A WIDE RANGE OF CLASSES
Our Dance Academy offers a large variety of dance classes for all levels. Our experienced teachers are passionate about helping each dancer achieve their highest potential, while also having as much fun as possible.
BALLET
This classical style of expressive movement has something to offer for everyone. Ballet for pleasure or for the more serious-minded, this classical style has something to offer everyone. Ballet dates back to the 17th century and the conventional steps, grace and fluidity of movement are still found in Ballet today. Composers through the ages have influenced choreographers.
Ballet has a technique, which is the foundation of all dance. Through a carefully planned curriculum we aim to create fun, interesting and imaginative classes for all pupils who attend the Academy.
Pupils will work through the grades according to ability and experience starting with the introduction and development of basic feet and arm positions. However, classes will not be totally geared to examinations as the Academy places a strong emphasis on developing a pupils joy of dance, encouraging freedom of expression and creativity.
TAP DANCE
A gentle, rhythmical and enjoyable way to keep fit! Tap is rhythm – rhythm is tap. Its origins are many and varied. Americans claim its origin dates from the African Jazz age. The Irish stake their claim to the Jigs and Step Dancing. The English relate back to northern Clog Dancers but whichever one chooses to believe, Tap is as popular today as it was in the heyday of the great Fred Astaire and Gene Kelly musicals.
Evergreen shows, 42nd Street and Crazy For You, and the more recently Stomp and Tap Dogs, highlight the great diversities of style and music in tap.
MUSICAL THEATRE & PERFORMANCE
Our Musical Theatre classes offer pupils the chance to experience the true energy, dynamism, and creative expression at the heart of Musical Theatre. If you have a passion for acting, singing and dancing, our teachers will have you mastering the theatricality and musical power of the West End. This all-encompassing class combines dance, drama, and song.
A fusion of all modern music and dance styles, Musical Theatre takes you to inspirational heights.
CONTEMPORARY & LYRICAL
Contemporary Dance is all about expressing emotion through organic movements and unrestricted lines. Incorporating elements of lyrical Jazz, Ballet and Modern dance, Contemporary is an exciting fusion which allows students to work through powerful and emotional routines. Our Contemporary classes cover a range of techniques, including Cunningham, Graham, and Release, exciting and varied classes which develop fundamental skills, including balance, poise and graceful movement.
Lyrical dance combines classical ballet with the freedom and airier aspects of jazz, contemporary and modern dance. Lyrical dance is expressive, simultaneously subtle and dynamic, focused on conveying musicality and emotion through movement.
It is a combination of intricate, highly technical, and pedestrian/naturalistic moves. It is commonly set to popular music with vocals as well as rich instrumental portions of a pop song. Lyrical inspires dancers to use movement to interpret music and express emotion.
ACROBATIC ARTS
Acro-Dance is the beautiful fusion of the artistic motion of dance and the athleticism of acrobatics. Often defined by it’s unique choreography, Acro-Dance blends seamlessly classic dance styles with acrobatic movement. The dance styles can be anything from a fast paced jazz routine to a slow and beautiful lyrical piece.
Acro-Dance is not the same as Gymnastics and there is a need to teach Acro skills differently than Gymnastics skills. Dance training is essential to the success of the Acro-Dancer. We therefore suggest that students take Ballet and/or Lyrical, Contemporary/Street classes in addition to Acro (ideally Ballet).
Gymnasts use some ‘dance’ technique to showcase their gymnastics skills, however dance is definitely secondary. Gymnasts are expected to prepare…tumble…and finish, while Acro Dancers are expected to seamlessly incorporate the skills. In fact, in a well choreographed Acro-Dance routine, the audience shouldn’t expect the skill at all. The other important difference is, Acro-Dance is performed on a hard stage without mats (though they are used for training in class) while gymnasts have the advantage of a sprung floor giving more height enabling more complex tumbling and stuck landings.
