All About Colton Dancing Academy

Where?

The Colton Dancing Academy holds classes at it’s studios on Park Street. It has three studios, a large dressing room, and green room with tea and coffee facilities for parents to use whilst waiting for their child/children.

When?

Classes are held most evenings after school and on Saturday mornings. Please view our current timetable here.

Classes

We offer tuition in ballet, tap and modern dance, as well as mime. We strive to place new pupils in a class with other dancers of a similar age.

Progression

Children are able to start with us in our Kindergarten class the term that they turn 3 years old. The Kindergarten class is an introduction to dance through music, movement and action songs. We then encourage pupils to move into our Introductory class, which continues to give a grounding in dance.

Performances

We like to encourage all of our pupils to take part in our annual show at The Blackledge Theatre, at Godolphin School. It takes place during the school’s February half term, and most rehearsals prior to show week take place during class. The Colton Dancing Academy offers children the opportunity to gain confidence on stage through their annual show and the many other performance opportunities available.

Troupe

Our troupe of Colton Dancers perform at events locally and have also performed previously at the Royal Albert Hall, Sadlers Wells and Disneyland Paris. All pupils are welcome to dance with the troupe.

Brief history

The Colton Dancing Academy was established in 1976 by Valerie Colton. When she took over the Audrey Bellamy Ballet School. The Academy has always been a family run school and now Valerie’s eldest daughter Ellen-Jane is principal, with her three daughters, Sarah, Katy and Rosie assisting her.

Syllabus

We teach to the Association of American Dancing’s syllabus. “The Association of American Dancing was founded by a group of British and American teachers under the directions of Judy Cholerton and Fred Astaire, with contributions from other performers such as Gene Kelly, the aim being to maintain the traditions of authentic American Tap. Following the success of the tap syllabus the Association, in 1936, embraced the disciplines of the ballet, modern and acrobatic forms of dance to which was later added a mime syllabus.”
aad More info at www.the-aad.org.uk