Graded pathway
ISTD ballet, tap & modern
The Imperial Society of Teachers of Dancing syllabus is the backbone of LESTA. Technique, musicality and a recognised exam route - taught kindly, in purpose-built studios.
Start with ballet
For parents of school-age children
Dance classes for children in Woking
From Reception through secondary school: a Knaphill studio your child can grow up in. Choose a graded ISTD class, an open style, or a mix. We will help you place them by age and temperament, not by a sales pitch.
Year 1 and up
Built for school-age life, not preschool play
Once children leave Melody Movement, the timetable opens out. Reception dancers take First Ballet, Modern & Tap with Melody Bear. From age 5, they can join ballet, tap and modern on the ISTD syllabus, or jazz, acro, hip hop and musical theatre if they want energy without exam pressure. Contemporary usually starts from 8.
Teachers move children up when they have taken an exam, or when they are ready for the next class. Sometimes groups follow school years. If you are not sure, tell us their age and what they love.
Open classes
Jazz, acro, hip hop & theatre
Choreography, characters and tricks without an exam timetable. Ideal for children who want to dance with friends - and for dedicated dancers who want another style in the toolkit.
Start with musical theatreBrowse by age
School-age classes, by age
Open Reception, 5 to 7, 8 to 11 or 12 and over to see the styles that fit and the class times.
Reception
Reception
First Ballet, Modern & Tap with Melody Bear - the bridge from preschool play into graded ISTD work.
Classes & times5 to 7 years
5 to 7 years
Primary and Grade 1 work across ballet, tap and modern, plus jazz, acro, hip hop and musical theatre.
Classes & times8 to 11 years
8 to 11 years
Stronger technique, richer rhythms and contemporary - plus Excel for dancers who want more.
Classes & times12 years+
12 years and over
Higher grades, pointe for selected dancers, senior jazz and hip hop, and Senior Excel.
Classes & times
The children's timetable
Styles they can take from school age
These are the weekly classes for children at LESTA Studios. Toddler Melody Movement and vocational Excel live on their own pages.
5 years+ISTD
Ballet
ISTD ballet from Grade 1 to vocational work, including pointe for selected senior dancers at our Woking studios.
View class
5 years+ISTD
Tap
Rhythms, improvisation and ISTD tap technique for children from 5 years.
View class
5 years+ISTD
Modern
Fun, energetic ISTD modern - from fairy dust and gallops to jazz pirouettes, kicks, leaps and turns.
View class
5 years+
Jazz
Kicks, leaps, turns and half-term choreography to pop, Disney and musical theatre - no exam pressure.
View class
5 years+Acrobatic Arts
Acro
Acrobatic Arts in a dance context - flexibility, strength, balancing, limbering and tumbling, taught safely.
View class
8 years+
Contemporary
Expressive contemporary combining lyrical, jazz and ballet - storytelling, floor work and fluid movement.
View class
5 years+
Hip Hop
Energy, groove and choreography - from playful basics to popping, locking, breaking and freestyle.
View class
4 years+
Musical Theatre
Singing, acting and dance in one class - Disney, pop and West End numbers that build real performance confidence.
View classSchool-age timetable
Class times from Reception to teens
Times for Reception through to teens on the Autumn Term 2026 timetable. Open an age above for a shorter list.
Monday
- 4.00 to 5.00Junior Excel ProgrammeStudio Fosse (Upstairs)
- 4.30 to 5.15Junior Hip HopStudio Astaire (Downstairs right)
- 5.00 to 6.00Intermediate ContemporaryStudio Fosse (Upstairs)
- 5.00 to 6.00Senior ContemporaryStudio Fonteyn (Downstairs left)
- 5.15 to 6.15Intermediate Hip HopStudio Astaire (Downstairs right)
- 6.00 to 7.00IntermediateStudio Fosse (Upstairs)
- 6.00 to 7.00Grade 6 ModernStudio Fonteyn (Downstairs left)
- 6.15 to 7.15Senior Hip HopStudio Astaire (Downstairs right)
