BALLET
INFO
Event - Ballet
Location - PACE Fortune Green Play Centre, Westhampstead, London NW6 1DR
Dates - Every Saturdays
Time - 10am - 11am
Age group - Group A: 3-5 years / Group B: 5-8 years / Group C: 8-12 years
For the 2025 Half term and summer holiday camps, we have limited spaces left, to book your child / children, please contact us via the contact form below, stating which days or weeks you are interested in booking
2025 MAY HALF TERM CAMP
Week 1 - Tuesday 27th - Friday 30th May ,
2025 SUMMER HOLIDAY CAMP (WEEK 1 - 5)
Week 1 - Monday - Friday - (28th July - 1st Aug)
Week 2 - Monday - Friday - (4th Aug - 8th Aug)
Week 3 - Monday - Friday - (11th Aug - 15th Aug)
Week 4 - Monday - Friday - (18th Aug - 22nd Aug)
Week 5 - Monday - Friday - (24th Aug - 30th Aug) / 30th August 2025 is performance Day (Family and friends are invited)
EXPERIENCE THE JOY OF DANCE
VA Ballet School’s philosophy transcends rigorous technical practice, and moves to develop engaged, collaborative, and confident artists. The breadth and depth of the education we provide offers our community an empowering platform to discover and celebrate their love of dance.
SCHOOL YEAR BALLET TRAINING
Preparatory
Ages 16 months to 4 years* | Co-ed |
10-Month Program: September–June with Ongoing Enrolment
Tuition pro-rated monthly
Location - please see your nearest location
Registration for the 2025–2026 school year is now open!
VA Ballet School’s Preparatory Training introduces children (16 months to 4 years*) to ballet through creative movement, storytelling, and self-expression. Rooted in early childhood education and dance therapy principles, the program fosters coordination, motor skills, spatial awareness, and critical thinking through movement to set the stage for a lifelong love of dance and learning.
Taught by expert faculty, classes emphasise artistic exploration and musicality, with live piano accompaniment in select classes starting at age 5. The program progresses through six levels, preparing students to transition seamlessly into Foundations Training (ages 7–9*) for continued ballet education.
Hand in Hand 1
Ages 16 to 24 months* | Co-ed | Ongoing enrolment
Tuition pro-rated monthly
One class per week, 45 minutes
Hand in Hand 1 introduces our youngest students to the educational journey of dance training. Alongside the active presence of a caregiver, students are led through creative movement activities and obstacle courses to begin exploring body awareness. Early childhood education theories support that this age level responds to lively music, exciting stories, and positive reinforcement. These insights are applied frequently in our curriculum to prepare our students to grow as learners inside and outside of the studios.
Hand in Hand 2
Age 2* | Co-ed | Ongoing enrollment
Tuition pro-rated monthly
1 class per week, 45 minutes
Hand in Hand 2 students and their active caregivers explore dancing with instruction designed to improve body awareness and movement in space. Through the utilisation of observing, listening, and imitation, students become more familiar with their bodies, a structured learning environment and following directions, as needed throughout the progression of the Preparatory Training curriculum. Early childhood education theories support that this age level responds to exploration of the mind, lively music, exciting stories, and positive reinforcement. These insights are applied frequently in our curriculum to prepare our students to grow as learners inside and outside of the studios.
Preparatory 3
Age 3* | Co-ed | Ongoing enrollment (
Tuition pro-rated monthly
One class per week, 45 minutes
Preparatory 3 offers a welcoming environment for students to develop independence and confidence in the classroom without a caregiver. This class introduces students to body, spacial, and musical awareness through dance activities to help develop their motor skills. Imagination plays a central role at this level, as children engage in make-believe games that help them visualize events, imitate sounds and movements, and differentiate between fantasy and reality.
Preparatory 4
Age 4* | Co-ed | Ongoing enrollment
Tuition pro-rated monthly
One class per week, 45 minutes
Preparatory 4 explores relationships, such as, how dance is organised through patterns and storytelling, music’s connection to movement and how it supports dance, our connections with ourselves, our classmates, and teachers. Students are encouraged to learn each other’s names, dance with everyone, follow a leader, and take turns. A great activity and differentiation of the Preparatory 4 level is the portion of the class in which they learn French, to prepare for the use of fundamental ballet terminology. Students learn basic words, counting to eight, body parts, and dances using French songs.
