The dance studio at Rendcomb College is located within the school's fabulous performing arts centre, The Griffin Theatre. The studio benefits from a sprung floor, air conditioning, PA system, ballet barres and mirrors.

Pupils at Rendcomb College can participate in a number of dance sessions: 

• Level 1 Dance (Grade 4 level Dance: ballet and additional dance styles)
• Level 2 Dance (Grade 5 level Dance: ballet and additional dance styles)
• Level 3 Dance (Grade 6/Vocational level ballet and pointe work)
• Stretch and Tone (All levels)
• Contemporary 1 (Beginners/ Intermediate)
• Contemporary 2 (Advanced level)
• Performance Group: Senior School (Dance experience not essential but commitment required)
• Intermediate Foundation/Intermediate Ballet and Pointe work

Ballet – Early Years

Children between the age of 3 and 7 follow the Pre-School Dance Curriculum, Pre-Primary and Primary in Dance Syllabi. Young children love to move and contributes to how they learn, communicate, self-express and interact in the world. The aim is teach dance lessons in a fun, yet disciplined environment. Creativity form a vital part of lessons, which gives children the opportunity to explore and expand their dance vocabulary through storytelling and use of imagination. Visual stimuli encourage children to understand the importance of musicality, expression and technique; adding value to future development of their dance education.

Uniform: RAD approved uniform, pink ballet socks and pink ballet shoes. See uniform list below.

Dance

Classical ballet forms the foundation of the dance lessons offered at Rendcomb. It enables all pupils to confidently perform movement and dance with a body and mind that connect; presenting a secure technique, musicality and great artistry. The aim is to shape dancers that are versatile and are able to expand their dance vocabulary at an older age.

Ballet lessons are offered by following the graded and vocational syllabus of the internationally recognised organisation, the Royal Academy of Dance (RAD). The recently updated syllabus promote a feeling before form approach, which gives children the opportunity to develop motor control, health and safety awareness, self-expression, physical fitness and stamina, discipline, mental ability and confidence within a child-centred learning framework. 

Junior Uniform: RAD approved leotard, matching skirt for Grades 3-6, pink tights, pink ballet shoes, hair in a ballet bun. Please enquire within as colours vary for each Grade. See uniform list below for Junior School.

Senior Uniform: Black RAD approved leotard, matching skirt, pink tights, pink ballet shoes, hair in a ballet bun.  Pink ballet shoes and pointe shoes for Intermediate Foundation/Intermediate pupils.

Pointe Work

 Pointe work is offered to pupils who have dance experience from Grade 5 level and above and will be taught alongside the Intermediate foundation/Intermediate ballet lesson.

Ballet Examinations

Pupils are encouraged to work towards taking part in bi-annual RAD ballet examinations in order maintain a high standard of dance in the school. This ensures the importance of achievement, growth and development of dance in education. Children take part in examinations from Primary level on wards. Pupils who attend Pre-Primary in Dance lessons have the opportunity to take part in non-graded assessments. 

Contemporary Dance

Contemporary dance is offered to older pupils (11 years and above) who have established a secure technique and have a greater understanding of the mind/body connection required from a dancer. By combining elements of modern, jazz, lyrical and classical ballet, pupils at Rendcomb College follow the syllabus created by the Contemporary Dance Association (CDA). CDA adopts a style of expressive dance informed by the methods of Graham, Cunningham, Limon and Release technique.  It focusses on versatility and improvisation rather than the strict structure of ballet. Floor work, using gravity to pull down to the floor, dancing in bare feet, performing to many different styles of music and creating dance sequences are introduced in all contemporary dance lessons.

Uniform: Black leotard with black footless tights. Hair tied up in a neat ponytail or bun.

Modern and Lyrical Dance

These dance classes will consist of a mixture of ISTD syllabus exercises and free work. The aim is to work on improving the students dance technique as well as focussing on choreographing dance routines for and with the students so that they can become more experienced in diverse styles of dance. 

Uniform: Black coloured leotard and black footless tights.

Stretch and Tone

Stretch and tone classes are offered to all pupils who have dance experience from Grade 3 level and above. The aim of this lesson is to encourage all the pupils to improve their strength and flexibility as dancers in order to show overall technical progress in all dance styles. Pupils will be concentrating on mat based exercises informed by the following training methods:  Progression Ballet Technique, Yoga, Pilates, Mindfulness and Limbering.

Uniform: Stretch and tone classes are done in bare feet, black leotard, black leggings or black/pink footless tights.

Performance Dance Group

Pupils in both the Junior and Senior School will have the opportunity to perform at various events during the year. The opportunity is given to pupils to attend the Performance Group dance activity where the focus is to choreograph dance pieces with the hope to enter dance competitions such as the great big British Dance Off, Cheltenham Festival of Performing Arts and more. Although it is not essential for pupils to have a good dance background, pupils will need to be willing or have experience in performing on stage, have a good sense of rhythm and co-ordination and be 100% dedicated and commitment if they wish to take part in this dance activity.

Uniform: Pupils are required to wear comfortable exercise clothing and bare feet.

Additional Dance Forms

Additional dance forms offered to Junior School pupils include Folk dancing, Modern dance, Musical theatre, Creative dance, Choreography, Classical Greek and Lyrical dance. Elements of African dance, Classical Indian dance and Street dance are also introduced within the dance curriculum.