and discipline, but also, more importantly, that dance is fun and creative. Some of our young students were featured in a radio interview some years ago and were asked what they thought of their ballet classes.

Here are their replies - quoted in their own words:

You get to do exercises and lots of fun things in ballet.
My favourite teacher is my ballet teacher.
I love dancing and listening to the music.
I feel happy when I’m dancing.
YIPPEE!

Our school follow the syllabi of the long-established (since 1933) teaching and examination system of the Commonwealth Society of Teachers of Dancing (CSTD) of Australia, which teaches dance through Expression, Education, Encouragement and Enjoyment, or "The 4 Es" as we call them.

Children learn to express themselves and tell stories through dance, which in turn, help to develop their individual personality. Through the dance routine, they learn the names of the different dance steps, how their bodies move and sway to the rhythm of the music and how different dance formations are choreographed.

Each child is an individual and we recognize this and encourage them to achieve their own personal best. We are aware that the learning begins even before the child enters the studio and do place important emphasis on the development of good relationship and rapport between the students and teachers. Last but not least, dance is nothing if it is not enjoyed. We want our students to enjoy the classes and leave with a sense of achievement and ready to come back the following week to achieve even more!!

Although, some of our young students are not fully aware of what they are being nurtured through the dance education programme in the early stages but will begin to realise the benefits of "the 4 Es" imparted to them through the dance education which will carry them through their growing years in and out of school, instilling and developing confidence, self-motivation and discipline as well as a love of the arts - even if they don’t become ballerinas one day!!.

~ Ruby Kavanagh