Primary Modern Dancing Classes (for children in School Reception to Year 2)

From Reception year at school, children can learn a new and exciting dance genre – modern dance.  Our fun and lively modern classes introduce children to a wide range of modern dance styles with an emphasis on understanding different qualities of movement to a wide range of music. Children learn to make creative shapes with their bodies and improve their flexibility and strength.  There is a strong focus on dancing in time with the music and counting the correct number of steps as well as mastering direction and knowledge of right and left.  Sense of performance and a confident eye line are gradually developed throughout their time in Primary modern as well as good posture.  Towards the end of the first year in Primary modern, children will start to learn the skills needed for the Primary modern examination and their teacher will therefore start to encourage them to try to remember exercises and corrections from lesson to lesson.

When children are in Year 1 or 2 at school, they may be offered the opportunity to take their first dance examination under the ISTD (Imperial Society of Teachers of Dance).  Primary modern is a class examination which means the teacher accompanies a small group of children into the examination for support and reassurance, but is not permitted to join in or lead the children in any way.  The children must have a complete knowledge of the steps and exercises, and be able to recall them from memory.  We understand that this might be your child’s first ever experience of an examination and so we ensure children are fully prepared and confident to enter, meaning it’s a very positive event.

To enable children to develop their rhythm and timing, Pre-Primary tap classes must be taken alongside Primary modern and it is necessary for most children to also learn Pre-Primary ballet.