Classes in Wimbledon Village
CHILDREN'S CLASSES INWimbledon Village
The Village School of Dance offers classes in ballet (RAD), tap (ISTD), modern (ISTD) and AcroDance for all ages. We also run DDMIX (Diverse Dance Mix) – a brilliant dance fitness class for adults and children, founded by Darcey Bussell (who has been known to pop in from time to time!). We have daytime and evening classes for all ages on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday. Everybody is welcome.
We pride ourselves in ensuring our students look the part in their dance classes. Not only does this reflect the discipline and professionalism dance instills in our children but it also makes us feel good and ready to perform. We have an excellent relationship with Ballet Boutique in Wimbledon and more information on recommended uniforms can be found by clicking here.
Summer Term 2024
Summer Half-Term
Autumn Term 2024
Autumn Term
THE CLASSESon offer
Classical ballet emphasises fluid, graceful movements and long, aesthetically pleasing lines, along with strict adherence to correct form and technique, especially turn-out of the legs. There’s also a focus on narrative and storytelling achieved through a combination of musical interpretation, mime and choreography.
Royal Academy of Dance, Classical Ballet is based on the teaching of the French School at the Paris Opéra and so provides the essentials of a pure classical training. The syllabus evolves to promote the English classical ballet style and to address the changing needs of ballet dancers today.
Classical ballet helps our students with co-ordination, strength, poise & posture, flexibility, grace, elegance, musicality, performance, confidence, sensitivity and much much more.
Our Classical Ballet level structure is as follows:
- 2.5 – 4 yrs: Beginner Ballet
- 4 – 5 yrs: Pre-Primary Ballet
- 6 – 7 yrs: Primary Ballet
- 7 – 9 yrs: Grade 1 Ballet
- 9 – 10 yrs: Grade 2 Ballet
- 11 – 12 yrs: Grade 3 Ballet
- 12 – 13 yrs: Grade 4 Ballet
- 11 + yrs: Intermediate Foundation Ballet & Pointe
- 14 – 15 yrs: Grade 5 Ballet
- 15 + yrs: Grade 6 Ballet & Pointe
- 16 + yrs: Intermediate Ballet & Pointe
- 16 + yrs: Advanced 1 Ballet & Pointe
- 16 + yrs: Advance 2 Ballet & Pointe
Modern Dancing is a highly energetic dance style which defies a single permanent definition. This is largely due to its ability to adapt, develop and evolve with the changing fashion in dance. Modern dancing can be performed to many different types of music and therefore, there are lots of styles within modern dance such as contemporary, lyrical, blues, jazz, isolations, musical theatre and increasingly commercial/street, all of which can be seen in music videos, on TV programs, at pop concerts and in theatre shows. Modern dancing is exciting because of the wide and ever-growing range of contrasting elements.
The whole body is used in modern dance to tell a story or depict an idea and travelling steps, high kicks, leaps and turns are included, so modern dancers need to be fit, flexible and strong. Modern dance technique is derived from classical ballet and so we strongly recommend that children who wish to learn modern at higher levels also take weekly ballet classes.
As in all dance styles, rhythm is important in modern dancing to make it interesting, varied and often, surprising, so learning tap dancing alongside modern is advisable, especially at lower levels.
Our Modern Dance level structure is as follows:
- 5 – 6 yrs: Primary Modern
- 7 – 8 yrs: Grade 1 Modern
- 8 – 9 yrs: Grade 2 Modern
- 10 – 11 yrs: Grade 3 Modern
- 11 – 12 yrs: Grade 4 Modern
- 13 – 14 yrs: Grade 5 Modern
- 13 – 14 yrs: Intermediate Foundation Modern
- 14 – 15 yrs: Grade 6 Modern
- 16 + yrs: Intermediate Modern
- 16 + yrs: Advanced 1 Modern
- 16 + yrs: Advanced 2 Modern
To join us and book your first Modern Dance class, click here
Tap dancing was born of the fusion of cultures on American soil in the late 19th century, influenced by African rhythms, Irish stepping and English clogging. Tap dancing was a feature of vaudeville and music halls, later became a significant component of musical films and musical theatre.
The tap dancer wears shoes fitted with heel and toe taps sounds out audible beats by rhythmically striking the floor, or any other hard surface.
Tap dancing is so much fun for our students, giving them the opportunity to make as much noise as they like with their feet and learning to become a musician and a dancer at the same time!
Our Tap Dance level structure is as follows:
- 5 – 6 yrs: Primary Tap
- 7 – 8 yrs: Grade 1 Tap
- 8 – 9 yrs: Grade 2 Tap
- 10 – 11 yrs: Grade 3 Tap
- 11 – 12 yrs: Grade 4 Tap
- 13 – 14 yrs: Grade 5 Tap
- 14 – 15 yrs: Grade 6 Tap
- 16 + yrs: Intermediate Tap
- 16 + yrs: Advanced 1 Tap
- 16 + yrs: Advanced 2 Tap
To join us and book your first Tap Dance class, click here
Pointe work is a part of our Classical Ballet training program, as from grade 6 onwards it is an integral part of the students’ exams.
Pointe work is the pinnacle of ballet training, and something that all of our students look forward to learning. We love it when we can finally see their pointe shoe dreams come to reality!
Because pointe work is challenging, it is very important that we ensure our students are physically strong and developed enough to go en pointe.
To ensure our students are strong enough to work en pointe, the pre-requisite for pointe work is to be at least 11 years old, to be in grade 4 or above and to attend at least two ballet classes as well as a point work class a week.
To join us and book your first Ballet class, click here
We offer private lessons in any style of dance you wish your child to learn.
Many of our private lesson slots are used to prepare our competition team for their festivals. To find out what festivals are, click here
Others use private lessons to improve certain areas of their technique, or to help them progress through the grades at a faster pace.
Private lessons are a fantastic way for our teachers to work 1-2-1 with our students and tailor make the sessions for your child’s specific needs.
To book a private lesson with us, click here
EXTRA CURRICULARactivities
At The Village School of Dance, we try to be more than just a dance school. We strive to create a community and family, where the children feel they can be themselves and offer our students every opportunity to develop and nurture their skills inside and outside the dance class.
Therefore, alongside our regular syllabus classes, we also provide a wide range of other activities for our students to come together and make friends, as well as learning more about the world of dance and inspiring their creativity.
Discover our extra curricular activities below: