Dance Classes for Children in Surrey: Ballet, Street and More

Finding a dance class for a Surrey child who has just announced she wants to be Angelina Ballerina, or a nine-year-old who has watched enough TikTok to decide street dance is now his life, is easier than it looks. Surrey has more independent dance schools per postcode than almost any county in the south east, running out of village halls, community centres, church rooms and purpose-built studios from Ashtead to Aldershot.

Quick answer

Weekly dance classes for children in Surrey typically cost £8 to £14 per class, with most schools running from Reception age up to Year 13. Popular options include Kicks Dance in Reigate and Redhill (RH1 6QA) for street and commercial, Ashtead Ballet School (KT21 1EB) for classical ballet, Boogie Pumps Guildford (GU1 4DT) and Farnham (GU9 0JH) for pre-school and street, and Stagecoach Performing Arts in Leatherhead (KT22 7BP), Weybridge (KT13 8UZ) and Guildford (GU1 2SG) for triple-threat singing, dancing and acting. Most schools accept new starters at any point in the term.

Where to find dance classes in Surrey at a glance

Surrey dance schools split roughly into three camps. The classical ballet-first schools that follow the Royal Academy of Dance (RAD) or Imperial Society of Teachers of Dancing (ISTD) syllabus, the modern all-rounders teaching ballet, tap, modern, jazz and street across a single timetable, and the street and commercial schools that lean into the styles children see on Strictly, Britain's Got Talent and social media. A handful of theatre-arts schools such as Stagecoach and Performance Preparation Academy add singing and drama on the same afternoon.

The table below compares the schools with the strongest local reputation and the widest age reach. It is not exhaustive. Almost every Surrey town has at least one small independent dance school run out of a church hall on a Tuesday night, and those are often the friendliest place for a nervous four-year-old to start.

Dance school	Town / postcode	Ages	Styles	Rating
Kicks Dance Reigate & Redhill	Redhill, RH1 6QA	3+	Street, commercial, hip hop	4.9 (64)
Boogie Pumps Guildford	Guildford, GU1 4DT	18 months+	Pre-school, street, commercial	4.9 (77)
Rubies Dance Centre	Egham, TW20 9DY	3+	Ballet, modern, tap, street	5.0 (53)
Leanne Edwards School of Theatre Arts	Woking, GU21 2EP	3+	Ballet, tap, modern, musical theatre	5.0 (51)
Stagecoach Performing Arts Leatherhead & Bookham	Leatherhead, KT22 7BP	4 to 18	Singing, dancing, acting	5.0 (49)
Performance Preparation Academy	Guildford, GU2 8YT	Various	Dance, drama, musical theatre	4.9 (49)
First Dance Studios	Woking, GU21 6BQ	Under 18s classes	Ballet, tap, modern, street	4.8 (48)
Hot Steppers School of Dance	Camberley, GU15 4HE	2+	Ballet, tap, modern, street	5.0 (43)
Flipside Dance School	Cobham, KT11 2LX	3+	Ballet, tap, modern, street	4.7 (34)
Milford and Brook School of Dance	Godalming, GU8 5BH	Preschool+	Ballet, tap, modern	5.0 (30)
Ashtead Ballet School	Ashtead, KT21 1EB	Preschool+	Classical ballet	5.0 (14)
StreetNation Dance School	Haslemere, GU27 1GQ	Various	Street dance	5.0 (13)
Balliamo Dance Academy	Epsom, KT17 4PW	All ages	Ballet, tap, modern, street	5.0 (16)
Renton Dance Studio	Farnborough, GU14 6BU	3+	Ballet, tap, modern	4.8 (16)

These dance schools appear here because Surrey parents, carers and families have found them worth knowing about. KidzRGoGo has no commercial relationship with any provider listed and does not approve, inspect or endorse them. Always check directly with the school before booking, particularly for current fees, availability, term dates and safeguarding policies. Ratings are drawn from Google reviews at the time of writing.

Ballet schools in Surrey

Ballet remains the most popular first dance class for Surrey children, largely because most other styles borrow their foundations from it. The classical schools teach either the Royal Academy of Dance (RAD) or the ISTD syllabus, both of which run graded exams that a child can carry with them anywhere in the country. If your child ever moves to another town, a Grade 2 RAD certificate from Ashtead means the same thing to a school in Manchester as it does in Woking.

Ashtead Ballet School in Ashtead (KT21 1EB) is the most established of the pure ballet schools in the Mole Valley area. Run by principal Maxine and her team, the school teaches from preschool age up through the RAD syllabus. Google reviews from parents mention the school's willingness to enter children for exams when they are ready rather than pushing every child through on the same timetable, which is often the difference between a child who finishes Grade 5 and one who quietly stops turning up at Grade 3.

