Ballet

Ballet is the spine of the school, and it is taught the proper way: the RAD syllabus grade by grade, a live pianist, feet on the barre before feet on the floor, and a teacher who will send a child back a grade rather than let them hurt themselves in the next one. It is also, done this way, enormous fun.

Pre-Primary, from two and a half, is thirty minutes of music, movement and imagination with a parent in the room for the first term: skipping, galloping, pointing toes, the first port de bras, and a story every week. Primary follows from about five, then Grades 1 to 8 at roughly a grade a year, each with its set exercises, free movement and character work, and each with the option of the RAD exam at the end of the year. Children move up when their teacher says the grade is secure, which is sometimes before the year is out and sometimes after.

From Grade 4 the teenagers who want more can add the vocational Intermediate Foundation and Intermediate classes on Saturday mornings: ninety minutes of barre, centre and pointe preparation that is the route to vocational school or simply to dancing properly as an adult. Pointe work starts only when Nerys has assessed the feet and the strength, never before twelve, and never because a friend has started.

Every graded class has Rhodri at the piano. A pianist is expensive and most schools use recordings; we think the difference in musicality by Grade 3 is obvious, and the examiners agree. Classes are in Studio 1, the long room with the barre, the sprung floor and the mirrors, with the piano in the corner by the window.

Uniform is the RAD leotard in the grade colour, pink tights and leather or canvas shoes, with hair in a bun from Grade 1. We fit shoes at the registration appointment, keep a rail of outgrown leotards at £5, and do not change the uniform between grades for the sake of it. The exam dates for the next two sessions are on the exams page with what each grade needs.

What is included

• The RAD syllabus from Pre-Primary (two and a half) to Grade 8, a class per grade
• Rhodri at the piano for every graded class
• Intermediate Foundation and Intermediate on Saturday mornings from Grade 4
• Pointe work assessed individually, never before twelve
• Optional RAD exams twice a year with the dates on the website
• Uniform fitted at registration; a second-hand rail at £5

What it costs

Pre-Primary £6 for thirty minutes; Primary to Grade 3 £7 for forty-five minutes; Grade 4 and above £8.50 for an hour; Intermediate Foundation £12 for ninety minutes. Nothing is added. The timetable has every class with its spaces, the term dates and the prices side by side; the exams and shows page has the dates.