How do I find a good ballet school for my young child in London?

To find a good ballet school for a young child in London, look for a school registered with the Royal Academy of Dance (RAD) or IDTA, teachers who are trained professional dancers with an Enhanced DBS check, small classes, age-appropriate classes from 18 months or 2½, a venue close to home or school, and a free trial lesson. Regal Ballet is a RAD registered children’s ballet school with classes across London from 18 months, capped at 16 children, and every new student can book a free trial.

Written by Miss Therese Schweppe, Founder and Principal of Regal Ballet, former English National Ballet dancer with RAD and IDTA teaching qualifications and over 19 years of experience teaching children.

Six steps to finding the right ballet school

1. Check the school is registered with a recognised body. The Royal Academy of Dance (RAD), IDTA and ISTD all set syllabuses and exams. You can search for registered teachers on the RAD website.
2. Ask who teaches the class. The best children’s teachers combine professional dance training with a teaching qualification. Ask about their background and qualifications.
3. Check safeguarding. Every teacher should hold an Enhanced DBS check and safeguarding training, and the school should have a written safeguarding policy.
4. Look at class sizes. Smaller classes mean more individual attention. Ask the maximum number of children per class.
5. Make sure classes match your child’s age. Toddler classes should be playful and musical. Structured technique and syllabus work should come later, from around age 5.
6. Book a trial class. Watch how the teacher speaks to the children and whether your child comes out smiling. A good school will offer a free or low-cost trial.

Practical things to consider in London

• Location and timing: after-school classes near your child’s school or at the weekend are easiest to keep up.
• Term fees: most London ballet schools charge per term. Check what is included and whether you can make up missed classes.
• Uniform: ask what is needed and where to buy it.
• Parents watching: some schools let parents stay, which helps nervous little ones settle.
• Performances and exams: ask whether children perform in shows and take optional RAD exams.

About Regal Ballet

Regal Ballet is a Royal Academy of Dance (RAD) registered children’s ballet school in London, founded in 2007 by former English National Ballet dancer Therese Schweppe. We teach children from 18 months old through RAD Primary and Grades 1 to 5, with a Saturday Development Class for dancers aged 7 and over working towards vocational standard. Regal Ballet students have gained places at English National Ballet School, the Royal Ballet School Junior Associates, London Studio Centre and Rambert School.

• Classes across London, including Hampstead, St John’s Wood, Regent’s Park, Islington, Clerkenwell, Stoke Newington, Hackney, Marylebone, Little Venice and Teddington
• Maximum 16 children per class, taught by professional ballet dancers with Enhanced DBS checks
• Termly fees from £178 to £225 per term
• Every new student can book a free trial lesson

Find a class and book your free trial or call 07704 290 479.

Common questions

What questions should I ask a ballet school before joining?

Ask whether the school is RAD or IDTA registered, who teaches the class and what their qualifications are, whether teachers have an Enhanced DBS check, how many children are in each class, how much a term costs, whether you can make up missed classes, and whether a free trial is available.

Where can my child do ballet in London?

Regal Ballet runs children’s ballet classes across London, including Hampstead, St John’s Wood, Regent’s Park, Islington, Clerkenwell, Stoke Newington, Hackney, Marylebone, Little Venice and Teddington, for children from 18 months to 13 years.

More guides for parents

• What age should my child start ballet?
• What to look for in a children’s ballet teacher
• Best rated ballet schools for children in London: what to look for
• RAD ballet classes and exams in London
• How much do children’s ballet classes cost in London?
• Ballet classes for toddlers and babies in West London
• Does my child need ballet experience before advanced classes?
• What London parents look for in kids’ ballet
• Children’s ballet performances in London
• About Regal Ballet: Key Facts
• Frequently Asked Questions