About Island Dance Academy

Our school was established in September 2000. Our classes are now held in studios at the Brook Theatre in Chatham and at St Mary's Island Community Centre.

Our aim is for children and adults to dance for enjoyment and exercise.

Opportunities to perform onstage arise often and we encourage students to attend auditions for local pantomimes and other shows. Academy students have performed at Her Majesty’s Theatre and Shaftesbury Theatre, London (see our gallery); as well as local theatres. Our in house productions are staged about every other year.

Students can also work towards BATD and IDTA exams which are also usually held bi-yearly. However, children who do not wish to take exams will be able to progress up through the grades alongside their friends. In 2011 we were proud to be awarded with a Certificate of Merit by the Theatre Dance Council International for achieving outstanding examination results.

Classes are held in Ballet, Tap, Modern, Jazz, Street Dance, Musical Theatre and Contemporary.

Pre-school ballet is available for children from 2 1/2 years, with other subjects of dance opening availability as they grow older.

We also offer Adult Tap classes. These are fun, energetic and sociable.

What do we offer?

Ballet

Teaches the basic technique needed in all forms of dance. Ballet will improve posture, give strength and stamina and also promotes discipline. We work towards BATD grade examinations

Modern

A style of dance between ballet and jazz, working on technique and style, combining exercises with free work. We work towards the BATD syllabus and children can be entered for Grade and Medal test examinations.

Musical Theatre

Combines singing, acting and dance. These classes offer a great variety of skills and great fun! Students will get to perform in front of one another as well as on occasions to an audience. During these classes students will be asked to learn monologues and scripts as well as learning to sing to modern day songs and musicals such as Annie and Oliver. They will be taught many different styles of dance as well as learning movement and warm up techniques.

Tap

Tap is a lot of fun! Learning to develop rhythms through your feet, tap dancing promotes good balance, rhythm and coordination. We work towards BATD grade and medal test examinations.

Street

From its beginnings in the USA in the 70’s Street Dance has evolved into modern dance styles, like Hip Hop and Funk, that are now a staple of modern music videos and dance performances. It is both physical exercise and an art form. We work towards IDTA medal tests.

Jazz

Often danced to popular upbeat tracks, combining energetic moves with fancy footwork, floor work, big leaps and turns.

Contemporary dance

This is a style of dance combing several dance styles including modern, jazz, lyrical and classical ballet.

Please don't hesitate to contact us for more information about any of our classes!

Uniform List / Suppliers

Our Uniform Suppliers:

Second hand Uniform Shop:
http://www.idanearlynew.altervista.org/

School time -
23 Railway Street, ME4 4HU

Bustles and Breeches -

http://www.bustlesandbreeches.co.uk/
145 Wellington Street, Gravesend
01474 566778

Stage Door -

www.stagedoorsidcup.co.uk
02083090877
Email at:
2 Invicta Parade, Sidcup Highstreet, Sidcup, Kent, DA14 6ER
(Offering 20% discount for all IDA students)

GIRLS

Ballet
Tiny Tots, Pre-Primary, Primary

Sheree Leotard in Lilac (Roch Valley)
Lilac Circular Skirt (Roch Valley)
White Ballet Socks
Pink Leather Ballet Shoes
White Wrap Over Cardigan (optional)
Hair in a bun

Grade 1 & 2

Sheree Leotard in Lilac (Roch Valley)
White Ballet Tights
Pink Leather Ballet Shoes
White Wrap Over Cardigan (optional)
Hair in a bun

Grade 3, 4 & 5

Black Leotard
White Ballet Tights
Pink Leather Ballet Shoes
White Wrap Over cardigan (optional)
Hair in a bun

Elementary and above

Black Leotard
Black Wrap Over Skirt
White Tights
Pink Ballet Shoes
Pink Point Shoes
Hair in a bun

Street and Musical Theatre

Black leggings or Jazz Pants
Island Dance Academy T-Shirt (available from the school only)
Jazz shoes or black plimsolls

BOYS

Ballet

White Leotard or T-Shirt
Black Shorts (Ballet Tights For Grade 1 And Above)
White Ankle Socks
Black Ballet Shoes

Tap and Modern

White Leotard Or T-Shirt
Boys Black Cotton Lycra Jazz Pants (Jazz pants need to fit well around the knee)
Black Jazz Shoes (modern)
Black Tap Shoes (tap)
For Grade 1 And Above - Heel Taps are required

Island Dance Academy holds a small supply of uniform:

Junior lilac leotards - £12.50
Junior lilac skirts - £12.50
Black senior leotards - £22
Purple t-shirt junior - £12
Black t-shirt senior - £15
Purple hoodies (junior) - £20
Black hoodies (adult) - £25
IDA Logo bags - £8

Please see Mandy for above.

Tap and Modern
(Starlites keep to same uniform as ballet only changing to black tap shoes)

Pre-Primary - Grade 2

Sheree Leotard in Lilac (Roche Valley)
Black Cotton Lycra Jazz Pants (Jazz pants need to fit well around the knee)
Black Ankle Socks
Black Jazz Shoes (Modern)
Black Tap Shoes (Tap)
For Grade 1 And Above - Heel Taps are required
Hair tied neatly off the face
School T-shirts may be worn over leotard during Tap

Grade 3, 4 & 5

Black Leotard
Black Cotton Lycra Jazz Pants (Jazz pants need to fit well around the knee)
Black ankle socks
Black Jazz Shoes (modern)
Black Oxford Tap Shoes with Teletone Taps (tap)
Hair tied neatly off the face
School T-shirts may be worn over leotard during Tap

Elementary and Above

Black Leotard
Black Cotton Lycra Jazz Pants (Jazz pants need to fit well around the knee)
Black ankle socks
Black Jazz Shoes (modern)
Black Oxford Tap Shoes with Teletone Taps (tap)
Hair tied neatly off the face
School T-shirts may be worn over leotard during Tap