Recommendations - North Kent

[LargelyConfused]

Hi, 

my daughter is 7, in year 3 at school, and has just been in her first festivals, doing a solo ballet. She has always said she loves dancing but the experience of being on stage has really ramped it all up. However, having seen the standard of the others in her age group, and with a couple of other concerns about her current dance school, I’m a bit worried she isn’t getting the best training. 
 

I don’t know what I’m looking for in judging a dance school, and I’m struggling to find any alternatives near us, so I was hoping for some recommendations if possible. We live near Gravesend in North Kent. 
 

Thank you so much 

[MissEmily]

Would Sevenoaks be too far? Lisa Maybank is great, or The Studios in Sundridge (also near Sevenoaks).

[LargelyConfused]

It depends what time the classes are, but potentially I could get her there. I’ll look at Lisa Maybank, thank you. I have tried to contact The Studios, although so far unsuccessfully. 

[Canary]

May I suggest you telephone The Royal Academy of Dance and ask for a list of fully trained teachers I presume Imperial, Chechetti BBO head officers have the same lists. Some teachers wont do festivals. You know your child, some schools concentrate more on syllabus and on exams, some are more business like and like competitions to advertise their school. 

[LargelyConfused]

Thank you Canary, I’ll look at that too

[glowlight]

The Royal Academy of Dance have a list of RAD qualified teachers on their website, but I don't know if it is a complete list.  

 

https://www.royalacademyofdance.org/dance-with-us/find-a-rad-teacher/

[Ruby Foo]

I would recommend Nicola Moriarty. 
She teaches near Brands Hatch and possibly other venues. 

[LargelyConfused]

Thank you Valentina

[Dancingmummy]

I would second the recommendation for Nicola Moriarty - look up on social media Nicola Tarry Classical Ballet xxx

[Anna C]

A belated welcome to the forum, LargelyConfused - great name!

[akh]

Judith Wilson is very good and caring. Near Tunbridge.

[Coffeemum]

Definitely Nicola Tarry school. Xx

[alison]

On 09/10/2021 at 13:23, akh said:

Judith Wilson is very good and caring. Near Tunbridge.

 

Tonbridge, or Tunbridge Wells?

[akh]

I think classes are held at Penshurst Village Hall and she teaches Ceccheti and has had several Ceccheti Scholars. I had this information from a while back so you may need to check

[KeenButClueless]

If she’s serious, absolutely look at Nicola Tarry Classical Ballet (previously known Nicola Moriarty or Woodside). 
She is a phenomenal teacher - she is extremely passionate yet still makes it fun. 
They haven’t competed much in the past but seem to be attending more festivals and doing very well.

[HopelessMummy]

Try looking in the programmes for the festivals for participating schools- Beckenham being the obvious one. There are lots of very good dance schools out there in North Kent and yes Nicola Tarry is excellent but there are also others you can take a look around. 

 

 

[HopelessMummy]

Was trying to post a photo from some programmes but too large for this website. Have a squizz at the dance schools following Tunbridge Wells, Beckenham, Orpington and Medway dance festivals on Facebook... Hope this helps.

 

 

[alison]

I hope you have your own transport if you're thinking of Beckenham or Orpington: public transport from Gravesend would be pretty horrendous, especially to Beckenham, which is down the bottom of a railway "cul-de-sac".

[HopelessMummy]

11 hours ago, alison said:

I hope you have your own transport if you're thinking of Beckenham or Orpington: public transport from Gravesend would be pretty horrendous, especially to Beckenham, which is down the bottom of a railway "cul-de-sac".

😂 I was thinking of the schools who enter Beckenham/Orpington/Tun Wells. Don't think you can travel around easily anywhere without transport in Kent and Medway. Buses and trains are horrendous!