There is so much more to being a VBDancer than the steps

Of course, we want our dancers to receive excellent dance training. We want them to develop strong technique, musicality and performance skills. We want them to progress through their classes, be challenged and discover just how much they are capable of. But being part of VBDance has always been about more than learning to dance.

Throughout a dancer’s time with us, there are opportunities to perform, take examinations, share their progress, volunteer, develop leadership skills and become part of the wider life of the school. Not every dancer will want to do everything. And they absolutely do not have to.

We provide the opportunities and encouragement, and allow each dancer to find their own path through VBDance.

Taking to the stage

Performing is a big part of life at VBDance and we love giving our dancers opportunities to experience everything that comes with it.

Our Main School Shows give dancers the opportunity to perform in a professional theatre production, experiencing the excitement of rehearsals, costumes, backstage life and, of course, stepping out onto a proper stage. Our younger dancers have their own Lower School Shows, created especially for them and designed to make those early performance experiences exciting, positive and manageable.

For our older students, our Inspire evenings offer another type of performance opportunity and a chance to showcase their dancing as they develop into more mature performers.

These experiences are about far more than the final performance. Dancers learn about commitment, teamwork, resilience, responsibility and being part of something bigger than themselves…and there is nothing quite like the buzz backstage at a VBDance show!

Holiday Clubs

The dancing does not have to stop when term finishes!

Our VBDance Holiday Clubs give children the opportunity to spend a few brilliant days dancing, creating, performing and having fun with friends during the school holidays. Led by our VBDance teaching team, the days include a mixture of dance styles, choreography, games and creative activities, with dancers working towards a performance to share at the end of the club.

Holiday Clubs are open to different age groups, from our younger dancers right through to secondary school age, and you do not need to be an existing VBDancer to join us.

They are a lovely opportunity for our existing dancers to experience something a little different from their regular classes, spend more time dancing with their friends and work with other members of the VBDance team. They are also a great introduction to VBDance for children who have not danced with us before.

Lots of dancing, lots of fun and a brilliant way to spend part of the school holidays.

Sharing what happens in class

Not every performance needs a theatre.

Our Open Classes invite family and friends into the studio to see what our dancers have been working on and experience a little of what happens during an ordinary VBDance class. Rather than presenting a polished performance, Open Classes are an opportunity to see the learning itself. The exercises, the feedback, the concentration, the progress and plenty of personality too. They are a lovely way to celebrate how far our dancers have come.

Exams and progression

VBDance students have the opportunity to take ISTD examinations as they progress through their training. Examinations provide a goal to work towards and can be an incredibly rewarding experience, but they are not compulsory. Our dancers are individuals and readiness for an examination is considered carefully by our teaching team. We work to a high standard across our classes regardless of whether a child ultimately chooses to take an exam, with the aim of bringing out the very best in every dancer.

For those who do take examinations, we want them to walk into the experience feeling properly prepared and confident in what they can do.

Moving Up Week

The end of the dance year is a special milestone for our youngest VBDancers.

Each June/July, we hold our Moving Up Week for our Under 5s, giving families the opportunity to come into class, watch their little dancers and celebrate just how much they have achieved during the year.

Our dancers receive their certificates, we celebrate their progress together and mark that lovely moment before they officially move up to the next stage of their VBDance journey.

For some children, that means progressing into the next level of our Under 5s programme. For others, it is the exciting step into our school age classes as they prepare to start Reception.

It is a chance to stop, celebrate and make a little bit of a fuss of them before they move on to whatever comes next.

Growing into more than a dancer

As our students get older, we want to give them opportunities to take on greater responsibility within VBDance too.

Our Student Volunteer Scheme enables older VBDancers to volunteer within younger classes, working alongside our teaching team and becoming positive role models for the children coming up behind them. They get to experience the other side of the studio, seeing how classes are organised and how teachers communicate with and support different children.

Along the way, they develop skills in communication, leadership, initiative, responsibility and teamwork. For some, it sparks an interest in teaching. For others, it is simply a brilliant opportunity to build confidence, gain experience and give something back to a community they have grown up in.

Work experience at VBDance

We are also very happy to support our students when they reach the stage of completing school work experience. Where possible, we can help them experience different aspects of running a busy dance school and gain an insight into the work that happens both inside and outside the studio.

A dance school is not simply about teaching classes. There is planning, administration, events, productions, communication, marketing and the day to day organisation involved in bringing everything together. For students beginning to think about future study and careers, it can be a valuable opportunity to see just how many different skills and roles exist within the dance industry.

Their VBDance journey

A child might join us at two years old for their very first dance class.

From there, their journey could include their first show, their first exam, moving up through the grades, performing on a professional stage, helping a younger dancer in class, completing work experience with us and eventually reaching our senior and vocational levels.

Or their journey might look completely different.

That is rather the point.

We want every child to be able to enjoy VBDance for what they want it to be, while knowing that there are opportunities waiting for them if and when they want to explore them.

We will challenge them. We will encourage them. We will celebrate their progress and help them through the bits they find difficult.

Because ultimately, we are not simply interested in creating good dancers.

We want to help the young people in our classes grow in confidence, discover what they are capable of and leave VBDance with skills and experiences that reach far beyond the studio.