By Emily Turner

The benefits of ballet for children are well documented. In London, there are literally hundreds of ballet schools, not to mention jazz, tap, modern and salsa. So if your little darling has aspirations to be an Angelina or a Billy Elliott, where do you begin?

I spoke to Elfreda Eden, principal of the Vacani School of Dance, for some help understanding the different types of ballet around. When she starts to talk, I, an inept and flat-footed ballerina, am back in the world of Noel Streatfield and outings to Saturday matinées. The Vacani School teaches the Cecchetti method – Maestro Enrico Cecchetti taught Anna Pavlova and Njinski. Cecchetti was an Italian but studied in Russia and devised a teaching syllabus that for many years was the only way ballet was formally taught. Over time, the Royal Academy of Dance (RAD) developed its own method of teaching and set of exams. The Cecchetti method now falls under the umbrella of the Imperial Society of Teachers of Dancing (ISTD) which also has its own classical ballet syllabus, the Imperial. Although historically there were marked differences between the various teaching methods, each has borrowed from the other and the fundamentals are now largely the same.

To confuse you further, there are two other recognised bodies, the British Ballet Organisation and the British Theatre Dance Association. Parents can be assured that teachers from these bodies will have reached a certain standard and pupils can be entered into a series of accredited exams.

When to start

Most schools take children from 2 1/2 to 3 but very few will apply formal teaching methods immediately. (Vacani does not teach the Cechetti method until children are 4). Pre-school classes can therefore vary widely from school to school. At this stage, qualifications and technical excellence are less important that an ability to capture the children’s imagination, and, crucially, to control them!

That said, in a attempt to attain a degree of uniformity and recognized standard for its pre-school teachers, the RAD has just launched its own pre-school dance curriculum, ‘Dance to Your Own Music’. This non-prescriptive tool for teachers has been designed from a developmental perspective, addressing young children’s cognitive, motor, emotional and social development. I went to see a demonstration class of 3–4 year olds. Basic dance skills were cleverly incorporated into a fun programme structured round a story of a journey to a magic desert island.

If you can, try and find a class that uses real piano music. Elfreda Eden explains that as well as teaching children to listen to the music, having a piano accompanist gives the teacher a degree of flexibility not possible with a tape.

Exams

All the major ballet organisations have two types of examinations, standard grades and vocational examinations. Exams generally begin at about 6 years old.

Saturday Schools & Holiday Classes

In addition to regular weekday classes, a number of schools run Saturday classes.

The Arts Ed School in Chiswick runs Saturday schools for pre-schoolers during term time
Cone Ripman House,14 Bath Road W4 1LY
Tel 020 8987 6666

The Royal Academy of Dance runs a week long summer school for 7+ which this year runs from 26–31 July and costs £275.
Tel 020 7326 8000 for details.

Associations

Imperial Society of Teachers of Dancing (ISTD)
22–26 Paul Street, EC2A 4QE
Tel 020 7377 1577
website
Incorporating the Cecchetti and Imperial methods of ballet (also covers tap, modern, jazz, etc).

Royal Academy of Dance
36 Battersea Square, SW11 3RA
Tel 020 7326 8000
email
website
Classes are also held at the RAD Battersea Square headquarters.

British Ballet Organisation
Woolborough House
39 Lonsdale Road, SW13 9JP
Tel 020 8748 1241
BBO teachers are registered with the Council for Dance Education and Training which has a useful information service.
Call 0901 8800014 (premium line 25p per min)
website

British Theatre Dance Association
Tel 0116 2622279
website

All of the above can provide lists of registered teachers in your area.

Dance Schools

Barnes Ballet School
Tel (Nicola Lister) 020 8540 8031

Chelsea Ballet School
Tel 020 7351 4117
Classes at St Barnabus Church Hall
Ranelagh Grove, SW1
Cecchetti (plus jazz and tap and easter holiday Scottish reeling classes)

First Steps Ballet
Tel 020 7381 5224
Ballet, tap and street jazz.
Classes in SW6.

Francis Lundy School of Dance
Tel 020 8675 0433

La Silvaine and Wendy Bell School of Dance
Tel 020 8964 0561
Pre-ballet, ballet (RAD), modern, tap and hip hop. Classes in Fulham, Chelsea and South Kensington.

London Dance School
Tel (Sarah Daultry) 020 8940 3793
Classes in W4 and W14

Pleasing School of Ballet
Tel (Jo Wellings) 020 7722 1829
Classes in W6

Una Billings School of Children’s Dancing
W14
Tel 020 7603 8156

Vacani School of Dancing
Tel 020 7592 9255
website
Classes in Chelsea, Clapham, Fulham, Richmond, Pimlico/Victoria, Sheen, Swiss Cottage.