# Dance Sensation School of Performing Arts > Dance Sensation is an ISTD dance school in Reading, Berkshire, founded in 2005 by Marie Gratton. It teaches ballet, tap, modern, contemporary, street and musical theatre to children from age 2½, plus adult tap, at four venues from Monday to Saturday. Every new student can try a free taster class before enrolling. - Phone: 07768 707129 - Email: marie@dancesensation.org.uk - Students: 200+ - Book a free taster: https://www.dancesensation.org.uk/book ## Classes - [Baby Ballet](https://www.dancesensation.org.uk/classes/baby-ballet): ages 2½ to 5. Magical first steps in ballet for little movers. Venues: Westwood Social Club, Spencers Wood Pavilion, The Cornwell Centre. - [Ballet](https://www.dancesensation.org.uk/classes/ballet): ages 5+. Grace, strength and focus through ISTD ballet training. Venues: Kennet Valley Free Church, Spencers Wood Pavilion, The Cornwell Centre, Westwood Social Club. - [Tap](https://www.dancesensation.org.uk/classes/tap): ages 5+. Rhythm, sound and joyful footwork. Venues: Spencers Wood Pavilion, The Cornwell Centre, Westwood Social Club. - [Modern](https://www.dancesensation.org.uk/classes/modern): ages 5+. Energetic jazz-influenced movement with personality. Venues: Kennet Valley Free Church, The Cornwell Centre. - [Contemporary](https://www.dancesensation.org.uk/classes/contemporary): ages 8+. Expressive, fluid movement that connects mind and body. Venues: The Cornwell Centre. - [Street](https://www.dancesensation.org.uk/classes/street): ages 5+. Groove, character and confidence from hip hop culture. Venues: The Cornwell Centre. - [Musical Theatre](https://www.dancesensation.org.uk/classes/musical-theatre): ages 8+. Sing, act and dance with story at the centre. Venues: The Cornwell Centre. - [Adult Tap](https://www.dancesensation.org.uk/classes/adult-tap): ages 18+. Friendly mixed-ability tap for adults who love to move. Venues: Spencers Wood Pavilion, Westwood Social Club. ## Venues and timetable - [Westwood Social Club](https://www.dancesensation.org.uk/locations/westwood-social-club): Downs Way, Tilehurst, Reading, RG31 6SL. Monday. - Monday 4pm to 4:30pm: Baby Ballet (ages 2½-5) - Monday 4:30pm to 5pm: Pre-Primary Ballet (ages 5) - Monday 5pm to 5:30pm: Primary Tap (ages 5) - Monday 5:30pm to 6pm: Primary Ballet (ages 6+) - Monday 6pm to 6:40pm: Grade 4 Tap (ages 10+) - Monday 6:40pm to 7:20pm: Grade 5 Ballet (ages 11+) - Monday 7:20pm to 8pm: Grade 5 Tap (ages 16+) - Monday 8pm to 9pm: Adult Tap / Ballet (ages 18+) - [Spencers Wood Pavilion](https://www.dancesensation.org.uk/locations/spencers-wood-pavilion): Clares Green Road, Spencers Wood, Reading, RG7 1DY. Tuesday. - Tuesday 4pm to 4:30pm: Baby Ballet (ages 2½-5) - Tuesday 4:30pm to 5pm: Pre-Primary / Primary Ballet (ages 5+) - Tuesday 5pm to 5:30pm: Primary Tap / Grade 1 Tap (ages 5+) - Tuesday 5:30pm to 6pm: Grade 1 Ballet (ages 8+) - Tuesday 6pm to 6:30pm: Grade 1 Tap / Grade 2 Tap (ages 8+) - Tuesday 6:30pm to 7:10pm: Grade 2 / Grade 3 Ballet (ages 9+) - Tuesday 7:10pm to 8:10pm: Grade 5 Ballet / Pointe Work (ages 11+) - Tuesday 8:10pm to 8:55pm: Adult Tap (ages 18+) - [Kennet Valley Free Church](https://www.dancesensation.org.uk/locations/kennet-valley-free-church): Carters Rise, Fords Farm, Reading, RG31 7YT. Wednesday. - Wednesday 4:20pm to 5pm: Grade 2 Ballet (ages 9+) - Wednesday 5pm to 5:40pm: Grade 1 / Grade 2 Modern (ages 5+) - Wednesday 5pm to 5:40pm: Grade 3 Modern (ages 10+) - Wednesday 5:40pm to 6:20pm: Grade 5 Ballet (ages 11+) - Wednesday 5:40pm to 6:20pm: Grade 3 Ballet (ages 10+) - Wednesday 6:20pm to 7pm: Grade 3 Tap (ages 10+) - Wednesday 6:30pm to 7pm: Pointe Work (Invitation Only) (ages 13+) - Wednesday 7pm to 7:40pm: Grade 4 Ballet (ages 11+) - Wednesday 7pm to 7:40pm: Grade 6 Modern (ages 13+) - [The Cornwell Centre](https://www.dancesensation.org.uk/locations/the-cornwell-centre): Home Croft, Tilehurst, Reading, RG31 5WJ. Friday and Saturday. - Friday 4:15pm to 4:45pm: Grade 1 Ballet (ages 8+) - Friday 4:45pm to 5:15pm: Grade 1 Tap (ages 8+) - Friday 