Covering a range of genres, to suit your style
Pat Steel School of Dance offers Ballet, Tap, Modern, Contemporary, PBT, and Acro dance lessons for children 3 and above and adults across Maidenhead and Beaconsfield. Having been in the industry since 1955, we believe in encouraging our students to work towards their dreams, bringing out their inner confidence and helping them reach their full potential. To help with this, we conduct regular examinations to test the skills and aid further development.
Our teachers and practitioners come from a range of performance backgrounds within dance and can provide their knowledge to encourage success.
Choosing your genre
Ballet
Our ballet classes emphasise proper body alignment, posture, and musicality. Students will learn a variety of ballet exercises, including barre work, centre work and across-the-floor combinations. Through dedicated practice and attention to detail students will develop their strength, flexibility, and artistry.
Modern
Modern dance originated in the USA and is often seen on stage in musical theatre productions. The early grade work focuses on learning basic techniques and fundamental motor skills, in a fun and fabulous way. This style uses travelling steps, high kicks, leaps and turns which all need strength and flexibility. This is a highly energetic style of dance. We offer imperial Society of Teachers of Dancing (ISTD) Modern classes with children being entered for exams when they are ready.
Tap
Tap dancing is a unique and rhythmic form of dance that combines intricate footwork and musicality. At Pat Steel School of Dance, our tap lessons are designed to teach students the fundamental techniques, including syncopation, improvisation, and intricate footwork patterns. Our classes are led by experienced instructors who are well-versed in a variety of tap styles. Our students will learn to create rhythmic sounds and develop their own unique style, while building strength, coordination, and musicality.
Contemporary
Contemporary dance works hand in hand with ballet, exploring technique, performance, and improvisation skills. We advise all contemporary students to also have ballet training. Contemporary classes start when students are around 10 years old.
PBT
Progressing Ballet Technique (PBT) is an innovative body-conditioning and strengthening programme that has been designed to enhance students’ technique by focussing on training the muscle memory required in each exercise in all forms of dance. With the use of an exercise ball, the students gain a great sense of posture and weight placement whilst feeling each correct muscle group working throughout each exercise, which then stays with them whilst performing in dance or their chosen field of sport. PBT focuses on core strength, weight placement and alignment of the body with a gradual approach of carefully designed exercises and repetitions of these exercises to promote a long, healthy career. Miss Kim and Miss Catherine are fully qualified Progressing Ballet Technique instructors and offer classes on Saturday mornings at BCA. This class is specifically aimed at our students in Grade 4 and above. Vocational students should consider adding this class as part of their strength training.
Acro tuition
Our acro tuition focuses on elements of dance and acrobatics to create a unique and challenging curriculum for our students. Our classes teach a variety of acrobatic skills, such as tumbling, balancing, and partnering all while incorporating them seamlessly into dance routines. We understand the importance of a strong foundation in dance technique, which is why we focus on all areas of dance styles and help our students form strong acro tuition through developing strength, flexibility, and control.
Show the world what you can do
Whether you're new to the world of dance or a seasoned performer, it's always rewarding to share your talents. To showcase what our dancers can do, we run biannual shows across Maidenhead, Beaconsfield, and beyond, shining a light on all genres.
Pat Steel School of Dance is the perfect place to nurture your passion, and our dance lessons could be the start of an exciting journey of self-discovery and artistic expression.
