FAQs

Ballet can be defined as ‘a type of dancing where carefully organised movements tell a story or express an idea’ (Cambridge Advanced Learner’s Dictionary).

At Grace & Poise we have a unique approach to Ballet. Our training, choreographic works and repertoire is accompanied by Poetry, rather than traditional use of music. Ballet is a Movement Art form that when accompanied by Poetry explores the relationship of the spoken word and movement. It depicts narrative, expression and emotions.

As an Academy striving for excellence in nurturing each child’s potential through Ballet, we have chosen to explore Ballet to Poetry as a means of enhancing child’s holistic development. Our experience working with Poetry has revealed that this methodology is a unique and impactful approach to teaching Ballet, with huge benefits to each child’s development. Therefore, we offer the traditional Art form of Ballet in a different context and instead of the traditional use of Music to Ballet, we use Poetry as a creative and innovative approach to Ballet. This also allows our Academy to be accessible to Muslims with differences of opinion.

Our way of working also celebrates the long standing relationship between Poetry and Islam and so we love embracing Poetry as part of our identity as a school and is inclusive to all members of the Muslim community.

We are passionate about offering Ballet Education to the highest level.

Our teachers are fully qualified and trained to teach Ballet to a very high professional standards, have up to date enhanced DBS and are trained in child safety and safeguarding.

Our Ballet Education Programme aims to be the equivalent of any other well recognised Ballet Organisation or Examining body in the World.

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•      Classes are Girls only from 6yrs

•      Different options forBallet Uniform to cater for Modesty

•      Female teachers

•      Private Studio Spaces

•      Ladies only performances

•      Offering future career opportunities for Girls within the context of Ballet we offer

The Academy has Islamic Ethos and aims to make Ballet accessible to the Muslim Community, however we welcome anyone to join our classes as the benefits of our approach to Ballet is universal and this opportunity is available to all. We already teach some non-Muslims students who are passionate about Ballet to Poetry.

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We welcome boys aged 6 and under. After which, classes are girls only to cater for their muslim modesty needs.

We encourage our students to pursue Ballet to a high level and into adult hood for physical, mental, emotional and social wellbeing. We aim to support our students to train to professional levels of Ballet to Poetry. Should they wish to pursue it as a career, we will provide training and graduate programmes for them to train as Ballet Teachers. This will enable them to join our Ballet Teaching Faculty and teach our Ballet to PoetrySyllabus, within the values of our Academy. Grace & Poise. We feel very strongly that our vision and work benefits future generations.

We promote the development of the Arts within the bounds of Islam. Our Ballet Classes are Girls only above the age of 6 and any performances above this age would be to female only audiences.

Evening Ballet Classes are arranged so that each school equivalent age group takes a Ballet examination annually, homeschool classes have mixed age groups and therefore it is not possible to work towards an exam in this format due to different levels of ability and learning needs. However, the homeschool students receive their own specific award to acknowledge  their achievement. The homeschool programme runs up to the age of 7 at which point our students naturally transition to the evening academy.

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Physical

As an art form, Ballet requires a high level of precision, control, co-ordination, strength, flexibility, stamina, focus and determination. Not only is Ballet incredibly demanding upon the body and requires such athleticism but it also requires creativity, expression and intellectual interpretation to explore the relationship between movement and Poetry.

Mental

Cognitive development

Emotional development

Social development

To read more they can be directed to Ballet & Our SyllabusPage.

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Ballet done correctly and in accordance with safe practice will offer incredible benefits to one’s physical health. Our teachers are fully trained in safe practice, with full knowledge and understanding of body anatomy. The body develops strength, stamina, mobility, flexibility, control, good alignment and good posture.

Pointe work requires precise training for numerous years and so children are taught to bare weight on the balls of their feet when they are young and not the ends of their toes. Usually if a child has done Ballet from the age of 2 or 3, by the age of 11 the teacher will examine whether the child is safe to pursue pointe work. This examination looks at the strength and control through the whole body and the alignment of the lower legs, feet and general bone structure to evaluate whether pointe work is appropriate for the child. When pursuing pointe work great care is taken to educate safe and secure technique.

Pointe work when done safely will not damage your body. We carefully account for this in our teaching.

For marketing, social media and other publicity avenues, we obtain full consent from parents for featuring their child. For safeguarding purposes, we take this matter very seriously.

Most of our students are beginners at Ballet, your child is most welcome at any stage of learning to join our classes. 

Every child has the opportunity to enter for an exam at the end of the academic year. We withhold the right to not offer an exam if your child has not had sufficient time in the level to prepare for the exam. This is to ensure that the exam is a positive experience for the child and that they feel able to cope with the expectations.

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