Jill Thomas School of Ballet is a well-established ballet school located in Stockton-on-Tees. The school specialises in teaching classical ballet using the Royal Academy of Dance (R. A. D) syllabi, starting from Pre-Primary to Grade 8.
Along with the traditional syllabi, they also teach the complete new syllabi from Pre-Primary to Grade 5. The aim of the school is to engage and captivate every student by incorporating creative choreography and beautiful music into each lesson, making it a fun experience while building a great skill.
The school prioritises freedom of movement, spatial awareness, coordination, expressiveness, and musicality, all crucial aspects to engage the modern child. Students are encouraged to work towards the R. A. D examination scheme and earn certificates and medals, fostering a sense of accomplishment and pride.
However, the school also welcomes students who attend lessons purely for pleasure, allowing them to learn valuable life skills and make new friends.
Jill Thomas, the founder and principal of the school, has been involved in ballet for most of her life. She began learning R. A. D ballet at the Jean McDonnell School of Ballet in Redcar from the age of 5.
After participating in numerous exams, she made the decision to become a ballet teacher and pursued her teaching qualifications at The Hammond School in Chester, alongside other dance exams. Jill's passion for ballet led her to her first teaching post in Bari, Southern Italy, where she gained invaluable experience. In 1993, she established her own school in Ingleby Barwick, where she has been teaching successfully for the past 25 years. Jill has achieved a 100% pass rate with many children taking R.
A. D exams. In addition to Ingleby Barwick, Jill also teaches ballet at Hemlington Recreation Centre and Helmsley Arts Centre.
The price list for classes at Jill Thomas School of Ballet ranges from 6. 50 for Pre-primary to 8 for Grades 1-7. Discounts are available for families with more than two children.
The school offers a variety of classes throughout the week at different locations. On Mondays, there is a ladies ballet class at Helmsley Town Hall/Arts Centre from 11:00 am to 12:00 pm. On Wednesdays, classes are held at St. Francis Church Hall in Ingleby Barwick, with Grade 1 from 4:45 pm to 5:30 pm, Grade 4 from 5:30 pm to 6:30 pm, and Grade 7 from 6:30 pm to 7:15 pm.
Thursday's classes are held at Hemlington Recreation Centre, with Pre-Primary/Primary from 4:00 pm to 4:45 pm and Grade 2 from 5:00 pm to 5:45 pm. Friday's classes at St. Francis Church Hall in Ingleby Barwick include Primary from 4:15 pm to 5:00 pm, Grade 2 from 5:00 pm to 6:00 pm, and a ladies ballet class from 6:00 pm to 7:00 pm. Saturday's classes take place at Helmsley Arts Centre, with Pre-Primary from 10:00 am to 10:45 am, Primary from 10:45 am to 11:30 am, Grade 1 from 11:30 am to 12:15 pm, Grade 2 from 12:15 pm to 1:00 pm, Grade 3 from 1:00 pm to 1:45 pm, and Grade 5 from 1:45 pm to 2:30 pm.
The school proudly follows the regulation uniform for ballet classes. For R. A. D Pre-Primary and Primary, the uniform consists of a short-sleeved, scooped neck cotton leotard in pink, a chiffon wrap-over skirt in pink, pink soft leather or satin ballet shoes with elastic across, pink ballet socks, and a long-sleeved, crossover cardigan in pink.
For R. A. D Grades 1-3, the uniform includes a sleeveless, gathered front cotton leotard with an elastic belt in lavender, pink soft leather or satin ballet shoes with elastic across, pink ballet socks, and a long-sleeved, crossover cardigan in pink.
For more information about Jill Thomas School of Ballet, interested individuals can contact the school via telephone, mobile, or email, or visit their social media pages and club directories.