Preparatory 5
Age 5* | Co-ed | Ongoing enrolment
Tuition pro-rated monthly
One class per week, 45 minutes
In Preparatory 5, students build on foundational ballet steps while refining spatial awareness, particularly laterality (right vs. left). As they adapt to dancing in front of a mirror and within a structured classroom setting, musicality plays a key role in their development. All music is thoughtfully selected to enhance the curriculum, fostering an understanding of the relationship between music and movement. Using both live and recorded piano accompaniment, students learn to follow the beat, differentiate rhythm from beat, and recognise musical phrasing. Music also supports vocabulary growth, spatial awareness, and the exploration of levels, force, and weight in movement.
Preparatory 6
Age 6* | Co-ed | Ongoing enrollment
Tuition pro-rated monthly
One class per week, 45 minutes
In Preparatory 6, students continue to expand upon the French terminology introduced in Preparatory 5 through center work and the learning and utilisation of the twelve basic ballet words and positioning: port-de-bras, demi-pointe, en dehors, en dedans, relevé, elevé, battement tendu, battement dégagé, grand battement, coupé, passé, plié.
Students are asked to execute these ballet steps in a more sophisticated manner. With that, students consider what body parts initiate movement and why they must move in a specific direction in ballet. Faculty also introduce the idea of self-expression and creativity through improvisation.
DRESS CODE
Dress Code Requirements
we consider our students representatives of the vision and values of VA Ballet. Not only does the VABS dress code communicate a level of standard in our studios and community, it builds confidence in our students and shows a readiness to learn and grow. Lastly, proper attire assists in corrections of body positioning and technique.
All students are expected to maintain a neat appearance. Hair must be pulled up off of the neck and pulled back off the face. For the safety of the students, only simple stud earrings are permissible. Leg warmers or other warm-up gear are not permitted in class.
ALL STUDENTS – HAND IN HAND 1 (16 MONTHS–24 MONTHS OLD)
Students and their guardians should wear clothes that are comfortable to move in. We recommend leggings, a t-shirt or tank top, and ankle socks.
HAND IN HAND 2 GIRLS, PREPARATORY GIRLS (2–4 YEARS OLD)
Leotard: Wear Moi style Eline, Pink.
Ankle Socks: Students may wear any plain white ankle socks. Tights are not worn at this level.
Ballet Slippers Recommendation: Bloch style Toddler Dansoft leather or Performa Stretch Canvas S0284G. Students should choose the color which is closest to their natural skin tone or the colour in which they feel most comfortable.
PREPARATORY 5 & 6 GIRLS (5–6 YEARS OLD)
Leotard: Wear Moi style Eline, White.
Ankle Socks: Students may wear any plain white ankle socks. Tights are not worn at this level.
Ballet Slippers Recommendation: Bloch, style Toddler Dansoft leather or Performa Stretch Canvas S0284G. Students should choose the color which is closest to their natural skin tone or the color in which they feel most comfortable.
FOUNDATIONS 1 (7 YEARS OLD)
Leotard: Wear Moi style Candide, Pink.
Tights: Bloch style T0982L or T0982G.
Ballet Slippers Recommendation: Bloch style Performa Stretch Canvas S0284G/L or Pump Canvas S0277L or Pro Elastic S0621L.
Tights and slippers should match in color. Students should choose the color which is closest to their natural skin tone or the color in which they feel most comfortable.
FOUNDATIONS 2 (8 YEARS OLD)
Leotard: Wear Moi style Candide, Rose.
Tights: Bloch style T0982L or T0982G.
Ballet Slippers Recommendation: Bloch style Performa Stretch Canvas S0284G/L or Pump Canvas S0277L or Pro Elastic S0621L.
Tights and slippers should match in color. Students should choose the color which is closest to their natural skin tone or the color in which they feel most comfortable.
FOUNDATIONS 3 (9 YEARS OLD)
Leotard: Wear Moi style Candide, Fuchsia.
Tights: Bloch style T0982L or T0982G.
Ballet Slippers Recommendation: Bloch style Performa Stretch Canvas S0284G/L or Pump Canvas S0277L or Pro Elastic S0621L.
Tights and slippers should match in color. Students should choose the color which is closest to their natural skin tone or the color in which they feel most comfortable.
CLASSICAL 1 GIRLS DRESS CODE
Leotard: Wear Moi style Faustine, Sky.
Skirt: Wear Moi style Allegro, Sky.
Tights: Bloch style T0982L or T0982G.
