Our Classes
Ballet
Following the Royal Academy of Dance syllabi we establish and develop the fundamental principles of classical technique. Including turnout, extension, posture, poise, balance, control, expression and musicality through a learning experience that is as disciplined and rigorous as it is fun and imaginative. Offering RAD examinations for their quality and recognition in progress. Learning ballet is vitally important to the development of the core skills, techniques and discipline required to fully
master any genre of dance.
Tap
During tap classes children develop an understanding of rhythm, intricate footwork and how to build strength and flexibility, specifically in their ankles, and throughout their body, to execute a variety of increasingly complex step patterns to increasingly complex rhythms. We strongly recommend all children learn ballet and tap in combination during their formative years (up to Grade 1 at least) to embed a comprehensive understanding of rhythm, coordination, balance and control.
Modern
Modern Dance is a technique based class that, similar to contemporary dance, fuses elements of
classical ballet, jazz, lyrical and musical theatre dance. Classes incorporate rigorous warm ups,
strengthening and stretching floor work based exercises that specifically develop use of the legs and core, centre exercises for the arms, feet and legs to promote control, coordination, articulation and sensitivity as well as exercises for turning, elevation and rhythm. Students combine all of this learning into the performance of amalgamations and dance choreography that are as dynamic, expressive, fluid and creative as they are powerfully strong and controlled.
Baby Ballet & Tiny Tap
An imaginative, creative and fun packed introduction to dance and musical theatre for our youngest students. Children engage in imaginative dance, ballet, tap, simple games, action songs and role play through which they learn the fundamentals of dance technique, rhythm, spatial awareness, expression and social skills.
Street Commercial
A dynamic, high impact dance class to pop, hip hop, disco fusion and RnB beats. Street Commercial references krumping, locking, popping, simple break dance and hip hop as well as taking inspiration from jazz and disco to create a strong style that is often sassy and always full of personality and
individuality.
Musical Theatre
Musical Theatre is an integrated combination of dance, drama and singing. During Musical Theatre classes children learn short performances, often from Disney, West End and Broadway musicals, as well as receiving vocal coaching and drama and dance tuition through a combination of imaginative games and technical exercises. Musical Theatre classes are highly interactive and promote the development of key interpersonal skills.
Contemporary
Contemporary dance is a style of expressive dance that combines elements of several dance genres including modern, jazz, lyrical and classical ballet. Contemporary dancers strive to connect the mind and the body through fluid dance movements that aim to evoke a range of feelings in the viewer. It also offers the dancer ultimate creative freedom to perform an emotive piece that identifies with
them.
ACRO & AERIAL HOOP
Acro (Acrobatics) fosters the development of vitally important skills in children’s growth and
development including flexibility, strength, correct muscular formation, balance and coordination. Taking inspiration from gymnastic floor work and rhythmic gymnastics, acro incorporates acrobatic movement into elegant flowing routines. Increasingly, dynamic dance choreography involves acrobatic movement and children who learn acrobatic skills will be able to use these during other dance classes and at shows, competitions and events.
Aerial hoop involves the use of circular steel apparatus (resembling a hula hoop) suspended from the ceiling, on which students learn to perform aerial acrobatics. It can be used static, spinning, or swinging. Acro and Aerial Hoop classes involve a combination of acrobatics and specific work on the aerial hoop; some weeks students will focus on just one element and during other weeks classes will involve both acrobatics and aerial hoop.
SPEECH & DRAMA
The Academy offers private speech and drama tuition as well as group acting classes. During private speech and drama classes students have the option of taking ‘Speaking Verse and Prose’, ‘Acting’, ‘Devising’ and/or ‘Public Speaking’ exams with the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art (LAMDA). LAMDA exams feature on the national qualifications framework and ultimately enable students to acquire UCAS points towards university entrance once the higher levels are reached. LAMDA tuition aims to develop students’ ability to read and interpret verse, prose and drama scripts with attention to clarity, diction, projection, expression and characterisation.
During Group Acting classes students learn key drama skills and techniques through a combination of highly interactive games, exercises, improvisation tasks and script work to enable students to effectively and skilfully characterise a role within a performance and create their own performances
and roles.
GCSE DANCE
GCSE Dance is a wonderful course for all students who love to perform, choreograph and watch dance and wish to develop their knowledge and understanding of the subject on a more academic level. Broadly, the qualification is comprised of three main components: Performance, Choreography and Appreciation. The performance element requires students to learn a selection of technical contemporary dance sequences, specially created by professional choreographers for the AQA, and perform these for assessment. Students will be marked on their alignment, coordination, control, spatial awareness, knowledge of the action, dynamic, spatial and rhythmic content and performance quality. Students have to prepare two performances: one solo and one duet or trio. The performance mark accounts for 30% of the total awarded for the GCSE.
PBT
Progressing Ballet Technique (PBT) is an innovative body-conditioning and strengthening programme that has been designed to enhance students’ technique by focusing on training the muscle memory required in each exercise in all forms of dance. It is a unique training system using ballet technique specific exercises to train skill acquisition in a graded and progressive manner from junior through to advanced levels. PBT critically helps with injury prevention and in aiding students to better understand their bodies and how their bodies move. Most exercises are floor based and utilise exercise balls and therabands. This is an excellent class for all dancers who really care about reinforcing and developing their technique and taking care of their instrument.
Demi Pointe
Demi pointe, or ‘pre-pointe’ focuses on helping ballet students develop the strength and alignment necessary in the feet, ankles, legs and core in preparation for pointe work. This class is aimed at ballet students from grade two and above, however, the leap from demi to full pointe will be individually assessed throughout the classes over a number of months/years (depending on many factors including the individual student’s physical growth and development, number of years of ballet training, frequency of ballet classes per week and maturity). The secure development of muscular strength and correct ballet technique is vital in order prevent injury when students progress to pointe work, which is why this class is specifically designed for building the strength and technique required to allow students to take their first steps on pointe safely.
Professional Workshops
Aligned with our commitment to provide the most enriching and comprehensive performing arts experience The Academy hosts workshops from time to time with leading industry professionals. Our professional workshops are aspirational and fun and aim to positively challenge our students both mentally and physically. Professional workshops serve to reinforce, develop, enrich and contextualise the learning in students’ regular weekly lessons at The Academy.
Private Lessons
Private lessons are perfect for a more highly personalised approach to learning and to enable
students to attain individual specific objectives, either as a short term endeavour or a longer term undertaking. One to one tuition ensure lessons are catered to students’ individual needs delivered by professional teachers who can help students to reach their full potential. Private lessons are available in most of the performing arts disciplines that we offer and are the mode of tuition for the achievement of individual LAMDA qualifications.
Singing Lessons
Singing lessons at The Academy help students to find their voice through a range of targeted,
structured vocal exercises and singing practice that enables them to develop their singing technique and understand the importance of correct breathing and posture. Students are able to explore a range of genres to best suit their voice and what they most love.
Holiday Schools
Each and every day is jam packed with dance, drama, singing and arts and crafts activities that actively promote the artistic, creative, expressive and social development of every child. The achievement of a complete performance at the culmination of each holiday school is a deeply rewarding experience that involves a great sense of pride and accomplishment in all involved.
