Preschool
Ages 3–4, Mini Musical Stars. Our introduction to dance and music, with Mrs Maskell, our school pianist, playing for every class.
Lucy Lovick Dance Studio
Ballet Classes
ISTD ballet in Sydenham SE26, from a first plié at age four to pointework, vocational grades and adult class.
What ballet looks like at LLDS
Ballet is the technical foundation of the whole school. It builds posture, strength, balance, musicality and grace. Everything our dancers do in Modern, Lyrical, Contemporary and Musical Theatre is stronger for it.
We teach the ISTD Imperial Classical Ballet syllabus, so training has a safe, age-appropriate structure and a clear path from one grade to the next. In our preschool classes, Mrs Maskell, our school pianist, plays live for every class.
Classes run at Studio 208 in Sydenham, with dancers travelling from Anerley, Beckenham, Dulwich, Penge and beyond.
What ballet builds
Barre + Centre
Graded exercises develop alignment, turnout, strength and control, step by step.
Musicality
Dancers learn to listen and phrase, so movement carries the music rather than just keeping time.
Performance
Set work and free enchaînements build confidence for exams, presentation classes and our shows.
Where ballet is taught
Ballet is part of a wider class at every stage of the school. Each class page has its days, times, fees and uniform.
Reception
Ages 4–5, Super Stars. Where ballet begins, on the ISTD Pre-Primary syllabus.
Years 1 + 2
Ages 5–7, Galaxy Stars. Dancers can take their first ISTD Primary Ballet exam here, once they are ready.
Year 3+
Ages 7+, Classic Stars. ISTD Ballet paired with Lyrical: Grade 1 in Classic 1, Grade 2 in Classic 2.
Inters
Ages 11+, Classic Stars 3. A wider classical vocabulary, with Lyrical alongside.
Seniors
Age 14+, where pointework starts. ISTD Imperial Classical Ballet for dancers working at Grade 4 and above.
Ballet Repertoire
Invitation only. Classical repertoire from ISTD Grade 2 upwards, on Saturday afternoons.
Adults
Age 18+, Beginner, General and Advanced. Evening classes, with optional pointe work for trained dancers in the Advanced class.
See every class by age, the full weekly timetable or the fees.
Ballet Exams
Ballet exams follow the ISTD Imperial Classical syllabus, are regulated by Ofqual in England, and at vocational level can carry UCAS points. They are encouraged but never compulsory, and Miss Lovick and the class teacher agree when a dancer is ready.
What to Wear
Uniform is set by age group, so check the class page before you buy. Broadly, younger dancers wear a school leotard or T-shirt with pink or white ballet shoes. Older dancers wear a teal or black leotard with convertible ballet tights, ballet shoes with elastics, and pointe shoes once invited.
Who teaches ballet
Miss Melinda Traves
Head of Ballet. She has an MA in Education specialising in Dance Teaching, with Distinction, from the Royal Academy of Dance and University of Bath, and a BFA in Dance from The Boston Conservatory. She holds Registered Teacher Status with the RAD, is an ISTD Affiliate Member and a Silver Swans licensee, and has taught and choreographed for LLDS for over 10 years.
Miss Lovick
Founder and Artistic Director. She teaches our preschool Mini Musical Stars classes alongside Mrs Maskell. She is a Laine Theatre Arts graduate and a Licentiate of the ISTD, with teaching qualifications in Classical Ballet, Modern Theatre and Tap. Her continuing training includes Progressive Ballet Technique and Lisa Howell Level 3 Pointe work.
Start ballet in Sydenham
Tell us your dancer's age and experience. We will place them in the right ballet class and arrange a three-week trial.