An example of progression in an Acro class would begin with ’Table Top’ at Primary level progressing later on to ‘Baby Bridge’, ‘Push up to Bridge’, ‘Bridge Waving’, ‘Inside Out Bridge’, ‘Bridge down the wall’, ‘Back into Bridge with Spot’, ‘Recover from Bridge with Spot’, ‘Back into Bridge/Recover from Bridge without Spot’, ‘Bridge with Kick and Jump’, ‘Handstand to Bridge’, ‘Bridge with kick over’, ‘Back Walkover’. The same types of progressions are used for many of the skills and build up to other movements such as ‘Aerials’, ‘Hand Springs’ and ‘Fish Flop'. The classes include a great deal of strength and conditioning exercises along with stretching to allow the children to perform the skills effectively and safely.
Pupils should attend at least one Ballet or Modern class per week in order to support the dance aspect of the Acrobatic Arts syllabus and help improve strength and flexibility.
POINTE
Pointe technique is the part of classical ballet technique that concerns pointe work, in which a ballet dancer supports all body weight on the tips of fully extended feet within pointe shoes.
We have pointe preparation classes as well as Intermediate and Advanced level pointe technique.
PBT PROGRESSING BALLET TECHNIQUE
Progressing Ballet Technique is an innovative program developed by Marie Walton-Mahon for students to understand the depth of training muscle memory in achieving their personal best in classical ballet.It is sometimes difficult for students to feel what muscles initiate the correct alignment in ballet training. However, as the fit ball is continually mobile under the student’s’ body it gives the students a proprioception for their posture and weight placement whilst feeling each correct muscle groups. Each exercise has been developed with care and guidance.
There are specific class plans for PBT and Pre-pointe that the teacher will be using for training the core muscles, intrinsic foot strength, port de bras, proper body alignment, flexibility and so much more. The goal is for students to be able to feel stronger, confident and have a better understanding of how the muscles work when they are dancing.
FREESTYLE, STREET & COMMERCIAL
Street/Freestyle
An improvisational, hip-hop inspired, active dance style. Street dance refers to dance styles – regardless of country of origin – that evolved outside of dance studios in any available open space, such as streets, dance parties, block parties, parks, school yards, raves, and nightclubs. Street is improvisational and social in nature, encouraging interaction and contact with spectators and other dancers. These dances are a part of the vernacular culture of the geographical area that they come from.
The hip-hop dance style B-boying, and the funk-style Popping and Locking, are some of the most popular Street dance styles. These forms of hip-hop dance are the most prominently practiced, and commercialised versions have been professionally developed and choreographed for dance routines in pop, hip-hop, electronic, and R&B music videos. B-boying helped bring about Street dance crew culture, whereby dance crews would learn various Street dance styles for impression and competition. Street dance has evolved between people in a social environment; dancers create their own style and moves. Street dances constantly evolving,
Freestyle
A modern, expressive and varied dance style. Freestyle is a popular form of dance in the UK today. It involves runs, spins, kicks and leaps, as well as many other diverse steps and movements with lots of arm and hand actions. The music can be fast and rhythmic or slow and sensuous, allowing dancers of all ages to use freedom of expression to enhance their style.
MODERN JAZZ
Modern Jazz is fun. You will learn to develop many different movements reaching to a broad choice of varying rhythms and musical styles. Classes are structured to begin to prepare the physical strength and flexibility required to demonstrate emotion through interpretation of any musical genre. One minute you may be dancing to the rhythm of a drum, the next to a funky jazz style. You may explore contrast between expansion and relaxation or learn to isolate in a slick stylish mood. Whatever the atmosphere of the class, it will be a wonderful opportunity to react and interact with other members and really dance to express your feelings.
STRETCH LEAPS & TURNS
This class is a favourite among many of our pupils. Everyone loves the opportunity to explore the new dance moves taught in this class, while also mastering their technique and flexibility. Our teachers make sure everyone gets individual attention while keeping the class collaborative.
If you have any additional questions about our classes,
do get in touch and one of our staff members will gladly assist you.