The original and largest network of part-time performing arts schools for 4-18 year olds.

StageCoach Theatre Arts trains young people in the performing arts. Sessions run mainly on weekends and consist of dance classes, singing classes and drama classes. Each class is one hour long and has no more than fifteen students in each class.

During our dance classes, students learn

1. how to warm up,
2. basic dance technique and steps,
3. how to express themselves creatively through dance,
4. simple choreographic skills.

Dancing classes at StageCoach Theatre Arts are led by experienced and caring teachers who nurture both individual and group skills in the dance lessons.

Dance is an essential ingredient for those wishing to pursue a career in the performing arts. However, the training your child will receive in a StageCoach dance class is of great benefit, whether or not a career in dance is anticipated. Dancing is a brilliant form of creative self-expression. It stimulates both the mind and the imagination, and is excellent aerobic exercise.

There are many benefits to our dance classes:

• Training within good dancing classes teaches self-control, giving students an important discipline for life.
• Dancing classes give a sense of self-worth and achievement
• Our dance classes enable not only good posture but balance, co-ordination and spatial awareness
• Dancing is good for the heart, improves circulation and tones muscle
• Music plays a vital part in the dance class, nurturing a student's basic musicality, e.g. an understanding of pitch, rhythm, timbre, dynamics, speed and musical texture.
• In a well-run dance class, children are encouraged to work as a team, developing both an emotional and physical sensitivity towards others.
• Dance helps students to feel comfortable within their bodies.
• Dance at StageCoach helps to fire the imagination and explore creative ideas in an atmosphere of safety.
• Dancing cultivates an awareness of the importance of dance within the other performance and expressive arts.

At StageCoach the most important part of our work with children is building self-confidence. From our 'Early Stages' classes designed for children of four years upwards, children learn to move in a fun yet controlled manner through dance and drama activities, dance and singing activities and mini musical theater presentations.

Dancing classes at StageCoach are not only about fun they are about learning new skills in an atmosphere of encouragement and discipline. We help students master repeated sequences of steps and more complex steps from the age of 13 upwards. We build up our students' abilities with a variety of techniques such as; taking part in work from the centre and the corner, floorwork, breathing, side stretches and jumping.

Dance technique can be defined as the acquisition, practice and mastery of eight fundamental elements. They are: 1) Centering, 2) Gravity, 3) Balance, 4) Posture, 5) Gesture, 6) Rhythm, 7) Moving in Space, 8) Breathing. These eight elements are the key skills for all dancers.

Once these dance techniques have been mastered they form a foundation for imaginative and expressive work. As well as building skills, techniques and routines, StageCoach dance classes encourage students to explore their own individual creativity so that they may become versatile, imaginative and thoughtful performers.