BALLET

CLASSES

R.A.D. Classical Ballet

Dance Max offers tuition in Royal Academy of Dancing (R.A.D), with classes ranging from Pre-Primary to Advanced. Our ballet teachers are all highly experienced, R.A.D. qualified and were themselves trained in the syllabus when they were young dancers.

A Positive Experience
Students don’t continue their ballet training unless they feel that they are making progress and enjoying their classes. We strive to create a positive learning environment in which both these objectives are met.

Two Classes Per Week
From Grade Two, we recommend that students attend two lessons per week. It's not compulsory, but we find that those students who attend two lessons per week feel more comfortable with their knowledge of the syllabus & get much more enjoyment & satisfaction from their ballet.

Ideal for Building Dance Technique
No matter what style of dance our students might want to later pursue, classical ballet provides the young dancer with the best possible underlying dance technique, which is why we recommend classical ballet as the starting point for all young dancers.

Do you accept Active Kids Vouchers?

Yes!
Do you accept Creative Kids vouchers?

Yes!
When do classes start in 2022?

Classes resumed on Monday 31st January. Check out the Important Dates page for our terms & other important dates.
Can I enrol during the year?

You can start at any time during the year. The best times to start are at the beginning of terms 1 & 3. However, it is possible to start at any time, even during the term. Our annual concert is in late June. Starting in the four weeks prior to our concert is not recommended.
Do I need to put my name down on a list?

You don't need to, just come along & try a class. Classes are normally limited to 20 students & are not full at the beginning of the year. If you'd feel more comfortable putting your name down on a list, please complete an Enrolment Form & mail or fax it to us. We'll put your name down & send you a confirmation via email or SMS.
What should be worn to a trial class?

Please don't buy any dancewear until you've tried the class. To try the class, just wear clothing that is comfortable to move in. For Tippy Toes; Dress-ups are great. We're used to seeing fairies & even superheroes. For Ballet & Contemporary; T-shirt & leggings or tracksuits with barefeet. For Jazz; T-shirt & leggings or tracksuits with sneakers. If you're happy with the class & wish to continue, then please purchase the appropriate uniform. Links to Uniform information: Tippy Toes Ballet Jazz & Contemporary
Can parents watch the classes?

You are absolutely welcome to watch the first lesson that your child attends. For Tippy Toes classes, this is normally a necessity to ensure that child & parent are both comfortable! For subsequent lessons, parents won't be in the room. This is not to be unkind to parents, it's because the students focus better without having parents & siblings in the room. For Tippy Toes classes, it sometimes takes two or even three lessons with the parent in the room before the child is comfortable. Over the years, we've become skilled at keeping child & parent happy when joining our classes.

Uniform items may be purchased from a Blochs store. Our nearest Blochs store is at Westfield Hornsby. There is also a Blochs store in Westfield Chatswood.

Seniors should check with their teacher before purchasing Pointe shoes.

Safe Dancing

Teaching dance without sensitivity to a student's individual physical limitations can result in injury.

The Director, Ann-Marie Callahan & Senior Classical Teacher, Juliana Elliott, have completed the R.A.D. Teachers Certificate which included modules on anatomy from the University of Surrey. Ann-Marie is also a fully qualified Pilates instructor. They can recognise if your child has any structural or muscular weaknesses and will modify exercises to ensure that their dance training is safe, beneficial and injury-free.

Exam/Assessment Process

Students have choices about how they progress through the R.A.D. Syllabus. For students seeking to build technique and primarily enjoy dancing, R.A.D. offers assessments where each student qualifies for a certificate of completion.

R.A.D. also offers examinations where higher levels of performance are expected and a graded result is awarded.

While assessment students may attend one ballet lesson per week, examination students must attend two or more lessons per week.

Assessments and examinations are optional and there is no pressure for students to undertake either unless they wish to.