All our students have the opportunity to perform in a professional theatre every two years. This allows everyone time in between shows to make real progression in their classes and makes our shows extra special. We hold our performances at The Queens Hall Theatre in Hexham who do an excellent job of making our choreography come to life with effective lighting and sound. All costumes are provided by the dance school and our shows are professionally filmed.
Theatre Shows
We are qualified with the International Dance Teachers Association (IDTA) and offer exams in Ballet, Tap and Freestyle. We start by offering ‘First Steps’ exams where the teacher goes into the room and leads the children throughout so they have a gentle introduction to the process. Our graded Ballet and Tap exams are regulated by Ofqual so carry UCAS points and our Senior Students can take Level 3 qualifications (equivalent to A Level). Freestyle exams are much shorter Medal Tests, usually 1-4 short dances. We choose to keep our Contemporary classes as creative classes to allow the children their own choreographic voice. Contemporary is therefore ideal if your child does not wish to take exams. In our Acrobatic Arts classes each child has their own progress card which is continually assessed in class by the teacher. When all skills have been completed they can take home their card, get a big round of applause from their classmates and move up to the next level. We find this works well in our acro classes so each child can make progress at their own pace while safely working their way through the progressions.
Exams
Perform In Disneyland
In 2019 and again in 2023 we visited Disneyland Paris to perform in our very own show in the Videopolis Theatre inside the park to an audience of approximately a thousand holiday makers. We also took part in the Pre Parade alongside hundreds of dancers from other dance schools, dancing down Main Street in front of huge crowds. This opportunity is open to all dance school members aged 10 and over and truly is the experience of a lifetime. We’re planning to go back in 2027. Very special memories are made with families, friends and in our own EPSOD family x
Socials & Fundraisers
From movie nights, awards presentations, children’s parties, local community performances and adult Christmas nights out, we always seem to have a full diary at EPSOD! We’re very proud of the community we’ve built and are very proud to be a part of it!
Royal Opera House Associate School
We are an Associate School with the Royal Opera House with both Elaine and Natasha working as Associate Artists in local First Schools Adderlane and Prudhoe West. We work with a group of Year 3 children within their school for 6 weeks using building blocks to create their own dance work; using choreographic tools to develop the children’s own choreographic voice. The children then have an intensive 3 days with both ourselves and Lead Artists to create a full dance piece which is performed alongside other local Associate schools and Royal Ballet Dancers at Dance City. Following on from this experience some of the children then receive bursaries from the Royal Opera House to attend a creative dance class at the dance school on Thursdays 4pm-5pm for a full academic year. Elaine and Natasha have completed their first year in the Chance to Dance programme and have gained so much from the CPD delivered at the Royal Opera House and working alongside the Lead Artists and children in schools. It has given us new skills in our teaching to take forward both in First Schools as well as the dance school and we’re excited to continue the journey.
Company Teams
Each year we invite students who attend a range of classes, who pick up choreography quickly, who have excellent attendance and a desire to perform, to take part in external events as part of our Company Teams. We have a Junior Team for ages 8-13yrs and a Senior Team for 14yrs+.
One of the highlights of our calendar is attending the CanYouDance? convention at Northumbria Uni. The day includes masterclasses with industry professionals, exhibitions from dance colleges, dancewear companies, college performances and we get to take part in the dance schools competition. In 2020 our Juniors made it to the Finals at the Super Convention in Liverpool where we met and had a dance class with Oti Mabuse, tried aerial hoops, took part in lots of classes and performed on an amazing stage. The standard of classes is very high so we do try to invite children who we believe will have the resilience and determination to make the most out of the day.
Every two years we take part in the IDTA Tyneside Gala, usually held at The Sunderland Empire Theatre. The evening is a showcase of the local IDTA talent and we are very lucky to be one of a dozen or so schools to be invited. This is a great opportunity for the students to perform in a large professional theatre and to also see meet students and teachers from other dance schools.
In October we took part in That’s Showbiz competition in Leeds and our Minis and Seniors were successful in making it to the semi-finals to be held in Blackpool at The Opera House. Our Seniors placed 2nd in Hip Hop-well done girls!
We look to do approx. 6 events throughout the year including local competitions. We encourage the students to enter solos and duets, however most of our events are team dances as this is where our values lie in holding the Company classes; a strong work ethic, commitment to your team and sharing these great opportunities together.
Holiday Camps
Our holiday camps are open to both members and non members aged 5 and up. Days usually run 9am-3pm and include dance, acro, games, crafts and lots of fun to entertain children during the school holidays. Please bring a packed lunch/drink and wear clothes suitable for dance and have hair tied up.
Members book by logging into your Class Manager account and click enrol. https://app.classmanager.com/portal/elaine-pygall-school-of-dancing/login
Non members book here
https://app.classmanager.com/classes/elaine-pygall-school-of-dancing
Birthday Parties
We offer birthday dance parties across all our locations of up to 15 children (more can be accommodated at an additional cost). We provide a 1.5 hour party plus 30 minutes beforehand for you to decorate/set up. Party includes warm up games and a dance routine to a song of your choice with solo spot for the birthday child, party games and space to have a tea party (please provide your own food-kitchen facilities are available). Parties can be tailored to different themes such as Princess, Pirates, Cheerleader or Pop Diva and are suitable for children from 3 years old. Any children under the age of 3 must have a parent present and parent organisers are responsible for any children left without adult supervision.
1.5 hour party with up to 15 children-£180/discounted to £150 for EPSOD members
To enquire/book contact admin@elainepygall.co.uk
Volunteers/Teacher Training Programme
Have you ever considered what it would be like to teach dance? Perhaps you’re after some valuable work experience that would look great on your CV or perhaps as part of your Duke of Edinburgh award? Maybe you just love dancing at EPSOD so much and want to spend even more time with us! If you’re an EPSOD student who is interested in being one of our student helpers then speak up! (Or get your grown up to do it!) We have lots of weekly classes, workshops and holiday camps that you could come along to and help out with. You don’t always need to be the most amazing dancer; the confidence to talk to children, be organised and on time, be relied upon, be polite when talking to parents or other members of staff, being proactive and not waiting to be asked to do something; these are all skills we’re looking for. In return you’ll learn what it’s like to work with children and be part of a strong team, working to deadlines and working really hard to get the children looking and feeling their best in their dancing. And if you find you love it, you might even decide to take it further with our teaching qualifications we offer. For those who have taken Intermediate Ballet and would like a qualification externally recognised by Ofqual, the Level 3 Diploma in Dance Teaching Assistant offers the first step into teaching qualifications followed by the Level 4 Diploma in Teaching. Alternatively the IDTA offers both a Pre Associate and Associate Teaching qualification in Freestyle. Please speak to Elaine if you’re interested in any teaching qualifications or visit the IDTA website for further information. Our teacher training programmes are very popular within the school so there is no guarantee of employment within the school. Please consider how doing these qualifications will benefit you personally before undertaking this commitment. Please note these opportunities are open to long term members of EPSOD who we know well and who we feel share our values. The EPSOD team is entirely home grown and our values are very important to us.