Dance Infinity Performing Arts
DIPA is an American dance curriculum programme offering classes in ballet, jazz, hip-hop, tap, contemporary, and musical theatre starting at ages three and up. Its goal is to encourage self-expression through dance, in a way that promotes friendship and social skills alongside discipline and passion. What better way to express yourself than through the medium of dance?
Al Attar Business Center, off Sheikh Zayed Road, www.danceinfinity.com.
Diverse Performing Arts School
Scott and Lisa Marshall are a husband wife duo to be reckoned with when it comes to instilling all the performing disciplines into your little wannabe stars. Catering for children of all abilities from beginners to those who can effortlessly pirouette, jump into the splits and do an ariel cartwheel (that’s a cartwheel with no hands for those not in the know). There is a comprehensive timetable and kids five and over can choose from a range of classes including dance fusion, musical theatre, ballet, hip hop, singing and acro.
M1-M6 Entrance A, The Curve Building, Al O Quoz 3, Dubai, www.diversechoreography.com (04 330 7308).
Dubai Performing Arts
Run by husband and wife team, Lisa Scott Lee of Steps fame and her husband, West End star and former boyband singer (he was in Hear’Say) Johnny Shentall-Lee, Dubai Performing Arts offers dance, drama and singing lessons, plus the famous duo have first-hand experience of performing on a world stage so can teach their students a thing or two about being in the spotlight.
Various locations including Dubai British School, Springs and Uptown School, Mirdif, www.dubaiperformingarts.com (056 173 7545).
Impact
Kids are taught the foundations and techniques of dance, including disciplines of music, musical theatre and creative forms, while building their confidence. A regular hip-hop class will let them channel the diva within, while the musical theatre will allow them to embrace their inner Michael Ball – or Tarinn Callender.
Motor City and DUCTAC, www.impactcentres.com.
Sharjah Performing Arts Academy (SPAA)
The only dedicated performing arts academy of its kind in the region, SPAA offers a huge range of training options for kids of all ages. Performers from as young as four can sign up to classes in singing, acting, dancing and musical theatre, including an introductory ballet class for tiny tots between four and six. Secondary school kids from 14 to 16 can also take a BTEC in performing arts, while school leavers can choose to do their undergraduate degree in acting, production arts or musical theatre. With a 432-seat theatre, 126-seat studio theatre, dedicated dance, acting and sound recording studios, rehearsal studio, a full-equipped green screen television studio, library, gymnasium, various breakout spaces, onsite accommodation and more, SPPA has everything to help those achieve a career in the spotlight (or being the scenes it that is more their thing). In addition, if your little performer is extremely talented, they can try and win one of the full scholarships on offer, which covers tuition and accommodation for the duration of their BA programme.
Open Sat-Thu 8am-4pm. Industrial Area Muwailih Commercial, Sharjah, www.spaa.ae (06 502 9999).
Step Up Academy
This school offers ballet, tap, jazz, modern, freestyle, disco, cheerleading and even rhythmic gymnastics at their various locations across Dubai. Students are given the opportunity to perform at events all over the city and in the show-stopping annual showcase. Classes start for children as young as 15 months old, while adult groovers are also welcome. Unlike the Hollywood movie by the same name, there is no body-popping Channing Tatum, but we can’t have it all.
Various locations including Motor City, Palm Jumeriah and Silicon Oasis, www.stepup.ae.
The Ballet Centre
The Ballet Centre was established in 1985 and is the longest-running dance school in Dubai, offering top-class facilities in locations in Jumeirah and Motor City. The school offers yearly examinations with the Royal Academy of Dance and Imperial Society of Teachers of Dance. The focus of the school is ballet, modern and tap dancing, and the school also offers Irish dance, music lessons and even taekwondo, for those who float like a dancer but sting like a bee.
Jumeirah 1 and Business Park, Motor City, www.balletcentredubai.com.
Turning Pointe
Calling all budding Billy Elliots and Darcey Bussells… Turning Pointe dance school specialises in classical ballet, following the Royal Academy of Dance syllabus and gearing young dancers towards their RAD ballet examinations. The dance school was founded in 1996, and lessons are available for children aged three years and up, and classes in hip-hop, modern, street jazz, jazz2pop and glee club are also available.
International City, Dubai www.turningpointe.ae.
Let’s Dance… Why? Lisa Marshall, founder of
Diverse Performing Arts School says that dance is extremely important for children
It’s a great, fun way of staying fit.
It encourages positive self-esteem and confidence.
It helps children develop better posture and a good understanding of positive body alignment.
It teaches children how to work positively in a team and to be supportive of each other while remaining competitive.
It’s a great creative outlet and release from day to day busy school pressures.
It helps children with general focus throughout the day, during school as it burns off excess energy allowing a child’s mind to focus better.
It’s a fantastic way to encourage and develop a child’s creativity and imagination through expressive movement.
