Staples School of Dance

16/06/2026

05/06/2026

So true 💜

I don’t usually post about dance teaching anymore.

Most people here know me through Needle en Pointe and my tutu work, but before that, and alongside it, I’ve spent over twenty years teaching ballet. I trained through the RAD syllabus to Advanced 2 and grew up in a very traditional ballet school under my mum, who was a professional ballet dancer herself.

A conversation with her today made me think about something.

I wonder if, as a dance community, we’ve started confusing early achievement with good training.

Social media, and even our local competitions, are full of six, seven, eight, nine and ten year olds doing incredible things. Multiple pirouettes, batterie, complex allegro and advanced vocabulary that would once have been reserved for much older students.

And they are genuinely incredible.

The hours they put in and the dedication they show should never be underestimated.

But I don’t think the best training is necessarily the training that produces the most impressive young children.

I think it’s the training that lays the foundations for the strongest older dancers.

A young child can be taught to reproduce movement. They can learn the shapes, the steps and even very advanced ballet vocabulary. I’ve seen six year olds perform posé turns, pas de chat and beaten jumps beautifully.

But performing something and truly understanding it are not always the same thing.

Real technique, artistry and musicality are built over years. Children’s bodies mature. Their minds mature. Their understanding matures.

There is absolutely nothing wrong with success at a young age, and I think competitions can be a wonderful experience for children. The question, for me, is whether that success is being built on foundations that will still support the dancer years from now.
After a lifetime in dance, I’ve come to believe that the goal isn’t to create extraordinary children.

It’s to nurture extraordinary adults.

So if your child is in a school where the focus is on solid foundations, good values and longterm development, don’t lose heart when you look at social media or the local competition circuit.

Trust the process - you might be exactly where you’re meant to be 💕

29/05/2026

Come and see us today! 💜
Performing at ‘Move More in May’ in Retford park at 12:30 ✨Hope to see you there!

09/05/2026

The SDA team absolutely loved performing at Newark show today 💜
Well done all of you for representing the school, the HAF team and Nottinghamshire County Council. Thank you to our parents supporting too. It was so lovely to see a full hall whilst you were all performing ✨

04/05/2026

An incredible morning performing at .charterday 💜 Thank you to everyone who came to watch us ✨

And thank you to councillor and Bassetlaw District Council for organising such an experience for our young dancers 🤩

03/05/2026

Come and see us tomorrow! We’ll be performing at the Town Hall at 11:20 💜

21/04/2026

There is nothing more special than watching a child fall in love with dance 💜

13/04/2026

WOW 🤩

I could honestly burst! I’m SO proud of these kids! 💜
Your final performance of ENCORE was truly one for the books. You danced your hearts out and had the audience screaming “MORE!” (check the last video 🤣) and that’s exactly what it’s all about.

Watching you all light up on stage is something so special, and I feel incredibly lucky to witness it 🥹

A HUGE thank you to our amazing staff, volunteers, parent helpers and of course . We’re so grateful to perform in such a beautiful theatre, supported by such an incredible team. From the bottom of our hearts, thank you 💜

And just like that… that’s a wrap on ENCORE 2026 ✨
Hope you loved watching them as much as I did! 🥹

12/04/2026

TODAY’S THE DAY! ✨

Our dancers are beyond excited to hit that beautiful stage and give it their all! They’ve worked so hard for this 💜

We can’t wait to see you all there! Bring the energy and cheer your hearts out for these incredible kids! 🤩

Let’s make it a show to remember 💫

https://majesticretford-tickets.ticketsolve.com/ticketbooth/shows/1173674342

11/04/2026

ONE DAY TO GO ✨

Trust us, you don’t want to miss this! 🤩

Get ready for an unforgettable day of energy, talent, and sass from our incredible performers 💜

ENCORE!
📅 April 12
🕑 2pm & 7pm
📍 The Majestic Theatre, Retford

Grab your tickets while you still can! It’s going to be something special! 🌟 link in bio 🎟️

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