We produce young dancers who have strong technique alongside an understanding of artistry and performance.
Classical ballet is the primary focus of the Junior Dance Course. The course is designed to produce young dancers who show a passion for the art form and develop a strong technique in both classical ballet and modern dance aligned with the development of artistry and the performance skills necessary for today’s dancers. Dancers will enjoy a diverse timetable and our dance faculty will give you the skills to become creative, artistic and well-rounded versatile performers.
Pupils also study modern, tap and have additional classes in either pointe work or boys work. Contemporary dance is introduced in Year Nine.
Course Summary
Training is designed to develop a strong technical grounding and a reliable foundation enabling dancers to achieve high levels of excellence. Pupils are supported by a large faculty of ex professional dancers who are experts within their chosen genres who hone the dancer’s skills on a daily basis.
Pupils on the Junior Dance Course are encouraged to develop fluency as performers across multiple dance genres, Regular conditioning and stretch classes are also included on the timetable, supporting young dancers in their development of strong and healthy bodies.
Pupils in Year Nine are also able to supplement their vocational training with syllabus classes in RAD Ballet and ISTD Modern and Tap, enabling students to achieve these useful qualifications via additional weekend classes.
Course Structure
Pupils study a variety of dance genres including; classical ballet, pointe work, boys work, modern, tap, contemporary, stretch and conditioning classes.
The annual Young Dancers Show takes place at the end of the summer term. This is an opportunity to showcase the technical and artistic skills of our dancers developed during the year. Works are created encompassing all learned genres, created and taught by the dance faculty choreographers. The performances take place on site, in the school’s Markova Theatre.
Tring Park has a long association with English National Ballet Company. Our young dancers have performed in many of their productions. Junior Dance Course pupils are cast by the company every year in their annual performances of The Nutcracker, occurring over the holiday season.
Fees & Funding
The school offers Music and Dance Scheme Awards, funded by the Department for Education. The awards are designed to ensure that access to excellent training may be given to talented young dancers regardless of their background or financial circumstances. These are means-tested awards and therefore the level of funding is dependent on parental income.
FAQs
The audition is a classical and modern class. There is a stretch assessment and you will perform a solo of your choice in any genre you wish to show. A physio and academic assessment are also included as part of the school’s entry process.
1 minute in length.
Vocational classes are held in the morning from 8.30am till 12.05pm, and academic classes are held in the afternoon.
Find Out More
Antony Dowson ARAD, PDTC Dip. | Artistic Director of Encore and Graduate Programmes
Lorraine Jones LISTD (MTH, Tap), AISTD (CB, NT) | Director of Dance Course, Head of Dance
Please get in contact if you have any queries regarding our dance course.