Dance
Welcome to the dance department of Downside, a bubbling hub of creativity, passion, team-work and inspiration!
At Downside, we make a point of being sure that everyone is welcome and has as many opportunities as possible for partaking, trying and excelling in dance. In the Dance department, we believe in equality, inclusivity, diversity and security for our students to really flourish, while feeling supported, safe and seen.
Dance isn’t always seen as something that everyone can do, or take part in. At Downside we challenge that theory and mindset, turning “who can dance” and “what a dancer is supposed to look like” into “why not me?”
We are very lucky to be able to offer a huge variety of dance styles here at Downside, including some specialist areas which won’t be found at any of our competitors.
- Graded RAD Ballet
- Non-graded Ballet, specialising in Russian and American style ballet
- Pointe work
- Contemporary Dance
- Ballroom/Salsa/Battchatta/Swing Dance
- Hip hop
- Jazz/Modern Dance
- Lyrical Dance
We also offer a wide selection of clubs and extra groups including Pointe and Ballet Repertoire extra training, Ballroom, and Contemporary clubs. All are welcome to attend. We are delighted that our RAD Ballet and Ballet Assessments regularly reach Distinction levels.
There are performance opportunities every term. These can be in our small-scale concerts and events, right up to our big annual showcases: the St Cecilia’s Day concert; Musical and Opera productions; Fashion shows; and Dance showcases. Highlights from 2021-22 included our “Evening of Love” school production with repertoire performed from “The Dying Swan”, “Les Sylphides”, “Don Quixote”, “Emeralds”, and choreography created especially for students at Downside by the Director and Choreographer of the New Works Ballet Theatre Company. In 2023, we will also be offering some exciting new workshop opportunities, with guest teachers, dancers and styles of dance, so stay tuned for more in the future!
SARAH JANE SIGLEY
Dance / RAD Ballet Teacher
SSigley@downside.co.uk