Musical Theatre From Age 3+

The children are taught various dance styles and steps from musicals and also learn the many different styles of dance within musicals. They will learn basic jazz dance technique, which is used in all musicals and the emphasis will mainly be on performance and increasing the children's dance vocabulary. The dances are lots of fun and we often combine the songss with the dance routines also.
The children work on confidence building, improvisation, acting techniques and voice projection. They will learn a script from the Musical we are working on that term. 
The children work on songs from musicals, studying vocal harmonies, singing and breathing techniques as a group, in duet's and as a solo singer. They will learn and perform the songs from the Musical that we are working on that term.

We also offer Musical Theatre Exams under LAMDA

Contemprary From Grade 3 Ballet +

Contemporary dance is a dance performance genre that developed during the mid twentieth century and has since grown to become one of the dominant genres for formally trained dancers throughout the world, with particularly strong popularity in the U.S. and Europe. Although originally informed by and borrowing from classical, modern, and jazz styles, it has since come to incorporate elements from many styles of dance. Due to its technical similarities, it is often perceived to be closely related to modern dance, ballet and other classical concert dance styles.

In terms of the focus of its technique, contemporary dance tends to combine the strong and controlled legwork of ballet with modern dance's stress on the torso, and also employs contract-release, floor work, fall and recovery, and improvisation characteristic of modern dance. Unpredictable changes in rhythm, speed, and direction are often used, as well. It sometimes also incorporates elements of non-western dance cultures such as elements from African dance including bent knees, or movements from the Japanese contemporary dance Butoh.

Exams are taken when the children are ready in all genres and we are delighted to hold a 100% pass rate!

ISTD Ballet From 18 months +

Ballet is the base of all dance styles. It is good for gaining strength and stamina. It is one of the most popular styles at ESDS as it helps with all genres of dance as it is so demanding on the body.  Classical ballet is graceful, sincere and beautiful showing inner strength, composure, posture, flowing and precise movements.

Starting with our baby ballet class who are taught the fundamentals of ballet thorough the use of props and imagination.  Their love of dance grows from within learning to skip, gallop, plié, pointe and stretch their toes by becoming a princess, cat or rainbow fairy the imagination is endless and we may even throw in a tutu or two!

As the dancers get older our classes focus on technique perfecting steps with the use of a ballet barre, teaching techniques to keep our children engaged gaining knowledge each lesson on their bodies and how to execute a step.

From pliés to pirouettes, pas de chats to arabesques and developpés to batterie our ballet classes are full of fun, technique and discipline.Ballet classes start from 18 months and we run classes throughout the week for all levels.Typ

Exams are taken when the children are ready in all genres and we are delighted to hold a 100% pass rate!

Lyrical Dance From Primary+

Lyrical dance is a style of dance created from the fusion of ballet with jazz and contemporary dance techniques and is a "cousin" to those styles. Lyrical dancing is performed to music with lyrics to inspire movements to express strong emotions the choreographer feels from the lyrics in the chosen song. Because lyrical dancing focuses on the expression of strong emotion, the style concentrates more on individual approach and expressiveness than the precision of the dancer's movements. The emergent lyrical style has a relatively recent history and a genesis based on the coming together of ballet with rock/folk/pop/alternative music and a variety of jazz dance styles and modern dance.

Baby Stage From Age 3-6 years

Baby Stage is a combination class for younger children. The hour longclass is broken down into 3 20 minute elements, Tap, Modern and Song & Dance.  Here the younger children get a chance to sample lots of different genres at a young age which will help them when they move into the Primary Grade as the basics will be known.  Its great fun and very popular you will leave singing!

ISTD Tap from ages 3+

Tap dance is a form of dance characterized by using the sounds of tap shoes striking the floor as a form of percussion. Two major variations on tap dance exist: rhythm (jazz) tap and Broadway tap. Broadway tap focuses on dance; it is widely performed in musical theater. Rhythm tap focuses on musicality, and practitioners consider themselves to be a part of the jazz tradition.The sound is made by shoes that have a metal "tap" on the heel and toe. There are different brands of shoes which sometimes differ in the way they sound...

Acro Age 4+T

Acro is dance based gymnastics and is one of our most popular classes. In this class the children will learn various tricks that will help them with their all round dance ability as well as lots of intense stretching.

ISTD Modern from ages 3+

Modern Theatre dance is a rhythmic dance style which originated in America before travelling to the rest of the world.

It is often seen on the stages of musical productions and is known for its theatrical qualities.The style uses travelling steps, high kicks, leaps and turns which all need strength and flexibility. This is a highly energetic dance style.

Drama

For Drama, we offer LAMDA classes of which pupils can progress through taking their examinations in acting and Musical Theatre. Alternatively, students can participate in free-work acting classes, which includes improvisation, script work and character analysis.