Ballet Slippers Recommendation: Bloch style Performa Stretch Canvas S0284G/L or Pump Canvas S0277L or Pro Elastic S0621L.
Tights: Tights and slippers should match in color. Students should choose the color which is closest to their natural skin tone or the color in which they feel most comfortable.
CLASSICAL 2 GIRLS DRESS CODE
Leotard: Wear Moi style Faustine, French Blue.
Tights: Bloch style T0982L or T0982G.
Skirt: Wear Moi style Allegro, French Blue.
Ballet Slippers Recommendation: Bloch style Performa Stretch Canvas S0284G/L or Pump Canvas S0277L or Pro Elastic S0621L.
Tights: Tights and slippers should match in color. Students should choose the color which is closest to their natural skin tone or the color in which they feel most comfortable.
Character Skirt: Wear Moi style Fado, Black.
Character Shoe: Bloch Ladies Broadway Character shoe, Black.
CLASSICAL 3 GIRLS DRESS CODE
Leotard: Wear Moi style Faustine, Royal Blue.
Tights: Bloch style T0982L or T0982G.
Skirt: Wear Moi style Allegro, Royal Blue.
Ballet Slippers Recommendation: Bloch style Performa Stretch Canvas S0284G/L or Pump Canvas S0277L or Pro Elastic S0621L.
Tights: Tights and slippers should match in color. Students should choose the color which is closest to their natural skin tone or the color in which they feel most comfortable.
Character Skirt: Wear Moi style Fado, Black.
Character Shoe: Bloch Ladies Broadway Character shoe, Black.
CLASSICAL 4 GIRLS DRESS CODE
Leotard: Wear Moi style Faustine, Navy.
Tights: Bloch style T0982L or T0982G.
Skirt: Wear Moi style Allegro, Navy.
Ballet Slippers Recommendation: Bloch style Performa Stretch Canvas S0284G/L or Pump Canvas S0277L or Pro Elastic S0621L.
Tights: Tights and slippers should match in color. Students should choose the color which is closest to their natural skin tone or the color in which they feel most comfortable.
Modern Tights: Bloch footless tights, Black.
Character Skirt: Wear Moi style Fado, Black.
Character Shoe: Bloch Ladies Broadway Character shoe, Black.
CLASSICAL 5 GIRLS DRESS CODE
Leotard: Wear Moi style Faustine, Prune.
Tights: Bloch style T0982L or T0982G.
Skirt: Wear Moi style Allegro, Prune.
Ballet Slippers Recommendation: Bloch style Performa Stretch Canvas S0284G/L or Pump Canvas S0277L or Pro Elastic S0621L.
Tights: Tights and slippers should match in color. Students should choose the color which is closest to their natural skin tone or the color in which they feel most comfortable.
Modern Tights: Bloch footless tights, Black.
Character Skirt: Wear Moi style Fado, Black.
Character Shoe: Bloch Ladies Broadway Character shoe, Black.
Additional leotard for presentations or performance opportunities: Wear Moi style Faustine, Black.
CLASSICAL 6 GIRLS DRESS CODE
Leotard: Wear Moi style Faustine, Dark Gray.
Tights: Bloch style T0982L or T0982G.
Skirt: Wear Moi style Allegro, Dark Gray.
Ballet Slippers Recommendation: Bloch style Performa Stretch Canvas S0284G/L or Pump Canvas S0277L or Pro Elastic S0621L.
Tights: Tights and slippers should match in color. Students should choose the color which is closest to their natural skin tone or the color in which they feel most comfortable.
Modern Tights: Bloch footless tights, Black.
Character Skirt: Wear Moi style Fado, Black.
Character Shoe: Bloch Ladies Broadway Character shoe, Black.
Additional leotard for presentations or performance opportunities: Wear Moi style Faustine, Black.
CLASSICAL 7 GIRLS DRESS CODE
Leotard: Wear Moi style Faustine, Black.
Tights: Bloch style T0982L or T0982G.
Skirt: Wear Moi style Allegro, Black.
Ballet Slippers Recommendation: Bloch style Performa Stretch Canvas S0284G/L or Pump Canvas S0277L or Pro Elastic S0621L. Students should choose the color which is closest to their natural skin tone or the color in which they feel most comfortable.
Tights: Tights and slippers should match in colour.
Modern Tights: Bloch footless tights, Black.
Character Skirt: Wear Moi style Fado, Black.
Character Shoe: Bloch Ladies Broadway Character shoe, Black.
