The practical answers

Yes. Every new student is offered one free trial class, with no obligation to continue. If your child wants to carry on afterwards, fees are payable in advance for the rest of the current half term.

Not remotely — it is how almost everybody starts. Our classes are built around the assumption that a new dancer knows nothing yet, and our teachers are used to settling children who arrive shy.

Nothing. Come in comfortable clothes your child can move in. Correct uniform is expected from the second half term onwards, and we will tell you exactly what is needed for your child’s class and grade once they have a place. Please do not buy anything before you know they have settled.

It is usually decided by age. Two-and-a-half to four-and-a-half go into Pre-School Ballet & Tap; five to nine into the combined Ballet, Tap & Jazz class; and from there dancers move into individual styles as they find what they love. If you are unsure, ask us — we would rather place a child well than quickly.

Not usually. Parents and guardians are not able to stay and watch except on designated occasions when we invite you in — children settle and concentrate far better without an audience. Pre-School classes are the exception: parents and guardians stay and remain responsible for their own child, because at that age most of them need you nearby.

Yes. All of our teachers are professionally trained and hold an enhanced DBS and First Aid training, and the school holds appropriate insurance. No child under 18 is permitted to leave the premises unaccompanied unless you have given written permission and it is considered safe to do so.

Sometimes, and only where it helps. Appropriate physical contact may be needed to correct posture, alignment, positioning and technique, or to help prevent injury. Teachers use professional judgement, keep any contact appropriate to the activity, and students are always told they can say if it makes them uncomfortable.

Everything relevant. You complete a health registration form when joining, and you should update it if anything changes — medical conditions, injuries, allergies and medication all matter to how a class is taught. Teachers may adapt or restrict participation where that is necessary for your child’s safety or anyone else’s.

Possibly, and only with your permission. Students may be photographed or filmed in classes, rehearsals, shows and competitions for school records, teaching, our website and social media. Permission is collected through the registration process, names are not normally published alongside images, and you can change or withdraw your permission at any time by telling us.

Half termly, payable one week in advance of the new half term — except the summer term, where half is due on 1 August and the rest on 1 September. A half term is normally between five and seven weeks, depending on Oxfordshire County Council term dates.

Fees pay for the place reserved for your child in the class, not for individual attendance.

Please let us know. The fee still applies, because your child’s place stays reserved whether or not they attend. Where we can offer a suitable make-up class we will, at our discretion and subject to space — but it is not guaranteed.

Yes. We offer large discounts for multiple classes. Making real dance training affordable has mattered to us since the school was founded, and a dancer who wants three styles should not be priced out of two of them.

A full half term’s notice, in writing by email. So if you want to leave at the start of Term 2, we need to know at the start of Term 1. Our classes have limited places and long waiting lists, which is why the notice period is what it is.

Please make sure your notice has been acknowledged by the Principal — do not assume an email has arrived.

No. Accredited examinations are available with the British Theatre Dance Association in most disciplines, and with Acrotrix for acro gymnastics, but they are always optional. Plenty of our dancers never take one and love their classes just as much.

A full professional show every two years, plus competitions, festivals and medal tests through the year for those who want them. The show is a genuine production — one grandparent described it as “absolutely at home in a London theatre”, which we have never quite got over.

Yes, and we have. Our students have gone on to places at Italia Conti, Trinity Laban, Performers and Body Works. The route usually runs through multiple disciplines, graded examinations and the Senior Performance Group — talk to us early if this is the direction your dancer is heading.

We will tell you as early as we can and try to provide a replacement lesson. Occasionally classes are affected by things outside our control — severe weather, venue closure, and so on — and where it is appropriate we may run the lesson online instead, in which case the normal fee applies. Where no reasonable alternative is possible we will consider a credit or refund. Safety is always the deciding factor.