Kidsdance Classes

Since 2004 Kidsdance has been running classes in Twickenham, unique to the area. In April 2011, Kidsdance classes started in Brighton.

Kidsdance is a fun contemporary dance course, specially developed for children by dance professionals.

We have classes for different age groups from 3.5 to 13 years. Our classes are fun and social, with a friendly atmosphere and include lively warm-up activities, group creative work, dance routines and travelling sequences.

"The best dance class my daughter’s been to – we’re so glad we found you!"

• What happens in a Kidsdance class?

• How do you group the children?

• What do they need to wear?

• Trial class and payment

• Leaving and collecting your child

• Performances and other events

What happens in a Kidsdance class?

Each class starts with a lively warm-up and sometimes a short discussion of objects relevant to the term's theme.

Throughout the term, the children learn original dances in contrasting styles and create their own dances, working in pairs and small groups. At the end of term, parents are invited to an informal performance of the term's work.

"Kidsdance is a fantastic dance class, where kids have to think creatively about what they are doing, rather than just come out having learned a few steps."

As the children move up through the classes there is more focus on developing good dance technique, but we start them early with 'hidden technique' - simple and fun exercises aimed at improving balance, posture, spatial awareness, co-ordination, concentration, core abdominal strength, flexibility and stamina. The children work hard during a Kidsdance class, but they have lots of fun too!

"My son loves meeting his friends and working around a theme. It's creative, but well organised. I like knowing his imagination is being used in a physical way."

Kidsdance does not put children in for dance examinations (there aren't any contemporary examinations to take!), but we offer frequent opportunities to perform. Children from Kidsdance's Twickenham classes have performed at the Rambert School, the Royal Ballet School, Twickenham Carnival, Twickenham Rugby Ground and Kingston University.

"Thank you for creating such a lovely, happy class."

 How do you group the children?

No previous dance experience is necessary. Classes are grouped by age, with a maximum of 20 per class and there is a range of experience within each group – with at least two members of staff per group we can quickly identify anyone needing extra help or extra challenges. Children are encouraged to develop their skills at their own pace in an inclusive atmosphere. Kidsdance appeals to boys as well as girls.

• 2-4 years: Independance and Totsdance
• 3.5 – 5 years: Prime Movers
• 6-8 years: Second Striders
• 9-12 years: Dance Makers
• 7-13 years: Performers
• 8-13 years: Steps

Click on the class name for further details, venues and class times.

"We started with Totsdance, which we really enjoyed and Kidsdance is a great progression, with imaginative routines and less formal than ballet.  My daughter has become much more confident."

What do they need to wear?

There is no official uniform for Kidsdance, although our Kidsdance T-shirt and black leggings are compulsory for performances.

For class, comfortable leggings or tracksuit bottoms and a T-shirt are ideal. (Jeans, zip or button up trousers, skirts, dresses and tights are not suitable.)

Many of the children like to wear their Kidsdance T-shirt for class (available from us for £10) and we also have Kidsdance branded zipped hoodies for the colder weather (£20).

Shoes are not necessary as we dance barefoot.

For safety reasons, long hair must be securely tied back and jewellery removed.

Children may want to bring a drink of water, especially in hot weather.

Trial class and payment

We offer a 'no obligation' trial class: you don't have to pay until your child has tried the class, but if you do decide to sign up, you will need to pay for the full term (or classes remaining if they start after the beginning of term), starting from their trial class. We do this because we limit numbers in the class - if we let people come in and out on free trials, it is difficult to control numbers.  Most children do enjoy their trial class! Please confirm immediately afterwards if you would like to commit to the rest of the term. Remember, children often take a couple of weeks to get used to a new activity, so you may not get the whole picture from just one class.

Trial classes are ideally taken in the first half of term, so that new children don't feel they are behind everyone else! We prefer children not to do a trial class late in the term, because a child starting late may feel disheartened if they don't know what everyone else has learned. It's better to wait for the next term - but please get your child's name on the waiting list! 

Parents sometimes ask if their child can just watch first. For a child, sitting still and watching is much duller than it is for an adult - children need to get in there and have a go! If you really need to convince your child (or yourself!) before they try, at the end of term each class gives an informal 15 minute performance to parents of what they have achieved during the term, which can give you and your child an idea of what they will be doing when they join the class. Please ask for details.

"I like the creativity and music and the fact that there are no exams or expensive costumes to pay for.   I think you’re great!"

Payment is by the term - please see the individual Venue pages for further details. We don't offer 'pay as you go' because this would give us no control over numbers and because the classes develop week by week. We can't deduct payment for classes missed, or offer refunds part way through the term.

Once your child is enrolled in the class, please ensure they attend regularly, as they will quickly become an integral part of group choreography and they will get much more out of it if they build up their skills week by week. It is also an important lesson in commitment! Many of our older children have been coming since they were very small, some from the very first Kidsdance classes.

Half a term's notice is requested for courtesy.

Leaving and collecting your child

We encourage parents not to stay in the room. At the end of term, we invite parents to come back 15 minutes before the end of their child's class to see an informal performance of what the children have achieved during the term.

If your child is anxious about being left, you can stay with them for the first couple of classes, although experience has taught us that most children are better once their parents have gone! We ask for your emergency contact details and any other important information (on our Registration Form) before you leave and we would call you if there was a real problem. We would also let you know if your child is not settling after a couple of weeks.

At the end of the class we keep the children sitting down in a circle and we won't allow them to leave until we have seen you. If you are a few minutes late, we will keep your child in the room with us. Please try to collect your child on time however, as children (especially little ones) can get upset if they are the last to be collected...

"Friendly atmosphere, friendly staff.  There’s always someone to help the children."

Performances and other events

From time to time we run optional special events, performances or workshops. Children from Kidsdance in Twickenham have performed frequently at RichDance, Richmond's annual dance festival. In December we usually perform at the Rambert School of Ballet and Contemporary Dance in St Margarets. We have also performed at Twickenham Carnival and several school fairs.

"What a fantastic performance on Saturday - whenever I see Kidsdance perform I'm really touched and totally blown away by the enthusiasm and talent."

To link with our Safari theme we arranged workshops with an African dancer and for Myths and Legends, visits from a professional storyteller. We also held a family junk percussion workshop to link with our recycling theme, A Load of Junk, and a special River Walk led by Richmond Environment Trust for our theme of River. For Leaping from the Page, we offered a family storytelling workshop, Freeing the Story from the Page.

Prime Movers, Second Striders and Dance Makers all follow our Theme of the Term.