This class introduces young children to the magical world of dance with the help and support of their grown-up through music, props and imaginative exercises.
* The ages listed are a guideline. Your child may be older or younger than any given age bracket.
The emphasis is on sharing movement and creating a joyful first experience of dance together. Each exercise encourages co-ordination, balance and musicality in a relaxed and supportive environment. With the use of props, popular music and magical storytelling, children and adults explore movement side by side, building confidence and connection through dance.
Getting started is easy
- 1Book a trial
Reserve your child's spot for a trial class. First class is half price.
- 2Come along
Arrive, meet Jo or Alice, and let your child dive in. No pressure, no commitment. We have tap and ballet shoes available at the hall for your trial.
- 3Sign up
We'll be in touch in the days after their trial to find out what they thought, suggest alternatives and then give you all the sign up info needed!
Fees
Starting mid-term? Your monthly subscription begins on the 1st of the following month. Any classes before then are charged separately, either by invoice or added to your first subscription.
Uniform
Frequently asked questions
Yes! If your child enjoys their trial and would like to continue, we'll invite you to join the class for the rest of the term.
After the trial, we'll send you an email with the next steps. If we have any concerns, or feel another class or level might be a better fit, we'll let you know.
Anything comfortable that they can move freely in, such as a T-shirt or vest top with shorts, leggings or similar.
If they have a leotard from another activity, they're very welcome to wear that too. There's no need to buy dancewear before your child has tried the class.
Absolutely! We have a selection of trial Tap and Ballet shoes available to borrow and will always do our best to find the right size.
If possible, please bring socks of different thicknesses with you, just in case we need to use a slightly larger pair. If lots of children of the same age are trialling at the same time, we may not have the perfect size for everyone.
If we can't find a suitable pair, don't worry. Children can dance in bare feet for Ballet and Modern, and trainers are absolutely fine for Tap.
We hold all our classes at Redcatch Community Church on Broad Walk, opposite the entrance to Redcatch Park.
With the exception of Parent + Child classes, RSD classes are drop-off classes, where children learn independently.
We feel this is an important part of their development. It helps children build confidence, independence and a relationship with their teachers as trusted adults.
Every child is different. After more than 40 years of combined teaching experience, we know that some children take to a new class straight away, while others need a little more reassurance.
It can really help to set clear expectations beforehand. For example: "I'll drop you off, wait in the hallway and then I can't wait to hear all about your class afterwards!"
If your child is nervous about coming in, you're welcome to walk them inside and sit briefly at the side while they settle. We do ask that parents don't dance with their child or remain in the room for the whole session, as this can make it harder for them to settle independently and can be confusing for the other children.
If your child is genuinely not ready to join without you, that's absolutely fine. We would much rather their first experience of dance is a positive one, so you're welcome to sit and watch together for a short while before deciding whether they're ready to join independently.
Equally, if your child is confident and happy to come in on their own, we encourage you to wait in the lobby. This helps reassure the other children that being dropped off is safe and completely normal.
And don't worry, you'll get plenty of opportunities to see what they've been learning at our Watching Weeks!
At the end of each term, we have a Watching Week, when parents are invited into classes to see what the children have been learning.
Depending on the timetable and pick-up arrangements, you can watch the whole class or part of the lesson.
We also love giving our students opportunities to perform outside the studio, including events such as the Big Picnic in Redcatch Park.
This depends on the child, their age and the type of class.
Some styles and levels are easier to join part-way through than others. For example, Tap can be more difficult to join at a higher level because there are specific skills and terminology to catch up on.
However, older children will often pick up the basics very quickly, and we'll always consider the individual child rather than simply their previous experience.
Where appropriate, we may suggest that a child attends their age-appropriate class as well as a lower-level class for a short period to help them catch up. We're happy to discuss this with you and find the best option.
No! Exams are completely optional.
Our classes follow the ISTD syllabus, but children do not have to take exams. Choosing not to take an exam will not prevent your child from progressing to the next level.
Please see our Fees section for our latest prices.
Ready to give it a try?
Trial classes are half price and there's no commitment to sign up. Jo and Alice will make sure your child is in the right class for their age and stage.