Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

All term dates and times can be viewed on our dance classes page.

Miss Jane is a fully qualified dance teacher and fellow of the IDTA exam board (the International Dance Teachers Association). Qualifications include Fellowship,  Licentiate and Associate exams in Ballet, Tap, Modern Jazz, street Dance and Freestyle.

These advanced qualifications allow Miss Jane to not only teach to any level but also to enter students for all graded exams from Preparatory to Advanced 2 – which is the highest grade there is for dancers.

It’s important to check when choosing a dance school that the teacher is experienced and fully qualified with a recognised dance board otherwise they may not be able to enter your child for exams if they wish to take these. Check a potential dance teacher for your child is sufficiently qualified to enter them for all level and subject exams. IDTA qualified teachers and schools are listed on the IDTA website.

In addition to IDTA qualifications Miss Jane has a BA Hons degree in Dance and Theatre Performance from Bird Theatre College, one of the top professional dance colleges in the UK and a Certificate of Education (PCE) in teaching. Therefore Miss Jane has trained to degree level and professionally as a dancer (see next question for more details!) and has taught and managed dance courses in Further Education colleges entering students for BTEC and UAL Subsidiary and Extended Diploma Dance courses.

You can email me via our contact form and I’ll reply to you asap. If you have a question then please make sure you check out all the questions on this FAQ page as well.

Once your child has tried their first dance class,  you will be emailed a link to the registration and payment page on our website. Please complete your child’s details and accurate contact details. You will then continue to our payment page to set up your direct debit monthly payment.

If the class is already full (we have maximum class sizes of 18 children) then your child’s name will be added to a waiting list for the next available place.

After your child’s first trial dance class, you will be emailed a link to complete our online Registration Form. This will include your child’s details, your contact information and a medical form.

On this form please let us know if your child has any medical requirements or any conditions we need to be aware of, particularly if this affects their ability to participate fully in physical exercise.

In addition to holding an enhanced DBS certificate we are also fully insured and take injury prevention and health and safety very seriously. You will then proceed to the Payment Form to set up your direct debit monthly payments for your child’s classes.

Dance classes take place in Kenilworth School on Saturdays. You can get more help to find the dance school on the website here.

Don’t worry about getting dance uniform to begin with. Wear something they can move in with bare feet – please no tights. Leggings and a T-shirt are fine for girls. Shorts and T-Shirt for boys.

For girls, if they have a skirt that they can put over the top for ballet, then that’s great. If your child has long hair, please make sure they have their hair tied back (girls ideally in a bun) and that they do not wear jewellery for class.

If after a couple of weeks they are really enjoying the class and you are looking to buy the official Eclipse Dance uniform then we have samples in class and we can help you with sizes etc. You can order and pay for uniform on our website.

Any uniform ordered with us will usually be with you by the following Saturday (as long as it is ordered on or before the previous Tuesday at 6pm) ready for your child to wear in class.

Please arrive at Kenilworth School Dance Studio 5-10 minutes before the start of the class with your child dressed accordingly and ready to go! Follow signs from the car park to our dance studio and parent’s waiting area.

A register is taken at the start of every class and each child is signed in and out of the studio as parents drop off and collect. Parents should arrive promptly at the end of the class and let us know if they are going to be late or if someone else is picking up their child.

Children should wear clothes that they can easily move in such as leggings, t-shirts or fitted jogging bottoms with their hair tied back. They will be asked to have bare feet if they don’t have dance shoes yet. If you have been organised and have already purchased the Eclipse dance uniform they can of course wear this from their first day.

Parents will be asked to wait in the waiting area as we find that children concentrate and develop more confidence on their own.

If you wish to leave the premises and collect your child at the end of the class, please wait until your child has been signed in and entered the studio. Please arrive promptly to collect them at the end.

Also ensure all contact details are kept up to date.

Street Dance is growing in popularity and is a technique that I am qualified to teach however with young children I feel it’s good for them to start with the three main dance disciplines of ballet, tap and modern to first develop fundamental and essential dance skills. As children and the school develops separate Street Dance classes will be included in our timetable. Modern Dance in particular will benefit children who later want to take Street Dance.

Most children who dance chose to take graded exams as this gives them a great sense of accomplishment and pride (along with a certificate and Rosette). However if your child decides they don’t want to take exams then that’s fine too and they can move through the classes with their friends and continue to learn all of the new dance steps. There are many performance opportunities at Eclipse in addition to exams for all to take part in.

At Eclipse Dance there are dance shows and competitive festivals for children to take part in. I believe that developing performance skills and confidence is so important for young dancers so these opportunities are offered as part of our school calendar.

All children perform in an end of term show in July which has proved very popular and successful- a fantastic experience for all. We also have a Junior and Inter Show Team class for children interested in performing. Our Show Teams regularly perform at dance festivals and events across the country.

To attend this additional class, children must also attend a regular Eclipse dance class, be at least 6 years old for Junior Show Team and at least 9 years old for Inter Show Team. They must be of an experienced dance standard.