Monica Loughman returned to Ireland. She started a special training program for young people who wanted to become professional ballet dancers. She also opened many ballet schools across the country. Monica created her own ballet company by training Irish dancers and getting help from Russian ballet experts.

She began with ballet schools for children as young as four. Over ten years, she built a path for dancers to move from a youth company, called Irish Youth Russian Ballet, to her main company, the Monica Loughman Elite Ballet. This company was even featured in Dance Europe magazine. Today, her schools are the biggest ballet training system in Ireland. Her company performs classic ballets like The Nutcracker, Giselle, and La Sylphide.

The Monica Loughman Elite Ballet wants to bring big, classical ballet shows to audiences all over Ireland. They also help new dancers, choreographers, and people who love ballet grow. In 2013, the Irish Arts Council helped fund a tour of The Nutcracker to theatres across Ireland, which was a big step for the company.

Monica still trains dancers for professional careers. For example, four young girls she trained were accepted to train with the Russian Ballet Theatre in St. Petersburg, Russia.

TV Appearances

Monica Loughman has appeared on several television shows. In 2006, she was on Dustin's Daily News. She also appeared on The Podge and Rodge Show in 2007. Later that year, she was on The Cafe and Tubridy Tonight. In 2008, she appeared on The Panel and The Late Late Show.

In a TV series called Ballet Chancers in 2008, Monica worked with six young people who usually danced hip hop. She helped them learn about and appreciate ballet. In 2014, Monica was also part of the Channel 4 series Big Ballet with Wayne Sleep. In this show, she helped a group of plus-size amateur dancers work towards their dream of performing Swan Lake.

Personal Life

Monica Loughman has one son, Damien, who was born in March 2010.

Publication

Monica Loughman co-wrote a book called The Irish Ballerina. She wrote it with Jean Harrington, an author from County Meath. The book was published in 2004 by Maverick House Publishers. It talks about Monica's childhood and her experiences dancing ballet in Russia. The book was reviewed in newspapers like The Meath Chronicle and The Sunday Business Post. Monica was also interviewed about her book for Woman's Way magazine in December 2004.

She has also been featured in various magazines and newspapers, including the Meath Chronicle, The Sunday Business Post, and Woman's Way.

See also

• List of women writers