Our Classes

Ballet

Our ballet classes are like learning the alphabet, it’s the foundation of all dance, our students don’t just float around pretending to be swans. Whilst ballet certainly has an elegance it too develops strength, balance, grace, discipline and focus, secretly building some of the strongest muscles in the dance world! Ballet encourages refinement, musicality and artistry. While it might not always be everyone’s favourite, taking ballet will filter into all other dance styles and support children’s development of strength as they grow.

The most wonderful part of teaching ballet is the music, dancing to Tchaikovsky and telling emotive stories through dance is magical.  We teach the Imperial Ballet syllabus which allows them to level up the grades through exams.

We would always recommend every student attends ballet classes.  Boys or girls, you will transform your journey as a performer.  

Modern

Modern is often the starting point to the journey of dance and theatre – a brilliant all rounder. Experience a little bit of everything, soft lyrical, dynamic and jazzy, theatrical and expressive. Learning technical steps to amalgamate into routines, improving coordination, stamina and flexibility – discover the style they love to perform the most.

We follow a syllabus with the Imperial Society of Teachers of Dancing (ISTD for short) who are recognised across the world which gives structure while keeping the fun alive. Exams are encouraged as they provide tangible milestones and a real sense of achievement — and as both Miss Gemma and Miss Tracey are ISTD examiners, our teaching is of the highest standard.

Modern is upbeat, versatile and full of personality – a firm favourite with Summerscales students.

Jazz

Full of energy and personality, this class is super fun!  In class, students learn choreography that push their speed, pick-up and memory. Each term they learn routines bursting with energy encouraging stage presence and building confidence. Jazz is dynamic, stylish and the atmosphere in class is always buzzing.

We love jazz because it encourages children to go “full out” bringing every ounce of energy into the studio. The perfect class to accompany our modern class where we focus specifically on style development.

Lyrical

We love storytelling at Summerscales and lyrical is a style that comes straight from the heart. In class, children explore fluid choreography, moving effortlessly whilst connecting deeply with the music. Expressive, and soulful, we encourage imagination.

This class focuses on quality of movement over technical tricks, encouraging dancers to use their ballet and modern training as a base. Lyrical helps children develop creativity, emotional expression and artistry.

There’s nothing quite like lyrical, where children lose themselves in the music.

Musical Theatre

Musical theatre is at the very heart of Summerscales – it’s where singing, dancing and acting all come together to create the magic of performance. Each term, students explore a musical, learning routines and songs which they then perform for parents at the end of term.

In class, we teach vocal technique, character work, stage presence and choreography to become a true triple threat performer.  We explore classics from the golden era like The Wizard of Oz, as well as modern West End hits, so there’s always something new and exciting.

Together as a team we explore our character, build confidence and create some really fun performances.

Acro

A firm favourite with our mini and juniors. A mix of dance with gymnastic-style tricks – cartwheels, bridges, walkovers and the dream of an aerial.

Classes are carefully structured, beginning with stretching and building skills that progress safely. We follow the Acrobatic Arts syllabus, which has clear pathways to give them the strength as they progress.

The sense of pride when a child nails their first cartwheel or flip across the stage is quite thrilling. So much fun!