Our Classes
All classes at Bury St. Edmunds Ballet School focus on the wonderful benefits that dance has to offer. They focus on an appreciation of moving to music, encourage students to express themselves through dance and celebrate on using movement to promote emotional wellbeing and physical health. All classes are safe and nurturing environments to help students develop their identity and make secure friendships.
At Bury St. Edmunds Ballet School, all of our ballet teachers hold RAD Registered Teacher Status.
Scroll down to find out all about the different classes the school has to offer.
Pre-School Ballet
These classes introduce the youngest members of our school to the basic structure and etiquette of a ballet class. We take children into these classes from the age of 3.
The focus is on developing coordination with gross and fine motor skills which will benefit all aspects of their lives.
We use stories and creative imagery to engage and inspire the children as they begin their ballet journey.
Pre-Primary & Primary Ballet
Our Pre-Primary and Primary classes introduce the Royal Academy of Dance syllabus and prepare students in the fundamentals of classical ballet.
The classes follow the RAD syllabus. We extend this by introducing important ballet vocabulary beyond what these syllabus offers.
We invite students to take internal assessments at this level which are designed to prepare students for the formal RAD examination process. More information can be found about this on our “Opportunities” page.
Royal Academy of Dance (RAD) Syllabus Ballet
The RAD syllabus develops classical ballet technique and knowledge of ballet vocabulary.
Grades include character dances inspired by Eastern European national dance in both folk and court styles. The syllabi also explores neoclassical and contemporary styles to broaden the dancer's skills and experience.
Syllabus classes start from Grade 1. We currently teach syllabus from Grade 1 to Grade 7 and Intermediate Foundation.
We offer the opportunity to enter exams and class awards to all of our students, more information about these can be found on our “Opportunities” page.
More information about the Royal Academy of Dance can be found below.
Ballet Enrichment
We identify and nurture talent in students who we feel may have potential to undertake vocational dance training in the future.
Our ballet enrichment classes are non-syllabus and focus on technique and artistry, whilst expanding student's ballet vocabulary.
Classes are by invitation only. Pupils are selected because teachers feel they demonstrate the physical, technical and artistic ability to benefit from attending these classes. They will also have displayed appropriate behaviour and a positive attitude to their dance education.
In order to attend these classes, students must be doing at least one syllabus class a week and it is strongly recommended that they are taking a class in a different dance discipline (not necessarily with Bury St. Edmunds Ballet School) to be eligible for this class. Classes are open to children over the age of 7 and in Grade 1 Ballet.
Pointe
Pointe work involves dancing on the tips of the toes in shoes specifically designed for this purpose. It requires great core strength, excellent weight placement and posture, alongside exceptionally strong feet, ankles and legs.
Teachers take pointe work preparation extremely seriously to ensure that students are ready to safely undertake this exciting milestone in their ballet training. It is at their discretion when pupils go en pointe. This will be different for every student.
At an absolute minimum, pupils must be dancing 3 hours a week and be a minimum of 11 years old. However, the majority of dancers are older than this when they go en pointe. Please note that It should not be assumed that they will go en pointe if they have met this baseline requirement.
Contemporary Dance
We offer Contemporary Dance classes as both a complementary and alternative genre to ballet. Contemporary Dance incorporates elements of Ballet, Lyrical Jazz and Modern Dance. These classes are non-syllabus.
Similar to ballet, it emphasises fundamental skills such as balance, poise and graceful movement. It moves away from the rigorous physicalities such as turn-out and focuses more on a relaxation of the spine rather than a permanently upright posture.
Acrobatics
Acrobatics classes are a brilliant complementary genre to Ballet and Contemporary Dance training. It is also a great alternative to gymnastics for those less interested in dance.
Classes focus on building strength and flexibility which is integral to being a well-rounded dancer. Dancers develop skills and tricks that add an exciting dimension to choreographies. All acrobatic skills are developed safely, which feels satisfying and stimulating for young dancers to achieve.
Acrobatic classes follow the Acrotrix syllabus, who provide excellent supplementary material for keen dancers which can be found here.
Adult Ballet & Contemporary
Bury St. Edmunds Ballet School is proud to have a loyal and enthusiastic cohort of adult students who love to challenge themselves in both syllabus and non-syllabus dance classes every week.
Our classes are relaxed and sociable occasions, but also technically challenging to build muscle strength, increase cardiovascular fitness and improve balance.
The combination of music and movement improves cognitive abilities and is found to reduce the risk of dementia and Alzheimers in older people.
There are options for adult students to participate as much or as little as they like. With some students choosing to take exams and perform in shows, whilst others love coming once per week and choose not to do anything else!
The classes regularly meet for social events such as theatre trips and Christmas dinners.
About the Royal Academy of Dance
1. What benefits your child will have from being taught by an RAD Registered Teacher:
RAD Registered Teachers are renowned for their dedication and expertise. It could be valuable to tell parents and students that, as an RAD RTS, you are:
a registered dance teacher with a recognised professional body,
required to follow a strict code of professional conduct and keep your skills and knowledge up to date through a programme of Continuing Professional Development,
trained to follow a carefully structured syllabus which is fun and safe, enabling students to progress in stages, and
eligible to enter students for exams.
2. About the Royal Academy of Dance:
The Royal Academy of Dance (RAD) was founded in 1920 with a single purpose: to raise the standards of dance teaching in the UK.
100 years later, excellence in dance teaching is still at the heart of everything they do.
Today, the RAD is a world-leading dance, education and training organisation, with dance teachers and students in 85 countries, enriching the world’s arts and cultural communities.
From three year olds to 93-year olds the RAD believes in the transformative power of dance to enhance our health and happiness.
RAD vision
To be the voice of expertise, globally recognised as a leader in dance, education, and training.
To flourish - financially healthy and agile with a diversified income to support our ambitions.
To be all-welcoming, with a belief in the power of dance to transform lives, and the value of a diverse workforce and community.
To be in-step - working collaboratively to deliver our vision.
To be choreographed to deliver, with the right people and processes to realise our objectives.
RAD mission
To inspire the world to dance.
3. What makes the RAD special?
Established in 1920 by a group of eminent dance professionals representing the leading ballet styles of the period with the aim of improving the standards of dance teaching, initially in the UK. Ballet and the standard of how it is taught will always be at the heart of what we do.
From Bangkok to Brighton, Sydney to Swaziland, the RAD has enabled students around the world to learn to dance via an established method and very importantly, a trained teacher! Quite literally, we have been teaching the world to dance for 100 years.
4. Why can it be beneficial to do examinations?
Exams are an opportunity for students to perform in front of an examiner, and celebrate their progress.
They are a goal to work towards, alongside other dancing objectives.
They are a globally recognised qualification.
In the UK, some of our exams can be converted into UCAS points.
5. How will the RAD support my child’s progression as a dancer?
We know that the term ‘dancer’ can mean very different things to different people. Whether your child takes ballet once a week for fun (and all the many other benefits ballet classes can bring) or if they have their sights set on a career as a dancer, the RAD can offer a quality learning experience for all ages and abilities. From world-class teachers on your doorstep, a renowned ballet syllabus, local workshops and masterclasses, competitions and dance challenges, there is something for everyone.