Dance styles
Pre-school Ballet
Starting to dance! If a student is 3-4 years, they will join the pre-school dance class. This is a weekly 35 minute class which includes ballet, mime and free movement. It involves imagination, story-telling, props and musical instruments.
Pre-Primary and Primary
If your child is 5 or 6 years old, she/he will be placed in the pre-primary class and a 7 year old will usually join the primary class. These classes last 50 minutes and are a mixture of ballet, free movement and mime. They are the first levels in the R.A.D ballet examinations
The pre-primary presentation class is normally taken when the child is 5 years old; it takes the form of a regular ballet class, taught by the normal teacher. Primary can either be taken as a formal exam or presentation class and is taken when they are at least 6 years old
Grade 1
These classes last one hour and include ballet, free movement and some national steps which are called “character”
Grades 2 to 5
These grades last one hour and are taken twice weekly. Exceptions to this are made after discussion with the parent and teacher, when only one class per week can be taken
Higher Grades – Vocational grades 6 – 8
Grade 6 to 8 are primarily about the joy of dancing as expressed through performance and communication. Students can relate their class work to well-known ballets and present it in a much more theatrical way
Major syllabus
If, at the age of 10 or 11, your child wishes to train more seriously they may follow the major course of study. This means an additional 2 classes per week on top of their current grade level
The first course is intermediate foundation, designed to last about 2 years for the average student. This examination must be taken after the age of 11 and it includes pointe work for the first time
Intermediate is the first of the compulsory exams for which the candidate must be 12 years old or older. The next levels are Advanced Foundation, Advanced I and Advanced II
Once a student has passed their Grade 6 level or intermediate, they become Student members of the RAD. Following Advanced I they become full members of the RAD on payment of subscriptions.
Classical
The classical work is the foundation stone and the most important part of the graded syllabi
Free Movement
The free movement section incorporates movements in common with other dance styles such as natural movement, contemporary based dance and Greek dance
Character
Character is the theatrical presentation of national dance using original ethnic dance and music which has been freely adapted for the theatre
There are three styles – Hungarian, Russian and Polish. They were selected because of their historical importance in the development of the traditional full-length classical ballet
Contemporary
This class offers an introduction to contemporary dance movement. Contemporary is a self expressive and creative class drawing on elements from contemporary technique
There are three classes:
- Junior Contemporary Dance(ages 10 - 12 years), Senior Contemporary Dance (ages 13 - 16 years)
- "da" dance moves, is a performance-based group (students are invited to take part from the above two classes)
Modern ISTD Grades
Develops co-ordination and rhythm through floorwork, travelling sequences and routines. Working towards ISTD exams
Street Jazz
This comprises three classes:
Bronze Jazz Award (9-12 years)
This class develops the student’s core stability and flexibility with an increased understanding of jazz technique, working towards ISTD awards
Teen Street Jazz/"da" dance crew performance class (12 years upwards):
Learn music video-style routines using current chart music
"da" dance crew
This is a mixed group of 10 girls and boys, aged from 12 years upwards, who represent the school as a performance dance troupe. Established in 2009, the group have a repertoire of dances and work as a performance-based class
Junior Street Jazz (boys only)
New street jazz dance class with a fresh athletic approach suitable for boys
Tap (age 4 upwards)
American-style tap. Rhythm based with a Fred Astaire flair, working towards routines using pop tunes as well as jazz and blues music
Musical Theatre (ages 5-11)
A performance class including acting, singing and dancing with a teacher straight from the West End
Open adult classes
Regular classes are held in ballet, tap and zumba.
Our classes are open to all ages and abilities with the aim to improve fitness, technique and co-ordination. Please enquire for details