CLASSICAL 8 GIRLS DRESS CODE
Leotard: Wear Moi style Faustine, Black.
Tights: Bloch style T0982L or T0982G.
Skirt: Wear Moi style Allegro, Black.
Ballet Slippers Recommendation: Bloch style Performa Stretch Canvas S0284G/L or Pump Canvas S0277L or Pro Elastic S0621L.
Tights: Tights and slippers should match in color. Students should choose the color which is closest to their natural skin tone or the color in which they feel most comfortable.
Modern Tights: Bloch footless tights, Black.
Character Skirt: Wear Moi style Fado, Black.
Character Shoe: Bloch Ladies Broadway Character shoe, Black.
FLEX/TEEN BEGINNER GIRLS DRESS CODE
Leotard: Wear Moi style Faustine, Forest Green.
Tights: Bloch style T0982L or T0982G.
Skirt: Wear Moi style Allegro, Forest Green.
Ballet Slippers Recommendation: Bloch style Performa Stretch Canvas S0284G/L or Pump Canvas S0277L or Pro Elastic S0621L. Students should choose the color which is closest to their natural skin tone or the color in which they feel most comfortable.
Tights: Tights and slippers should match in color. Students should choose the color which is closest to their natural skin tone or the color in which they feel most comfortable.
FAQ
Please find the most frequently referenced information for VA Ballet School families below. Should you have any questions regarding the information, please do not hesitate to contact us via the website contact page.
Calendar
Classes run all year round, apart from bank holidays. Registration is on-going.
Tuition
Tuition is pro-rated per month. Families have the option to pay in full or pay on a monthly instalment place when registering.
Arriving
We recommend that you arrive 15 minutes prior to the start of class to give you ample time to prepare. All students are strongly encouraged to use the bathroom and wash their hands prior to class. Parents should drop and pick their child up directly outside the classroom for the Studio. We kindly ask that all students be picked up immediately following the end of class.
Checking In
Students are required to check in with a VA Administrator upon arrival before every class.
Parking/Carpooling
Studio Parking: please speak to a member of VA team about parking facilities and there are no reserved parking spots on the street for pick-ups and drop-offs. As a courtesy to our neighbours, it is asked that families do not double park on the main road in front of the Studio.
Enrolment
Dress Code
Each level from Hand in Hand 2 up has a specific dress code for the class available. Families are expected to purchase the dress code themselves. Dress code items cannot be purchased at VA Ballet School but can be ordered at a local retail store.
Waiting List
If a section you’re interested in is full, you may request to be placed on the waiting list for that class. If a spot becomes available, you will be contacted. If you enrol in another section, the waiting list option will not be available to you. Students are not permitted to be on the waitlist for a class while actively enrolment in another section.
Withdrawals
Should you decide to leave the school, please contact the Office of Administration via the contact us section on our website as soon as possible. Notifying your child’s instructor is not considered a formal notification of withdrawal. Once we hear from you and are able to notify your child’s teacher of their interest in withdrawing, we will send you an email with a link to our Formal Withdrawal Survey, which must be completed in order to process an account adjustment and complete the withdrawal process.
Daily Programming
Parent/Student Handbook
For a complete overview of VA Ballet School’s mission, vision, and values including diversity, equity, inclusion, & belonging, programming, safety and security, and enrollment policies please see the VA Ballet School Parent/Student Handbook available
Student Expectations
With the goal of creating a safe, welcoming, and positive experience for all students, VA Ballet School holds students, families, faculty, and staff to a high standard of personal decorum and expects individuals, at all times, to demonstrate respect for others, the facilities, and to promote an environment which is safe, positive, and welcoming of diversity.
Get to Know Your Studio
We communicate important school information and updates to parents primarily via email – so please make sure we have your email address. This will enable you to receive communications such as the School’s newsletter and weekly bulletins every Sunday with important updates about each VA program. VA Ballet School’s VA Website is updated frequently and is a great resource for parents.
Studio Administrators are at the front desk of each location when classes are running. Should you have any questions or concerns, please direct them to a Studio Administrator and they will be happy to assist. You may also feel free to contact us via the contact page on our website.
Reporting Absences and Making Up a Class
We understand that circumstances may arise that prevent students from attending class. In these instances, we kindly ask that the student’s absence be reported so that the faculty and administration may accurately track attendance. To report an absence, please contact us via the contact page on our website. with the student’s membership number, name, class level, studio they attend, and the date of and reason for the absence.
