Casso Pancho | My West London Life

Dancer Casso Pancho on west London dance company  Ballet Black and spotting David Attenborough

Posted on 06/04/10

Why is the Ballet Black dance school based in Shepherd’s Bush?

I grew up in Ealing and now live in Notting Hill, so west London is home for me. Shepherd's Bush is the perfect location for a mix of all kinds of cultural backgrounds.

What do you like about west London?

Everything!

Have you always been a dancer?

I started at the age of two and a half. I retired from dancing about four years ago.

Do you think that Ballet Black has helped to achieve greater racial equality in the dance world?

I think we are beginning to see a change, but we must be realistic. It takes a great deal of time to train someone to be a classical ballet dancer, so we probably won't see a change in the professional ranks for a while, but there are more and more young black and Asian children participating in ballet, which is where it all starts.

Where is the most memorable place that you have performed?

It was last year in July. We were in a dance theatre piece called Pop8, created by Antonia Franceschi (Fame, New York City Ballet). We did two weeks of preview performances at the Lion and Unicorn Theatre, which is located above a pub in Kentish Town. It held about 40 people and the seats were a collection of armchairs and stools.

Do the dancers have to stick to a strict diet?

I can only speak for my six dancers, who stick to fairly healthy diets, but there is a craze for Pringles, Snickers and Haribo sweets during rehearsals. We also love to eat great burgers, ribs and Caribbean food. And homemade fairy cakes.

What is your favourite place to eat in the area?

Raoul's Cafe [105-107 Talbot Road, W11] for breakfast, Urban Turban [98 Westbourne Grove, W2] for Indian food, The Orangery in Kensington Park Gardens for tea and cakes and New Culture Revolution [157-159 Notting Hill Gate, W11] for Chinese food. I love food.

What do you think of the new Westfield shopping centre?

My husband is Australian, so I am used to the concept of Westfield as I discovered them in Australia, but I'm not a fan of enormous shopping centres. I do use the Waitrose there, though.

What are you plans for the future of Ballet Black?

To find a building of our own to house the Company and School and our growing costume collection, and to expand the professional dancers from six to eight, and then world domination.

Can you recommend anywhere for adult dance classes in west London?

Danceworks [16 Balderton Street London, W1] or Pineapple Dance Studios in Covent Garden [7 Langley Street, WC2].

What’s your west London shopping secret?

Notting Hill Books [132 Palace Gardens Terrace, W8] – a brilliant shop packed with dance, cooking and travel books, all second hand and at bargain prices. David Attenborough was in there the other day, so it must be good.

Are you a Notting Hill Carnival lover or hater?

I hate the violence and mass public uriniation that takes places, and those whistles that go all night.

 I love the celebration of anything good and West Indian.

www.balletblack.co.uk