Children

Children’s classes at Peak Ballet follow the prestigious syllabus of the Royal Academy of Dance (RAD). The RAD is one of the world’s most influential dance education organisations. The syllabus focus on creativity and musicality for students of all ages and abilities, whilst providing opportunities to progress and achieve.

Classes for our youngest dancers aged 3.5-5 aim to capture and nurture their instinctive joy of movement and freedom of expression. We use themes and stories to stimulate the creative process intertwined with the start of the RAD Pre-Primary syllabus. These classes are held on Monday afternoons at 4pm, at Wirksworth Memorial Hall.

The graded syllabus (Pre-Primary in Dance, Primary in Dance and Grades 1-8) provide a broad practical dance education and develop technical, musical and performance skills (age 5+).  Graded classes are on Monday afternoon/evenings at Wirksworth Memorial Hall and Thursday afternoon/evenings at Middleton Village Hall.

The Pre-Primary in Dance and Primary in Dance syllabus are designed to help the young child develop a degree of motor control, co-ordination and strength. Lively and fun classes encourage a sense of enjoyment in moving and dancing.

Prep for Grand Jetes

Grades 1-5 introduce students to the gentle rigour of ballet training through a clear route of progressions, each grade building on the work of the last.

and Grand Jete!


Character work (theatrical presentations of national and folk dance) is introduced in its simplest form at Grade 1 establishing basic technique.  By Grades 4&5 the work has progressed to more theatrical presentations. Students may be able to see links with the character dances seen in traditional ballet productions such as Swan Lake and Coppelia.

G1 character work


Snapshots during classes

Pre-Primaries socially distanced in 2020

Rudolphs having fun at Christmas time!

practicing stretching those feet in sautés


Peak Ballet students getting creative in a choreography class…

Class Times

Mondays at Wirksworth Memorial Hall

Pre-Primary in Dance 1 – 4 – 4.35pm

Primary in Dance 1 – 4.40 – 5.15pm

Primary in Dance 2 –  5.15 – 5.50pm

Pre-Primary in Dance 2 – 5.55 – 6.30pm

Exam Practices/ rehearsals – 6.30 – 7/7.30pm

Thursdays at Middleton Village Hall

(temporary timetable for Autumn 2024)

Grade 1: 5 – 6pm

Grades 2-5: 6 – 7.30pm