Milford and Brook School of Dance in Milford near Godalming (GU8 5BH) runs classes for preschool age upwards across ballet, tap and modern. The school has a strong reputation locally for being genuinely inclusive, which matters because ballet has a reputation of being anything but. Parents mention the annual show at the local hall as a highlight of the year.

Hamilton Dance Academy at Shalford Village Hall in Guildford (GU4 8HB) focuses on ballet and tap under principal Sophie. It is smaller than the big-name schools but the tighter class sizes suit some children better, particularly those who find a hall of 20 four-year-olds overwhelming. It is a good example of the kind of village-hall dance school where every child gets a proper look from the teacher every week.

For families in the north Surrey borders, Caterham Dance School and Godstone Dance Academy both teach ballet alongside other styles. Caterham runs from a dedicated space and is one of the few schools in the Tandridge district with its own studio rather than sharing a community hall.

Street dance, hip hop and commercial in Surrey

Street dance is what most Surrey children ask for when they see the TV shows. It moves faster than ballet, uses music the children already know, and children can get to a class with visible progress in a couple of terms. It also does not require a leotard, which is a selling point for some.

Kicks Dance Reigate & Redhill is one of the best-established street and commercial schools in east Surrey. Based at RH1 6QA, principal Rianna and her team run classes for children from age three upwards through into secondary school, with separate tracks for beginners and more experienced dancers. Parents describe the studio as high-energy but well-organised, which is what a good street class should feel like.

Boogie Pumps Dance School has been running in Guildford for many years (GU1 4DT) with a separate Farnham branch at GU9 0JH. Boogie Pumps starts children as young as 18 months in parent-and-child sessions and moves up through preschool and school-age street and commercial classes. It is one of the more accessible ways in for very young dancers.

StreetNation Dance School in Haslemere (GU27 1GQ) is a specialist street dance school in the far south west of Surrey, running age-banded classes and a competitive team that travels to national events. If your child is in Haslemere, Hindhead or Grayshott and specifically wants street rather than a mixed programme, this is the most focused option in the area.

Duo Dance studios in Aldershot (GU12 5DN) covers street alongside ballet and acro, which is a fair way to describe a lot of Surrey dance schools now. Acro (short for acrobatic dance) blends gymnastics-style tumbling with dance and is a fast-growing category. If your child liked gymnastics but wanted more music and less shouting from the sideline, acro is worth a look.

Musical theatre and performing arts schools

For children who want to sing and act as well as dance, the performing arts schools deliver all three in a single Saturday morning or after-school slot. This suits families with more than one interest per child and one available afternoon per week.

Stagecoach Performing Arts runs branches across Surrey and the Surrey Hills, including Leatherhead & Bookham (KT22 7BP), Weybridge (KT13 8UZ), Guildford (GU1 2SG), Coulsdon, Oxted, Hinchley Wood and Twickenham. Stagecoach follows a common curriculum across all branches, with children rotating between a singing class, a dance class and a drama class in the same session. It is the most standardised of the performing arts brands, which is either a strength or a weakness depending on what you want.

Performance Preparation Academy in Guildford (GU2 8YT) is a step up in seriousness. PPA is a vocational-style academy running Saturday and after-school classes for children who are aiming towards professional performing arts training. Not every child there is going to end up in the West End, but the standard is set with that in mind. Worth knowing about if your child is 10 or 11 and already talks about auditioning for stage school.

Leanne Edwards School of Theatre Arts in Woking (GU21 2EP), often shortened to LESTA, runs ballet, tap and modern classes alongside a musical theatre programme. Parents describe it as nurturing and well-organised, and the school has been running long enough to have a track record of children going on to stage schools and vocational colleges.

All-round dance schools with multiple styles

Most Surrey families do not settle their children into a single dance discipline until secondary school. Between ages four and ten, the sensible pattern is to try a mixed school that runs ballet, tap and modern alongside street and jazz, then narrow down when the child develops a strong preference.

Rubies Dance Centre in Egham (TW20 9DY) is one of the strongest all-round schools in the north of Surrey. Run by Neil and Hannah, Rubies covers ballet, modern, tap and street from age three upwards. The 5.0 Google rating across 53 reviews is unusual for a dance school of this size and reflects consistent parent feedback about atmosphere and teaching.

First Dance Studios in Woking (GU21 6BQ) runs an all-styles programme with a focus on being inclusive of children who are new to dance. This matters for shy children and for families where dance is not part of the household culture already. First Dance also welcomes older starters, which not every school does gracefully.