In order for your child’s absence to be eligible for a make-up class, it must be reported to VABS via the contact page on our website or to an Administrator in person. VABS strongly believes in make-up classes so students can continue their progress safely and effectively as curriculum becomes more demanding and technically challenging. If your child is injured and will miss a prolonged series of classes, we ask that you provide us with an applicable doctor’s note. Please note that tuition will not be adjusted for those weeks missed unless the student withdraws. We also offer makeups if a student is performing in a company production.
Observing Your Child’s Progress
Weekly classes are not able to be observed. Instead, a series of Observations Weeks are schedule throughout the year where family and friends are invited into the classroom to observe our students’ progress. We believe the presence of “an audience” or multiple adults creates a distraction and takes attention away from the teacher’s instruction. Please reference your school year calendar for dates.
Locker Rooms
In order to prevent lingering and overcrowding at the studios, we ask that all students come in their dress code, with their hair done ready for class, upon arrival. Locker rooms are not available for use at the moment. Female and male restrooms are available at the studios.
Health and Safety
The health of our students and staff is the upmost priority of VA Ballet School. Students or staff who are actively sick with any virus will not be permitted to participate in classes and will be encouraged to schedule a make-up class when they feel better. VABS follows the NHS specific guidelines for various viruses.
Special Benefits of Being Part of VABS
Attending VA Ballet Performances
As a member of VA Ballet School, students receive discounts to select company performances listed on our website. Please contact us via the website for the most up-to-date student subscriptions and other special offers.
VISION STATEMENT
The heart of VA Ballet Club is the human experience. Through our living and breathing art, we forge human connections—between artist and attendee, teacher and trainee, friend and newcomer, one’s outer and inner self.
Dance history is human history, full of innate beauty, generational memory, and contradictions. We share many characteristics that define our city, as global leaders of innovation with a rich heritage and diverse culture.
We are VA Ballet. We believe in the transformative power of dance to inspire positive change in our community and beyond. We step toward the future, where our art breaks down barriers, opens minds, strengthens our connections to each other, and is shared more widely with all. Because the future of dance is the future of humanity.
Together, we move—forward and farther—as VA Ballet Club.
CORE VALUES
Always in Motion
We are ever-evolving and innovating to stay relevant and ahead of the curve—in our business model, our repertoire, our education, and our engagement with our community.
We boldly step toward the future—by partnering in ways that create leverage, commissioning bold new art, engaging underrepresented artists, empowering the next generation of artists, and meeting future audiences where they are.
We are committed to diversifying our employees, artists, musicians, boards, volunteers, student population, and audience in order to better reflect and serve our dynamic community.
We learn from the heroes of our past while fuelling the pioneers of our future.
Embracing Excellence
We never settle for status quo. In all that we do, we strive for the highest standards possible without ever compromising our integrity.
We share an athlete’s growth mindset: constantly breaking our own personal records and always innovating to move our art form forward.
We are creative with the resources at our disposal, challenging ourselves and others to always find better ways.
We are not afraid of failure. Instead, we embrace opportunities to reflect, learn, and grow from our mistakes and engage in feedback from others.
The art that we make is defined by a tremendous amount of hard work from a wide variety of people. We recognise that every step in the value chain is critical and everyone is valued.
Elevated Through Art
Art is capable of impacting a culture, a community, and each of its citizens. We promise to use this power for good and take a stand with our art.
We embrace our role as a leader in the arts to impact positive change toward a more diverse, equitable, and inclusive society both in London UK and on the global stage.
We are dedicated to presenting diverse repertoire and curriculum that is not only relevant to and reflective of our community, but that also inspires introspection, sparks critical conversations, and opens minds.
No matter how we connect with each other, we hope that everyone will be left better in some way—through growth as an artist, collaboration between coworkers, the discipline of a dance education, discourse on thought-provoking art, and engagement with our community.
Better Together
We are committed to acting together while valuing and respecting one another’s individuality.
We create welcoming and inclusive experiences that connect, inspire, and enrich our diverse community.
By engaging all of our audience members (current and future), students, families, volunteers, employees, dancers, musicians, and partners, the fabric of our company and community will be stronger and more vibrant.
We communicate with honesty, clarity and transparency, and listen carefully to one another in order to benefit from our diverse perspectives.
We will support every member of VA Ballet Club with care and empathy.
We will celebrate loudly one another’s successes and be educated by our mistakes.