SLDS

South London Dance Studios have just started running fun dance parties for children - you can choose from ballet dancing, street dance or themed dance party. Contact us for more info: [email protected] 020 7978 8624 Carla

Dear 'new mother', South London Dance Studios in Herne Hill is my dance school and we cater for the 'once a week hobby child' as well as offer an all round training for the child who wants to take dance more 'seriously'. We regularly enter dance competitions and our students can audition for West End Shows and children's dance companies such as NYB and LCB. My advice is that you should focus on finding the best ballet teacher rather than choosing a syllabus then finding a teacher. In the past I have (like many other dance teachers) taken my own examinations in and also taught all the main syllabi, so I know that it makes no difference which syllabus you follow as long as the teaching is excellent! My chosen examining body is Imperial Ballet (ISTD) because I find the syllabus much more useful in terms of preparing my students for auditions and a possible career in dance. This is because, alongside the usual set exercises, there is also a lot of 'free work' in the examination meaning that the children have to actually use their brains and put steps together in the examination. So ballet classes at SLDS and the ISTD Imperial Ballet examinations are mentally as well as physically challenging! I hope my point of view helps. (Miss) Zoe

Hi Kathryn Lily, At South London Dance Studios in Herne Hill we offer Nursery dance classes for children from 2 1/2 years. You can read about our classes on our website - www.southlondondancestudios.co.uk Contast us for more information or to go on our waiting list - 020 7978 8624 or [email protected] We hope to meet you and your daughter soon! (Miss) Zoe

Hi, To help with your search for Street dancing classes for boys, at South London Dance Studios in Herne Hill we offer boys only Street dance and modern dance classes. For a 5-7 year old boy it would be our Junior 'Funky Moves' class on a Thursday after school and for 8-9 year old boys, Boys Street & modern (I) on a Wednesday after school. These fun and modern classes give boys the chance to learn current commercial dance styles. The music used in class is lively and contemporary and the emphasis is to have fun! Boys improve their ability to learn new routines quickly and also develop their strength and flexibility. They also start to learn gymnastic skills and tricks such as walkovers, handsprings and flips. If you'd like more info, please contact us - 020 7978 8624 or [email protected] You can also look at our website www.southlondondancestudios.co.uk (Miss) Zoe

Hi, Just to help with the search for local chidren's ballet classes, at South London Dance Studios in Herne Hill we offer a wide range of classes in our own studios. If you'd like more info, please contact us - 020 7978 8624 or [email protected] You can also look at our website www.southlondondancestudios.co.uk Miss Zoe

Hello mums who are deliberating about toddlers dance classes! I run South London Dance Studios and I thought it might be helpful for everyone if a couple of things were clarified as there seems to be some confusion about dance classes in the area. I have been running my school for the past 9 years - it started at Grafton on Village Way and we were called Grafton Dance Academy. Two years ago, I secured our own permanent venue which is the former Royal Mail sorting office in Herne Hill (next door to the mini Sainsbury?s) and we became South London Dance Studios (SLDS). We have 3 fully equipped dance studios and a comfortable waiting room upstairs for parents and siblings. We teach students from 18 months to adults and we cater for all abilities ranging from children who want to dance for a fun and productive hobby as well as those children who want to train more seriously. Please do look at our website or call / e-mail us for more information on our classes. Yes, we do have a lot of rules and regulations which are all on our website (as Fuschia mentions!) but do be aware that most dance schools do - especially the half or full terms notice of leaving rule which is vital to run the classes efficiently. I understand Dulwich Ballet School is now hiring our old Grafton venue on Village Way now which I think is what has caused some confusion - so if you decide to go there, be aware that it is a different school now, not us! In short, all the dance schools in this area are very different ? some focused more on the ?once a week hobby child?, some focused on performance skills and others focused on examinations. The best way to choose a school is to go and watch a class so that you can see the teacher in action, really assess what each child is gaining from attending the class and decide if the ethos of the school is right for you and your child. It's so important to choose the right school from the start as you could be there for a long time! I hope this helps - good luck in your searches.