5:15pm to 5:45pm: Musical Theatre (ages 8+) - Friday 5:45pm to 6:15pm: Grade 2 Tap (ages 9+) - Friday 6:15pm to 6:50pm: Grade 2 Ballet (ages 9+) - Saturday 8:30am to 9am: Baby Ballet (ages 2½-5) - Saturday 9am to 9:30am: Pre-Primary Ballet (ages 5+) - Saturday 9:30am to 10am: Pre-Primary Ballet (ages 5+) - Saturday 10am to 10:30am: Primary Ballet (ages 6+) - Saturday 10:30am to 11am: Grade 1 Ballet (ages 8+) - Saturday 11am to 11:30am: Street Dance (ages 5-10) - Saturday 11:30am to 12pm: Contemporary (ages 8-12) - Saturday 12pm to 12:30pm: Street Dance (ages 11+) - Saturday 12:30pm to 1:15pm: Contemporary (ages 13-18) - Saturday 1:15pm to 1:55pm: Grade 5 Modern (ages 11+) ## Prices - 30 min class: £5.50 per lesson, paid termly - 40 min class: £6.50 per lesson, paid termly - 45 min class: £7.50 per lesson, paid termly - 1 hour class: £8.50 per lesson, paid termly - Enrolment: £15 non-refundable joining fee per child (children's classes only) - Missed lessons are not refunded. - Details: https://www.dancesensation.org.uk/term-dates ## Dates - Autumn Term 2026: Monday 7 September to Saturday 12 December 2026 - Spring Term 2027: Week commencing 4 January to Saturday 20 March 2027 - Summer Term 2027: Monday 12 April to Saturday 17 July 2027 - Summer School 2027: 26 to 30 July 2027 - Dance Show Weekend: 13 to 14 March 2027, Furze Platt Senior School, Furze Platt Road, Maidenhead, Berkshire, SL6 7NQ ## Frequently asked questions - When can my 2½ year old start ballet? From 2½, in our Baby Ballet classes. Children need to be fully potty trained, dry and out of nappies before coming to a free taster class. - Do I have to pay for a taster session? No. Every student at Dance Sensation is entitled to a free taster class before enrolling. - Can we watch the first free taster class? Yes. We leave the main door open so you can stay nearby and see how your child settles into class. - Is there a waiting room? Waiting arrangements can vary by venue. Please ask when you book your taster and we will confirm what works best for that location. - What should my child wear for a first taster? For Baby Ballet and Primary Ballet, girls can wear a dress or skirt with soft pumps or trainers. Boys can wear shorts, a T-shirt and trainers. From Grade 1 onwards, leggings or shorts with a T-shirt and soft pumps or trainers are fine. For modern, tap, musical theatre, contemporary or street, a tracksuit or leggings with a T-shirt works well. For tap, hard-wearing school shoes are suitable for a first visit. - What should I wear for Adult Tap? Wear something you can move in easily, such as a tracksuit, leggings or sportswear, with hard-wearing shoes. - Do I have to buy all the uniform at once? No. You can buy uniform gradually. Please contact Dancia in Caversham for fittings, and see our uniform page for full details. - Can I purchase shoes from any shop? No. It is important that shoes are fitted correctly at Dancia, where the team have the expertise to get the fit right. - Are fees refunded for lessons missed? No. Lessons are not refunded for holidays or absence. Fees are paid termly at the beginning of every term. - How much is a term? Fees depend on class length and the number of weeks in the term. Per lesson, a 30-minute class is £5.50, 40 minutes is £6.50, 45 minutes is £7.50 and 1 hour is £8.50. Fees are charged termly at the start of each term. - Is there an enrolment fee? Yes. There is a non-refundable joining fee of £15 per child when enrolling. This applies to children’s classes only. - Can we watch our child in class? Twice a year, in July and December, parents are invited to watch the last lesson of term. For older students this is once a year in July. - Do the children have the opportunity to perform? Yes. We hold a yearly dance show and have also taken part in summer fêtes and community performances. ## More - [Teachers](https://www.dancesensation.org.uk/teachers) - [Uniform](https://www.dancesensation.org.uk/uniform) - [Policies](https://www.dancesensation.org.uk/policies) - [Contact](https://www.dancesensation.org.uk/contact)