Queen’s Academy of Dance offers a welcoming and friendly community where pupils build confidence, develop their skills and form friendships for life. With R.A.D. Ballet examinations, an annual Dance Show and pathways into vocational training and future careers, dancers are supported to enjoy their training and achieve their ambitions.
Following the Royal Academy of Dance syllabus, our students have the opportunity to take ballet exams if they wish. The classes focus around this syllabus, using the progressive pathway in both the graded and vocational pathways carefully created by the R.A.D. This will include barre work, centre work, adage, allegro, variations and character work. Pointe work is undertaken in the vocational grades and is only performed when the student has been given clearance by Miss Bryony.
There is never any pressure to take an exam – children can move through the grades without examinations when their teacher believes they are ready. Work from Christmas to Easter also includes choreography for the annual dance show.
Tap: A focus on the ISTD tap syllabi ensures that a student’s understanding of rhythmical application is developed to assist a strong and technical performance. Some free work choreography may take place throughout the year, working towards our annual dance show in the Spring term.
Modern: A mixture of free work and ISTD syllabi is undertaken in this class, gaining the balance of securing technical jazz foundations whilst progressing a student’s movement vocabulary and performative abilities.
There are in house assessments for this class and choreography that works towards our annual dance show.
Lyrical: A blend of modern and ballet, using the lyrics as the stimuli for the narrative and the movement. A free work class that will use centre work and corner work to build movement capabilities, alongside choreography to build upon week by week. The Spring term focuses on our annual dance show.
Contemporary: A free work class that lays the foundations of Graham and Cunningham. This will consist of floor work, travelling sequences, use of allegro and building upon steps and sequences week by week. The spring term focuses on our annual dance show.
Street Dance: A fusion of styles blended into one class to reflect the dynamic growth of this genre in the industry of late. This will include: Commercial, House, Afro beats, Socca and Hip Hop. A free work class that includes choreography to build upon each week and repetition of smaller steps to build vocabulary knowledge. The spring term also focuses on our annual dance show.
Dance Acceleration (Invite Only)
Private 1-1 Lessons
For enquiries relating to Dance Acceleration and Private one to one lessones please email academyofdance@queenscollege.org.uk or complete the form at the bottom of this page.
Miss Bryony’s dedication to dance commenced at the age of three. Her teaching journey began at thirteen as a dance assistant, and by sixteen, she was independently leading diverse dance classes. Following three years of intensive training at Bird College, she graduated in 2018 with a First Class BA (Hons) in Professional Dance and Musical Theatre, subsequently launching a successful professional career.
Bryony has enjoyed a diverse professional career, performing in productions such as The Phantom of the Opera (Meg), the UK Tour of Alice in Wonderland (Alice), Cinderella at the Embassy Theatre (Cinderella), TOYS the New Musical in Dubai (Chloe the Rag Doll), and the South Pacific UK Tour (Ngana).
Parallel to her performing career, Bryony maintained her commitment to dance education. Upon returning to Devon, she furthered her expertise by obtaining her dance teaching qualification from the Royal Academy of Dance. An accomplished choreographer, Bryony has directed numerous large-scale productions and award-winning festival pieces. Her students frequently secure placements at vocational performing arts colleges, going on to begin successful careers and her students have achieved success at events such as the Dance World Cup and the All England Dance (AED) regional finals.
Since joining Queen’s as Head of Dance in 2022, Bryony has significantly expanded the department’s curriculum and student opportunities. She is now pleased to extend these programmes to external students and looks forward to welcoming new students to our wonderful dance community.
Jo Elliott is an experienced dance educator, choreographer and director with a career spanning vocational training, schools and theatre. After completing her dance training at Tring Park, she established and ran several successful dance schools across the UK, preparing students for RAD Ballet, ISTD Tap, Modern and Cecchetti examinations, as well as choreographing award-winning festival performances and producing original shows.
Alongside her vocational work, Jo has taught dance and drama across the state and independent education sectors, delivering KS1–KS4, GCSE, A Level and BTEC Dance, while directing numerous theatrical productions.
Since joining Queen’s College in 2011 as Head of Dance, Jo has led the Queen’s Performing Arts Academy, teaching dance, drama and physical theatre, supporting the A Level Drama programme, and choreographing productions across the college.
Now as a part time performing arts and dance teacher at Queen’s college she continues to inspire students through her passion for performance, creativity and excellence in the performing arts.
Hannah holds a BA (Hons) degree in Dance Performance and Teaching from the University of Central Lancashire, specialising in contemporary dance, and is a qualified primary school teacher trained at Manchester Metropolitan University.
With extensive experience as a freelance dance educator, Hannah has taught students from primary through to university level across the UK, Italy, and Spain. Her leadership experience includes serving as the Dance Programme Lead at Camp Echo in New York for four summer seasons between 2011 and 2015. She is also a qualified cheerleading coach with 18 years of experience spanning primary to university levels.
As a competitor, Hannah has a varied background across multiple disciplines. She has competed at regional, national, and world levels in cheerleading, as well as competing regionally and nationally in street dance and jazz.
Beyond the studio and arena, Hannah organised and directed the Redstart Trust Performing Arts Festival at the Brewhouse Theatre in 2022 and 2023. She was also part of the choreography team for several Queen’s College productions, including
Chicago, Matilda, Carnival of the Animals, and Pictures at an Exhibition.
Queen’s is officially opening its theatre doors, inviting external students to step into the spotlight and join their prestigious academy of dance. From fundamental technique and classical ballet to contemporary choreography and freestyle movement, dancers of all skill levels will have the opportunity to refine their craft, learn dynamic routines, and perform on a stage designed to ignite creativity.
Queen’s Academy of Dance has annual dance performances within the Queen’s Hall State of the Art Theatre, which seats 500 spectators and is equipped with professional sound systems, lighting and Special Effects.
