Our Elevated Tap Company classes take place in the Shaftesbury Arts Centre Dance
Studio. Shaftesbury Arts Centre is situated at 13 Bell Street, Shaftesbury, Dorset, SP7 8AR.
CLASS INFORMATION
Inside the dance studio, it is fully equipped with a mirrored wall, fixed barres, Harlequin dance flooring and a sound system along with windows for ventilation.
Our classes at Shaftesbury Arts Centre are non-syllabus-based which work well as stand-alone classes or alongside any syllabus classes already being attended.
Within these classes, students will learn a variety of rhythms and how to apply those to the sounds they make with their feet and hands. They will learn how to develop into a percussionist creating their music with their feet. Within each lesson, students learn various tap techniques and develop them into exercises, drills and combinations over each term.
Not only are these classes great fun, but they also work on developing coordination, posture, stance, and strength and help with brain training and muscle memory so they are a good all-around source of exercise!
We pride ourselves on our family feeling in our classes and they are a wonderful place to meet new people and make new friends.
CLASS TIMETABLE
Our Shaftesbury Arts Centre classes re-commence after our Summer Holidays on Monday 9th September.
AUTUMN TERM
Monday 9th September – Monday 21st October
Half Term – NO LESSON on 28th October
Monday 4th November – Monday 9th December
CHRISTMAS HOLIDAYS – NO LESSONS – Monday 16th December – 30th December, classes re-commence after the festivities on Monday 6th January 2025
JUNIOR TAP
Do you have a youngster who would love to learn to Tap Dance?
This class is aimed at those aged 4 years up to the age of 11 years (Pre-school – Yr 6). The mixed ability class is suitable for complete beginners to those with tap dancing experience. This class is half an hour long and we include a warm-up, rhythm and tap games and technical exercises adapted/tailored to each student depending on their previous knowledge and ability. Each term we learn a new variety of steps and consolidate our learning as the terms progress in a fun and energetic way to encourage each child to be the best they can be!
For all trial classes children can wear anything suitable to dance in such as leggings/shorts and a t-shirt. We have a small variety of spare tap shoes available, however, in case we do not have any of your child’s size available please bring a CLEAN pair of trainers with you for them to wear in class.
For our children/teen classes, we have an Elevated Tap Company Uniform. All Junior and Youth students will be required to have their ETC uniform ready to wear in class after their first full half-term of classes. For further information on our uniform and recommendations for tap shoes please visit our UNIFORM & APPAREL PAGE for further details.
YOUTH TAP
This class is aimed at those aged 9 years (Yr 5) up to the age of 16 years (Yr 11). The class is mixed ability so it is suitable for complete beginners to those with some tap dancing experience. The class is 40 minutes long and will consist of a warm-up, rhythm, technical exercises, short sequences and combinations. As a mixed-ability class, we tailor each exercise to the student’s individual ability. Exercises, sequences and combos will have easier and harder variations so that each child can progress at their own pace yet work together as a class.
For all trial classes children can wear anything suitable to dance in such as leggings/shorts and a t-shirt. We have a small variety of spare tap shoes available, however, in case we do not have any of your child’s size available please bring a CLEAN pair of trainers with you for them to wear in class.
For our children/teen classes, we have an Elevated Tap Company Uniform. All Junior and Youth students will be required to have their ETC uniform ready to wear in class after their first full half-term of classes. For further information on our uniform and recommendations for tap shoes please visit our UNIFORM & APPAREL PAGE for further details.
ADULT TAP
These classes are aimed at those aged 14 years (Yr 10) through to Adults of 99+ years, so you are never too old to give our tap dance classes a go!
Beginners/Advanced Beginners – This class is aimed at complete beginners, those with a few years of experience, those who used to tap as a child to those who take tap lessons and would like to learn more, they are also suitable for anyone who prefers a slower-paced class or is returning to dance/exercise after injury or illness. The class is 50 minutes long with an emphasis on having fun and getting our brains working and our bodies/feet moving! Each class will consist of a warm-up, rhythm, technical exercises, short sequences/timesteps and combinations with all having easier and harder options as we progress throughout the term.
