About us

HISTORY

The school was founded by Mrs. Daphne Norcross in the 1960s. Peta Barratt joined the school as an Assistant Teacher in 1987 and bought the school in 1991 when Mrs. Norcross retired. Harriet and Katie after both dancing and teaching at Ondine for many years took over the school in 2019 when Miss Barratt retired.

WHAT WE OFFER

A wide range of dance styles for students aged 2.5-18 years old. Also Adult classes in Tap, Ballet & dance-based exercise.

All classes are held in Gerrards Cross, Chalfont St. Peter and Stoke Poges in South Buckinghamshire.

RAD Ballet

Ondine Academy offers training in RAD ballet to the highest standard – up to and including Grade 8, and Vocational Grades.

The Royal Academy of Dance is an awarding body, approved by the Qualifications & Curriculum Authority, which has accredited the Academy’s Grades 6, 7 & 8 and Vocational exams. Passing Grades 1, 2, & 3 is equivalent to a GCSE Grade D – G or Level 1 NVQ. Primary in Dance examination is awarded at Entry Level 3 of National Qualifications Framework. Continuing through to Grades 6, 7, and 8 earns UCAS points depending on the pass mark and will accomplish a result to the value of an A level for Grade 8. Many of our girls achieve this. More information is available on the Royal Academy website.

The size of the school allows us to hold Ballet exams every term in our own venue, which means that the children may progress at their own pace, taking an exam as soon as they are able and not having to wait until there are enough children ready to book an Examiner.

Modern & Tap
Modern & Tap is offered in all age groups. We recommend that students take ballet classes alongside Tap & Modern as ballet provides a strong foundation of dance technique.

Melody Movement                           
Pre-School syllabus for children 2 ½ – 4 ½ with Melody Bear. Baby Ballet is offered from age 2 ½ – 3 ½. Melody Movement syllabus is taught from 3 ½ – 4 ½ where the children celebrate their achievements in class with special stickers on a Melody Bear chart and medals are awarded throughout the year. At 4 ½ the children then move up to the RAD Pre-Primary syllabus.

Contemporary

We follow the Rambert Grades syllabi for our contemporary dance classes. Students can take exams if they want to when they are ready. These classes are inclusive, fun and creative, offering students the chance to discover new ways to move and collaborate with each other.

Street Dance
Recreational, fun street dance classes for children aged 4+ years old without pressure of exams.

Acro Dance

Acrobatic Dance combines dance with gymnastic elements involving strength, balance and flexibilty.

Combo
A fun class learning routines and dances combining different modern styles, including: Lyrical, Contemporary and Jazz. For students studying Grade 5 ballet and above.

Festivals
Selected students may be offered the opportunity to join Team Ondine and participate in Dance Festivals throughout the year.

*Parents are welcome to watch the first class after the half term break of each term, with the exception of the Baby Ballet & Melody Movement classes, for which the watching week will be the last class of the term

Adult Dance Classes

We also have Adult Ballet, Adult Tap, Power & Poise (dance-based exercise) and special Silver Swans Ballet classes for the over 55’s.

TEACHERS

Co-Principal Miss Harriet Allum,

Head of Ballet, Contemporary, Marketing and Social Media

BA (Hons) Ballet Education, RAD RTS. Rambert Grades & PBT Certified. Trained at Norcross School of Dance and Ondine Academy. She qualified as a Teacher at the Royal Academy of Dance in London.

Co-Principal Miss Katie Bennett,

Head of Modern, Tap & Acro, Merchandise and Fundraising

CDE Trained at Norcross School of Dance and Ondine Academy and did her Teacher’s Training with Linda Sweetzer. Acrobatic Arts certified.

Miss Chloe Mytom, 

Trained at Ondine Academy of Dance and graduated from Chichester University with a BA (Hons) in Dance Education and Teaching.