Dance
Why Dance at NAPA?
NAPA is a creative and innovative performing arts school based in Hull city centre, offering exceptional standards of extracurricular dance training. Whether you want to develop your technical skills, train for a career in dance, or simply have fun, we have a class for everyone. Our sessions are carefully structured to help students unlock their full potential across all disciplines of dance.
Dance Classes – Core
Our Core Classes follow the prestigious Imperial Society of Teachers of Dancing (ISTD) syllabus in Ballet, Tap, and Modern. At the discretion of our teachers, students may have the opportunity to take Graded and Major examinations. To ensure a well-rounded training, all Core Dance students study all three styles and get the exciting opportunity to showcase their hard work in our annual Dance Show at Middleton Hall (University of Hull).
Dance Classes – Extra
Running right after our Core Dance sessions, these extra classes are a fantastic way for students to boost their syllabus knowledge, technique, and confidence across all three core styles!
Dance Classes – Enrichment
Our Enrichment classes—including Troupe, Ballet & Jazz Technique, and Contemporary & Commercial—are perfect for students looking to take their training to the next level. These sessions are ideal for those wishing to expand on their core classes, get involved in exciting competitions and auditions, and fast-track their technique and performance skills!
Dance Classes – Adults (18+)
Our adult classes are perfect for beginners, ex-dancers, or anyone looking to boost their fitness! These sessions are purely class-based, meaning you can enjoy dancing at your own pace with absolutely no pressure from shows or exams.
Dance Festivals
A dance festival is an organised event that brings together dancers and aspiring professionals to celebrate, showcase, and compete. Entry into any dance festival is entirely at the teacher’s discretion, and duet and trio partnerships will also be selected by the teaching team.
Dance festivals are an integral part of training at NAPA, and parents should be aware of the significant time and financial commitment involved. These events always take place during school holidays and frequently require travel outside of Hull.
To ensure students are fully prepared and rehearsed, entry into a dance festival requires enrolment in at least one of our Enrichment Classes.
Dance Shows
Our dance shows are our chance to show off everything our students have been working towards in class! It’s an incredibly proud moment for parents, guardians, and friends, and a fantastic opportunity to see the inspiring progression of our dancers as they grow from juniors to seniors.
We treat our shows as professional productions, giving our students a true taste of the theatre world with full stage lighting, professional stagecraft, and beautiful costumes. Our performances are hosted in our own NAPA studio theatre and at Middleton Hall (University of Hull), with exact venues and dates confirmed as the year unfolds.
Auditions & Further Training
Throughout the year, students may have the opportunity to audition for different professional schemes, based on teacher discretion. If your child is interested in auditioning for full-time vocational schools, please let a member of staff know. We will gladly arrange a meeting to chat through the different paths, opportunities, and entry requirements available to them.
ISTD Dance Examinations
The examination structure of the Imperial Society of Teachers of Dancing (ISTD) is designed to cater equally to students who wish to pursue dance professionally—as a performer or teacher—and those dancing purely for leisure. As one of the world’s leading dance examination boards, the ISTD provides globally recognized qualifications.
Examinations are held annually in Ballet, Tap, and Modern. Entry is strictly at the teacher’s discretion, and consistent class attendance is a key factor in exam consideration. Due to national timetabling, students may occasionally need to take time off school for their exam. When this occurs, NAPA will provide an official ISTD examination board letter to hand in to the student’s school.
Higher-level ISTD qualifications (Grade 6 and Intermediate) count directly toward UCAS Tariff points for university applications
I.S.T.D. Grade 4-5 NQF Level 2 (Equivalent to GCSE grade A*-C)
I.S.T.D. Grade 6 NQF Level 3 (Equivalent to one A Level)
The examinations are also worth the following UCAS points:
| Exam Level | Pass | Merit | Distinction |
| Grade 6 | 30 points | 35 points | 40 points |
| Intermediate | 40 points | 50 points | 65 points |
See our dance class timetable: https://www.northernacademy.org.uk/class-timetable/