Intermediate / Advanced Adult – This class is a faster-paced class aimed at those with several years of experience at an intermediate and above level. You may currently be studying dance and already taking tap classes, have taken years of tap in childhood or have taken it up as an adult. Still with an emphasis on fun and having a good giggle this 50-minute class has a quicker-paced warm-up, more advanced rhythm, technical exercises and sequences, timesteps, and combinations. In this class, there will still be variations included (especially with any elevation exercises, as any older students may find their bodies/brains don’t quite let them do what they could in their younger years!)
ADULT APPAREL
We don’t have a set uniform for our older students. We just recommend that you wear something comfortable that you can dance in that doesn’t cover your feet, such as leggings and a T-shirt/jumper. Please ensure you wear layers in the autumn/winter months so that you keep warm and can remove them if you get too warm whilst dancing. In regards to tap shoes, we recommend anything with whole ball and heel taps in a style/colour to suit you.
For all trial classes, you can wear anything suitable to dance in such as the above. We have a small variety of spare tap shoes available, however, in case we do not have any of your size available please bring a CLEAN pair of trainers or a pair of CLEAN shoes with hard sole with you for them to wear in class.
Our ETC apparel is available to purchase in adult sizes along with a range of accessories. There is more information on our apparel along with our tap shoe recommendations over on our UNIFORM & APPAREL page for further details.
Private Lessons
Private Lessons are available upon request for either 1-2-1 tuition or for small groups at Shaftesbury Arts Centre. As a qualified ISTD Tap teacher, Erica can offer syllabus across graded, vocational, awards or non-syllabus training to work on technique, specific tap steps/exercises, or a variety of elements of your choosing. Each lesson will be tailored towards the individual student/students’ ability and standard to enable them to become the best tap dancer they can be. Erica also offers tap dance and performance choreography for shows/competitions solos or small groups.
Private lessons are priced at £35.00 per hour and are subject to studio/teacher availability. If private lessons are of interest to you, please contact Erica at elevatedtapcompany@gmail.com
YouTube Playlists
To help consolidate learning I have a YouTube channel where I post videos for each of my Tap Classes to help my students practice at home. Each playlist is set up on a termly basis where regular students will be sent a link to that playlist. Each week videos will be added so that students can watch the most recent videos and practice at a time and place to suit. Each video will usually be of just Erica’s feet at home on her tap boards, occasionally Erica will film a student’s feet in class if she feels this will be helpful to their learning. These videos are for the private use of students only, they are not visible to anyone else, so they must not be shared. These videos are of no additional cost and are also useful to refer to if you miss a class or end up in isolation and can not attend a class or several classes.
FREE TRIAL
If you would like to try one of our group classes for FREE, please email Erica at elevatedtapcompany@gmail.com
REGISTRATION
If you would like to sign up for any of our classes regularly please complete our REGISTRATION FORM.
PAYMENT
Classes run over 36 weeks of the year during term time only. You can choose from our two payment options to suit your circumstances.
Pay As You Go
Our pay-as-you-go rate allows you to pay weekly on the day of your class by CASH or BANK TRANSFER.
Half-Hour Class = £6.00 – Junior Tap
40 Minute Class = £8.00 – Youth Tap
50 Minute Class = £10.00 – Adult Tap
Private Lessons – 1 Hour – £35.00
Monthly
Spread the cost of your classes over a year with our monthly payment
plan by paying by standing order. The cost of your class is added up over the 36 weeks and divided by 12 into equal monthly payments at a discounted rate. Payments can be made monthly on or around the 1st or 15th of each month.
Please set up a standing order with the student’s name as the reference.
Half-Hour Class = £16.50 a month – Junior Tap
40 Minute Class = £21 a month – Youth Tap
50 Minute Class = £25.50 a month – Adult Tap
Account Details – BANK TRANSFER | STANDING ORDERS
Mrs Erica L Phillips | Account No: 00706276 | Sort Code: 30-90-85
PLEASE NOTE
* If you are paying for your classes by Monthly Standing Order and your
circumstances change, you are welcome to swap to our pay-as-you-go payment option at any time.
* If you or your child are no longer able to attend our ETC classes then we kindly ask for 1 month’s written notice by email.
* With either option, any outstanding classes/payments will be worked out on a pro-rata basis and be refunded or invoiced accordingly.
COVID-19
Please visit our COVID-19 page for full details of the latest measures in place to keep everyone safe.
TERMS & CONDITIONS
Please read our TERMS AND CONDITIONS for full details about our classes.
