TAP Dancing
is a THEATRICAL art FORM
ISTD Syllabus
The Imperial Society of Teachers of Dancing (ISTD) is one of the world’s leading dance examination boards. Since 1904 they have provided training for dance teachers and examiners, enabling teachers to enter their students for examinations, develop new techniques and spread the joy of dance. Most top Dance Colleges in the UK follow the ISTD syllabus.
ISTD Tap has evolved as an American dance form, popularised throughout the world, with debate about its origins coming from African dance, Irish dance and/or clog dancing. The dancer uses their feet to strike the floor, beating out different rhythms, with dancers wearing tap shoes which have small metal plates on the toe and heel to give the distinctive sound. Tap dance is a theatrical art form often seen on stage in musicals.
PRIMARY TAP
For younger children.
We offer linked classes and lots of fun
From the age of 4, students are introduced to the basics such as rhythm, where fun movement encourage a sense of rhythm and learn to tap on the balls of their feet in time to the music. We combine the Primary Tap with the Primary Modern in a linked class so they can experience both genres from this young age and gain the all strengths that go hand in hand
Grades One to Six
There are six grades for students to progress
through, as they develop their skills and technique
Grade 1
The steps and exercises from the Primary grade are now extended to longer sequences and new steps are introduced to travel and improvisation to use their spatial awareness
Grade 2
Students are now confident with the basic moves, so at this level more complex steps are introduced including 'pick ups' on two feet, 'Turning steps' and longer Amalgamations. These will be practised and extended throughout the higher levels
Grade 3
Building on confidence gained in previous levels, steps such as timesteps will be given added beats and pick ups can be performed on one foot. They will perform individually and incorporated all new steps into stunning performances
Grade 4
By grade 4 students are showing excellent potential and working on developing much more complex steps with clear beat work and tonal quality
Grade 5
The skills and steps learned in the previous grades prepare students for even more complex movement and progression. Wings on two feet are introduced in this grade and new pick up timesteps with various tricky breaks
Grade 6
In this grade dancers can confidently perform very complex steps. Grade 6 is equivalent to a GSCE and will gain UCAS points for the dancer. New changes to this grade includes the Alternative Unaccompanied Sequence and some very quick amalgamations. Great fun!
Take your TAP dancing
to the next level
We also offer
Intermediate, Advanced 1 and Advanced 2 tap dancing classes
CONFIDENCE, SELF-EXPRESSION AND RHYTHM.
We follow the ISTD syllabus with grades from Pre-Primary to Grade 6 then on to 3 vocational grades Intermediate, Advanced 1 and Advanced 2.
OUR STUNNING TAP DANCE
TEACHERS
Our tap dancing teachers are fully qualified and
have vast amounts of experience and performance expertise
Miss KATY
Principal and tap dancing teacher
Miss Katy attended Laine Theatre Arts, where she was awarded the overall excellence in Tap award in her final year and the top grade in her Associate teaching qualification in ISTD Modern and Tap
Miss Kim
Tap dancing teacher
Miss Kim trained at London Studio Centre and obtained a Diploma in Dance and Musical Theatre.
Miss SIOBHAN
Tap dancing teacher
Miss Siobhan graduated with a BA Hons in Dance from DeMonfort University, where she found her passion for teaching and choreography.
MEET OUR AMAZING TAP
DANCERS
Our tap dancers are from Primary Tap, various
grades and advanced tap classes
