About Us

ABOUT US

ABOUT US

Welcome to Ashtead Ballet School, established in 2009 by Maxine Simpson, LRAD, AISTD, RAD Registered Teacher. 

Starting with just two classes a week the school has grown to offer a full timetable for children aged from 3 years of age, through to teens and adults!  As well as Royal Academy of Dance ballet (RAD) we also offer Tap & Modern classes based on the Imperial Society for Teachers of Dancing (ISTD) syllabi. Additionally there are Body Conditioning classes for older students, general ballet for those wishing to start as teenagers or to return to ballet after a break, pointe work and fun, non syllabus jazz classes for teens.

Our ethos is to instil a love and enjoyment of dance in our students through our fun, inspring classes, in which everyone is encouraged to develop to their full potential. We strongly believe that dancing promotes self-confidence as well as developing musicality, strong physique, co-ordination and grace.  

As well as having the chance to succeed in exams with recognised training bodies and to perform in our whole school productions, we hope that our students will learn to love dance for its own sake, becoming not just the dancers, but the audiences of the future.

INSPIRE - DEVELOP - NURTURE

Our Teachers

Our teachers are trained to the highest standards through internationally recognised training bodies, meaning you can be certain of receiving the best tuition for your child. 

Maxine Simpson

Maxine, the school Principal and founder, trained at the Royal Academy of Dance in Battersea, London. After freelance teaching in the London area and overseas for several years, she took a career break to raise a family, during which time she continued to dance herself and to choreograph for various local productions. She opened Ashtead Ballet School in 2009, initially with two classes a week.  Maxine is also a qualified Pilates teacher through the Body Control Pilates Association. 

Eleanor Forrest

Eleanor Forrest (ballet teacher) trained at the Central School of Ballet in London before embarking on a professional dancing career.  She then qualified as a teacher with the Royal Academy of Dance on their Professional Dancers Teaching programme and has extensive experience of teaching both syllabus and non syllabus classes to students of all ages. 

Rebecca Herszenhorn

Becky (Tap & Modern Teacher) is an actress, singer and dancer who trained at Bird College. Her musical theatre credits include 42nd Street, The Last Tango, Chicago, A Chorus Line, Disco Inferno and West Side Story. As well as teaching, Becky also co-hosts the pop-culture podcast The Real Brunch


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