Ballet at Queen Mary's School

Butterfly School of Dance began in January 1999, teaching one ballet class each week to a starting number of ten pupils in Sinderby Village Hall. The response to the ballet class was so great that we were able to add tap and modern to the classes available. We progressed over the first few years to teach over 500 dancers across North Yorkshire with students between the age of 2½ and 63 years!

With two teaching principals, Hannah and Rachel, and two part time teachers, we aim to fulfil the growing needs of each and every student individually. Hannah is the main dance teacher at Queen Mary’s School, and Rachel works as a supply teacher when needed. The qualifications they share include BATD Associate Dance Teaching Certificates in Ballet, Tap and Modern (Stage), as well as a BA (QTS) Hons Teaching Certificate and the Early Years Professional Status. Hannah is currently training towards the examinations required to be a BATD Examiner. We hope these qualifications enable us to provide the best possible experience for the pupils we teach on a regular basis.

At Queen Mary’s School, we are able to offer classes to all pupils, in Ballet for all ages, and GCSE Dance for older pupils. For those who would like to take examinations, we can offer classes outside school, predominantly in Thirsk, or for earlier examinations, Ripon or Bedale. Tap classes, GCSE and A-Level dance are also available outside school.

For pupils wishing to work towards examinations in school time, we are able to offer private or small group lessons. The timing and prices of these lessons will depend on the timetable commitments of the pupils and dance teachers, and the number of pupils who are working on the same grade at the same time and wish to share a lesson. Exams will be arranged in Thirsk or Sinderby, on a Saturday or Sunday, according to the exam days of the dancing school as a whole, and are taken by an external examiner. Pupils receive a certificate and medal for each grade they pass, and these can eventually lead to a dance teaching qualification or career in dance.

For September to December 2008, the timetable is as follows:

Wednesdays

12.10pm to 12.40pm Nursery & Reception Ballet
12.40pm – 1.10pm Years 1 & 2 Ballet
1.10pm – 1.40pm Grade 1 Ballet, Years 3, 4 & 5
1.40pm - 2.10pm Senior Modern Jazz Class – open to all from Year 7 up

Fridays

Examination Classes by arrangement with Miss Hannah.
Provisionally as follows:
1.15pm – 1.40pm Grade 4 Ballet (currently one pupil)
1.40 – 2.10pm Grade 3 Ballet

Pupils wishing to take part are required to enrol directly with Butterflies, and payment is invoiced at or before the start of the term. Enrolment forms are available from the office at school in advance of the start of term. Please complete the form and return it to us as soon as possible.

The class price for group Ballet lessons is £4.00 per session and is payable by the term.
This is based on a minimum requirement of four pupils per class.

Pupils must wear dance uniform so that they are experiencing the discipline of dance, and can move easily, and those wishing to take exams need to wear uniform to the standard required by the association and Butterflies. For health and safety reasons, pupils must wear the correct footwear for their classes. These are ballet shoes or jazz shoes, not plimsoles or trainers. Dancewear is available from Butterflies in Thirsk, or by telephone on 01845 526787. Once paid for (cheque/credit/debit card), dancewear can be delivered to Queen Mary’s for you.

If you wish to contact us, you can telephone 01845 522570, and leave a message outside our office hours. Our available hours vary according to the lessons we have. We will then call you back as soon as we can.
Alternatively, you can write to:
Hannah and Rachel Whiston
Butterflies, c/o The Old Police Station, 2 Westgate, Sowerby, Thirsk, YO7 1QS.