seniors
“My daughter has been dancing here since she was a tiny 3 year old, she’s now 16 and about to go to college to study performing arts. The teaching she has received has been exceptional as well as other support through GCSEs. The opportunities she has had have been unbelievable, and really built her confidence and maturity as well as keeping her fit, healthy, happy and fulfilled.”
Caroline B, parent.
AtomicTheatreArts senior programme is designed to progress our students through to higher levels of training in all our classes and on to higher education.
Our ballet, tap, modern and Lamda classes are graded examination classes, which allow students to move up once they have completed the appropriate examination.
ISTD exams in ballet, tap and modern starting at age 5 help the students progress through the grades and develop their core dance technique.
When students successfully achieve Grade 6, they also achieve UCAS points.
It is never too late to have your first dance lesson, so if you are unsure which class you should join, get in touch and we will be happy to give you some guidance.
Ballet
Grade 3 – Monday/Wednesday evening
Grades 4,5 and 6 Cecchetti ballet (including pointe work classes for grades 5 and 6) take place on Monday evening.
Intermediate-Foundation, Intermediate and Advanced 1 Cecchetti ballet (including pointe work) take place on Tuesday evenings.
POINTE
When our students reach Grade 5 ballet and have demonstrated a strong technique, our teachers will enable them to start our ‘preparation for pointe work programme”.
This course lasts for one term to further prepare the student's feet and body for the demands of pointe work. We focus on alignment, turnout, flexibility, and strengthening exercises along with consideration of any possible problems they may encounter, with additional exercises to assist and improve.
When the teacher is satisfied that the student has understood these demands and is ready for her first pair of pointe shoes, then we have an expert pointe shoe fitter who comes to our studios to meet parents and students and fit their first shoes.
Alternatively, if they are unavailable, we ask parents to make an appointment with them. Pointe work classes are held the same evening as the student’s existing ballet class, either before or after.
Modern - ISTD syllabus
Grade 3 – Friday evening and Saturday morning
Grade 4 - Saturday morning
Grade 5, 6, Intermediate and Advanced 1 – Wednesday evening
Tap - ISTD syllabus
Grade 3 - Friday evening and Saturday morning
Grade 4 – Saturday morning
Grade 5, 6, Intermediate, Advanced 1 and 2 – Wednesday evening
Acro
This programme uses strength and flexibility to perform gymnastic-based tricks. It is a perfect companion to ballet, modern and contemporary. The class teaches flexibility, balance, strength and coordination. Acrobatic dance is an art, whereas gymnastics is a sport.
Senior Acro is on a Tuesday evening.
Contemporary
This class is hugely popular and works well alongside GCSE, BTEC, and A-level Dance as an expressive, creative style that develops our students' choreographic skills.
Contemporary D and E also study the ISTD Intermediate Contemporary syllabus.
C group - 11-14 years/*Grade 3 level
D group - Age 12-15 years/*Gd 4 & 5 level
E group - Age 15 + years/*Gd 6 upwards
* Please note we have an age/level guideline to ensure the dancers are in the most appropriate class. ALL our Contemporary classes are on a Friday evening.
Commercial
Commercial class for ages 15+ years is a solid and sassy style with elements of street and jazz. This class is ideal for those wishing to build their repertoire for future training at dance colleges and is a popular non-syllabus class for senior students.
We have 2 Commercial classes on Thursday evenings according to age/current skill level.
Stage School-Musical Theatre
We have experienced acting, vocal, and dance teachers who develop the students' all-around musical theatre skills in acting, singing, and movement. The students work on some amazing projects within their age/skill level-specific classes, as well as full-scale annual musical performances.
Intermediate – age 10-13yrs* Saturday midday
Senior – age 14-16yrs* Saturday afternoon
Elite – age 16+ years* Tuesday evenings
*we will ensure the students are in the most appropriate class depending upon their all-round performance ability.
Lamda Exam classes
We now have LAMDA classes on Saturday mornings in both Acting and Musical Theatre.
Just like our ISTD dance exams, the higher level grades are awarded UCAS points.
LAMDA exams count towards Duke of Edinburgh awards, and after a certain level is reached, UCAS points can also be awarded.
We hold Senior classes with mixed grades in Acting and in Musical Theatre:
Graded Exams for Performance: Acting Learners delve into characterisation and develop strong speaking skills in one of our most popular exams.
Learners can take their exam in a solo, duologue or combined format.
Graded exams for Performance: Solo/Duo Musical Theatre. Learners develop how to tell a captivating story through song with vibrant characterisation and stong acting technique.
Learners can take their Musical Theatre exams alone (solo) or with a fellow learner (duo).
Open Jazz
Our open (non-syllabus) jazz classes are very popular as our dancers are keen to have more jazz technique in a variety of jazz genres including corner work, flexibility, leaps, kicks, turns and performance styles.
Flexibility, strength and stamina
We offer 2 weekly classes for students who want to develop stamina, strength and flexibility further. These classes will complement any of our dance classes and is also important for Acro dancers.
Ballet Graduate and Performance classes
We also offer Ballet Graduate and Performance classes for students attaining a higher level of technique and performance, alongside a consistent 100% effort in class and a positive training ethic. Both of these classes are offered at different levels and are an ‘invitation-only class’ for highly motivated students.
“Both my daughters have been dancing since they were 3, now 14 and 11 and their love of dance just keeps growing! All the teachers are amazing, there’s a great choice of classes and all the shows and performance opportunities are incredible. AT has such a lovely group of kids and my girls have made such great friendships through dance. We all love being part of the AT family”