The Stoller School of Dancing offers professional training across all aspects of dance and musical theatre, with classes designed to inspire, challenge and develop dancers of all abilities.
Alongside regular weekly classes, our pupils have the opportunity to take part in a wide variety of performance, competition and creative opportunities throughout the year, including our annual major production, Christmas show, competition teams, choreography competition, summer workshops and many other events.
Our dancers can also gain valuable industry experience through opportunities to perform with professional companies and agencies, while those wishing to pursue a career in teaching can begin their teacher training journey with us.
Classes are structured according to age, ability and previous experience, ensuring that every pupil is placed in an environment where they can develop, progress and feel confident.
We recognise that every child is different, which is why each pupil is assessed individually when joining the school. Our experienced teachers can then recommend the most suitable class and level of training.
Please see our class age-range guide below for an indication of where your child may fit.
We offer ISTD graded examinations in Imperial Ballet, Tap, Modern and Jazz, providing pupils with the opportunity to work towards recognised qualifications and develop their technique, discipline and performance skills.
Whether your child dances for fun, fitness and friendship, or dreams of a career in the performing arts, there is a place for them at The Stoller School of Dancing.
Modern dance emerged in the early 20th century as dancers began to challenge the traditional conventions and restrictions of classical ballet. While technique remains an important foundation, modern places a strong emphasis on creative expression, individuality and storytelling through movement.
Our modern classes encourage dancers to explore movement freely, developing their ability to express emotions, musicality and performance quality. Drawing on the close relationship between ballet and modern, classes incorporate elements of both disciplines while introducing a broader range of movement styles and dynamics.
Modern training is excellent for developing core strength, flexibility, stamina, balance, co-ordination and performance skills, whilst encouraging dancers to become more confident and expressive performers.
Throughout our classes, pupils explore a variety of rhythms, styles and musical influences, including lyrical, contemporary, jazz and musical theatre, with music ranging from current chart hits to much-loved musical theatre favourites.
Pupils also have the opportunity to work towards ISTD graded examinations in Modern, providing a structured pathway for those wishing to develop their technique and gain recognised qualifications.
Tap dance is a vibrant and rhythmic style with a rich history, influenced by a fascinating blend of dance traditions, including African Juba, English Lancashire clogging, Irish step dancing and Spanish Flamenco.
During the 1930s–1950s, many of the greatest tap dancers made the transition from the Vaudeville stage to film and television, helping to establish tap as one of the world’s most recognisable and entertaining dance styles.
Tap is characterised by the distinctive percussive sounds created by metal plates attached to the toe and heel of the dancer’s shoes. Dancers use their feet almost like musical instruments, creating intricate rhythms, beats and combinations.
Our tap classes are fun, energetic and challenging, developing musicality and encouraging dancers to express themselves through rhythm and movement. Pupils develop key skills including timing, rhythm, syncopation, co-ordination, musicality, fitness and performance.
Throughout their training, dancers are introduced to a wide range of musical styles, including Swing, Jazz, Latin, Musical Theatre, Pop and Contemporary music, allowing them to explore different rhythms and styles of tap.
Pupils also have the opportunity to work towards ISTD graded examinations in Tap, providing a structured pathway to develop their technique and gain recognised qualifications.
Ballet is a beautiful and highly technical discipline that provides the foundation for many other styles of dance. With its emphasis on precision, control, musicality and artistry, ballet develops the skills and technique that can support a dancer throughout their training.
A distinctive feature of ballet is turnout — the outward rotation of the legs from the hips — alongside graceful, flowing movements, controlled extensions and precise footwork.
Our ballet classes focus on developing strength, flexibility, posture, balance, control, co-ordination and musical awareness. Dancers build strength through the legs and core, whilst developing strong, well-articulated feet and the flexibility required for more advanced training, including pointe work where appropriate.
Ballet is a challenging and rewarding discipline that encourages discipline, focus, confidence and self-expression, whilst helping dancers develop a strong technical foundation and physical awareness.
Classes are available across a range of ages and abilities, with pupils progressing at their own individual pace.
Pupils also have the opportunity to work towards ISTD graded examinations in Imperial Ballet, providing a structured pathway for dancers wishing to develop their technique and gain recognised qualifications.
Hip Hop and Commercial are high-energy, expressive and constantly evolving dance styles, influenced by street dance, popular culture, music videos, live performances and the professional dance industry.
Hip Hop has its roots in street and social dance culture and introduces dancers to a variety of styles and techniques, including Popping, Locking, Breaking, Grooves and Freestyle. Classes encourage dancers to develop musicality, rhythm, individuality and confidence, whilst learning how different movements and styles respond to the music.
Commercial dance is the style most commonly seen in music videos, concerts, television performances, tours and live shows. It combines elements from a wide range of genres, including Hip Hop, Jazz, Street Dance, Heels-inspired movement, Waacking, Vogue-inspired movement and Contemporary, creating the powerful, polished performance style associated with today’s professional dancers and recording artists.
Our classes are fast-paced, energetic and fun, introducing pupils to current choreography and the latest trends within the dance industry. Dancers work on technique, strength, stamina, timing, co-ordination, musicality, dynamics and performance, while developing confidence and discovering their own individual style.
Choreography is taught to a wide variety of current chart music and popular tracks, giving dancers the opportunity to explore everything from strong, hard-hitting routines to more fluid, expressive and performance-led choreography.
As dancers progress, they are encouraged not simply to learn choreography, but to understand musicality, texture, dynamics, performance quality and personal interpretation — important skills for anyone wishing to develop as a versatile dancer.
Whether dancing recreationally or aspiring to work professionally, Hip Hop & Commercial classes provide an exciting environment in which pupils can build confidence, develop versatility, keep fit and, most importantly, enjoy expressing themselves through dance.
Contemporary dance has become one of the most popular and influential dance styles worldwide, and is now an important part of any versatile dancer’s training.
Originally drawing inspiration from classical ballet, modern and jazz, contemporary has continued to evolve and now incorporates movement and techniques from a wide variety of dance styles. It places a strong emphasis on freedom of movement, musicality, fluidity, dynamics and individual expression.
Our contemporary classes encourage dancers to explore movement in a more expressive and creative way, developing their ability to interpret music, convey emotion and tell a story through movement. Classes also challenge dancers physically, helping to build strength, flexibility, balance, control, co-ordination and performance quality.
We encourage all pupils, where possible, to include Contemporary within their training, as it is an excellent way to enhance their existing technique, broaden their movement vocabulary and develop greater versatility and confidence as a dancer.
Whether performed with powerful, dynamic movement or softer, more fluid choreography, contemporary provides dancers with the opportunity to develop their own individuality and truly express themselves through dance.
Musical Theatre brings together three core performance disciplines — singing, acting and dancing — to create a complete theatrical performance. From the bright lights of the West End and Broadway to touring productions and local theatre, musical theatre continues to inspire audiences and performers around the world.
Our Musical Theatre classes are designed to develop versatile, confident and expressive performers, with pupils exploring a wide range of theatrical and performance skills.
Classes incorporate acting, singing and dance, alongside script work, improvisation and drama games to develop characterisation, communication and confidence. Pupils learn vocal techniques and explore how movement can be incorporated into songs to create exciting song-and-dance routines.
Throughout the year, we explore a variety of classic and contemporary musicals, giving pupils the opportunity to experience different characters, musical styles, stories and performance techniques.
Musical Theatre is a fantastic way to develop confidence, creativity, teamwork, communication and performance skills, whilst encouraging pupils to express themselves and have fun.
Whether your child dreams of performing professionally or simply loves being on stage, Musical Theatre provides the opportunity to sing, dance, act and shine!