- 7.00 to 8.00Intermediate Open BalletStudio Fosse (Upstairs)
- 7.00 to 8.00Senior JazzStudio Fonteyn (Downstairs left)
- 8.00 to 9.00Senior Open BalletStudio Fosse (Upstairs)
Tuesday
- 4.00 to 4.45Junior Open BalletStudio Fosse (Upstairs)
- 4.30 to 5.15Grade 1 BalletStudio Fonteyn (Downstairs left)
- 4.45 to 6.15Intermediate Excel ProgrammeStudio Fosse (Upstairs)
- 5.15 to 6.00Grade 1 TapStudio Fonteyn (Downstairs left)
- 6.00 to 6.45Grade 1 ModernStudio Fonteyn (Downstairs left)
- 6.15 to 8.15Senior Excel ProgrammeStudio Fosse (Upstairs)
Thursday
- 4.15 to 4.45Primary ModernStudio Fonteyn (Downstairs left)
- 4.45 to 5.30Intermediate Jazz BStudio Fosse (Upstairs)
- 4.45 to 5.30Primary BalletStudio Fonteyn (Downstairs left)
- 5.30 to 6.00Primary TapStudio Fonteyn (Downstairs left)
- 5.30 to 6.30PBT BStudio Fosse (Upstairs)
- 5.30 to 6.30PBT AStudio Astaire (Downstairs right)
- 6.30 to 8.00Conditioning, Leaps & Turns BStudio Fosse (Upstairs)
- 6.30 to 8.00Conditioning, Leaps & Turns AStudio Astaire (Downstairs right)
- 8.00 to 8.45Grade 6 TapStudio Fosse (Upstairs)
Friday
- 4.00 to 4.45Grade 1 ModernStudio Astaire (Downstairs right)
- 4.00 to 5.00Acro AStudio Fosse (Upstairs)
- 4.15 to 5.00Intermediate JazzStudio Fonteyn (Downstairs left)
- 5.00 to 5.45Junior JazzStudio Fonteyn (Downstairs left)
- 5.00 to 6.15Acro CStudio Fosse (Upstairs)
- 6.15 to 7.00Intermediate JazzStudio Fonteyn (Downstairs left)
- 6.15 to 7.00Grade 4 TapStudio Astaire (Downstairs right)
- 6.15 to 7.15Acro BStudio Fosse (Upstairs)
- 7.15 to 8.30Acro DStudio Fosse (Upstairs)
Saturday
- 9.00 to 10.00First Ballet, Modern & TapStudio Astaire (Downstairs right)
- 9.00 to 10.15Intermediate Musical TheatreStudio Fonteyn (Downstairs left)
- 9.00 to 10.30Pre-Primary Ballet, Modern & TapStudio Fosse (Upstairs)
- 10.15 to 11.30Senior Musical TheatreStudio Fonteyn (Downstairs left)
- 10.30 to 11.15Grade 1 BalletStudio Fosse (Upstairs)
- 10.45 to 11.15Primary TapStudio Astaire (Downstairs right)
- 11.15 to 12.00Primary BalletStudio Fosse (Upstairs)
- 11.15 to 12.00Grade 1 TapStudio Astaire (Downstairs right)
- 12.00 to 12.30Primary ModernStudio Astaire (Downstairs right)
- 12.00 to 12.45Grade 1 ModernStudio Fosse (Upstairs)
- 12.00 to 12.45Grade 2 ModernStudio Fonteyn (Downstairs left)
- 12.30 to 1.15Junior Musical TheatreStudio Astaire (Downstairs right)
- 12.45 to 1.30Grade 1 BalletStudio Fosse (Upstairs)
- 12.45 to 1.30Grade 2 TapStudio Fonteyn (Downstairs left)
- 1.30 to 2.15Grade 3 BalletStudio Fosse (Upstairs)
- 1.30 to 2.15Grade 2 ModernStudio Fonteyn (Downstairs left)
- 1.30 to 2.15Grade 5 TapStudio Astaire (Downstairs right)
- 2.15 to 3.00Grade 2 BalletStudio Fosse (Upstairs)
- 2.15 to 3.00Grade 2 TapStudio Fonteyn (Downstairs left)
- 2.15 to 3.00Grade 4 ModernStudio Astaire (Downstairs right)
- 3.00 to 3.45Grade 4 BalletStudio Fosse (Upstairs)
- 3.00 to 3.45Grade 3 ModernStudio Fonteyn (Downstairs left)
- 3.00 to 3.45Grade 3 TapStudio Astaire (Downstairs right)
- 3.45 to 4.00Pre PointeStudio Fosse (Upstairs)
- 4.00 to 5.00Grade 5 ModernStudio Fonteyn (Downstairs left)
- 4.00 to 5.15Grade 5 & Intermediate BalletStudio Fosse (Upstairs)
- 5.15 to 5.45PointeStudio Fosse (Upstairs)
What parents ask first
Life around the class
After school, not a commute
Classes run from our own studios on Guildford Road, Knaphill - sprung floors, barres, mirrors and parking immediately outside. Easy for Woking, Bisley, Brookwood and Horsell families.
A syllabus if you want one
ISTD examinations in ballet, tap and modern give a clear ladder from Grade 1 onwards. Higher grades can contribute UCAS points. Plenty of children simply dance for the joy of it.
A stage when they are ready
Every child in the school is invited to take part in our biennial showcase at the Rhoda McGaw Theatre in Woking. Show 2026 ran from 16 to 18 April 2026. Weekly class is where the dances are made.