Hot Steppers School of Dance in Camberley (GU15 4HE) covers ballet, tap, modern and street from age two upwards. The younger classes are particularly well-organised. If you live in the Camberley, Frimley or Bagshot area, this is one of the first places to look.

Flipside Dance School in Cobham (KT11 2LX) runs classes from age three upwards across ballet, tap, modern and street. Parents mention Miss Debs by name in reviews, which is often a sign that a school has managed to keep the same teachers for long enough that the children form a real relationship with them.

Balliamo Dance Academy in Epsom (KT17 4PW) covers ballet, tap, modern and street across all ages. It is a smaller academy where the teaching team of Leila, Becky and Joe do most of the classes themselves, which gives a consistency that is harder to find in bigger chains.

Renton Dance Studio in Farnborough (GU14 6BU) runs ballet, tap and modern from age three upwards and is well established across the Farnborough and Aldershot borders. Caroline Lee Dance Studios in Woking (GU21 7QN) runs a similar mixed programme through to age 18.

For Cobham, Weybridge and Walton families, Joanne Ward Dance Academy in Hersham (KT12 4AA) covers all styles with a family-run feel. Aspects of Dance Academy in Camberley (GU16 8HZ) is a similar picture for the Frimley area.

How to choose the right dance class for your child

There is no correct answer, but there are useful questions.

The first is age. If your child is under four, look for a class described as pre-school, mini or toddler dance. These sessions are usually 30 to 40 minutes long and mix simple ballet or creative movement with music and games. Boogie Pumps, Rubies, Hot Steppers, LESTA and most of the all-rounders run these. From age four to six, a mixed introductory class is usually the best starting point because it lets the child sample styles before committing.

The second is temperament. A nervous, shy child often does better in a small village-hall school where the same teacher will still know her by name in Year 3. Hamilton Dance Academy, Ashtead Ballet School, Milford and Brook and Balliamo all have this feel. A confident child who wants energy and a big group often prefers Kicks, Boogie Pumps, Duo or one of the bigger Stagecoach branches.

The third is why you are doing it. A child who dances for fun and social reasons needs a completely different school from one who wants to end up at a vocational college. The former is served by almost every school in the county. The latter, in Surrey, is served most seriously by Performance Preparation Academy in Guildford, by LESTA in Woking, and by the specific competitive teams that some schools run alongside their main programme.

The fourth is the practical stuff. Where can you actually get to on a Tuesday at 4:45pm without a fight, does the school run a term time only or 48-week schedule, is there parking, are the shows optional or effectively mandatory, and how much notice do you need to give if you want to stop. Ask about all of these on the taster session. Do not assume.

Practical information: fees, uniform, exams, shows and accessibility

Fees at Surrey dance schools typically fall between £8 and £14 per 45 to 60 minute class, usually billed by term rather than by session. A child taking one weekly class works out to roughly £110 to £150 per term. Two or three classes a week is common by age eight or nine, and by that age the annual cost is closer to £600 to £900 depending on how many classes you sign up for.

Uniform costs are usually modest at the entry level. Expect to spend £30 to £60 on ballet shoes, a leotard and tights for a first-year child, and a similar amount for a street or commercial dance kit. Most schools list the uniform requirement on their website. Second-hand uniform is normal at the older schools such as Ashtead Ballet, Hamilton and Milford and Brook, and a good way to keep costs down.

Graded exams (usually RAD or ISTD) start from around age six or seven and cost extra on top of term fees. A pre-primary or primary exam is typically £25 to £50 including the exam fee and additional coaching in the run-up. Higher grades cost more. Not every school enters every child, and the good schools will wait until the child is ready rather than push them through.

Annual shows are the highlight of many Surrey dance schools' year. Depending on the school these are held at local halls, at hired theatres such as the Yvonne Arnaud in Guildford or the Rhoda McGaw in Woking, or at school theatres. Show costs vary. Some schools include the venue hire in the term fee and only charge for a costume, others charge separately. Ask before the summer term if this matters to your budget.

Accessibility is variable. Village hall schools may have limited step-free access, particularly for older halls. Modern studios such as Rubies in Egham and the newer Stagecoach spaces tend to be fully step-free with accessible toilets. Red Shoes School of Dance in Haslemere (GU27 3QN) explicitly notes wheelchair accessible parking on its listing, which is a green flag. If your child has additional needs, always speak to the principal before booking rather than turning up on the day. Every school in Surrey is different in what it can offer.

Waiting lists are a real thing at the popular schools, especially for the Saturday morning slots. If your child wants to start in September, enquire in June. If she wants to start in January, enquire in November. The Reception and Year 1 slots at Ashtead Ballet, Kicks and the popular Stagecoach branches often fill first.

Frequently asked questions

What age can children start dance classes in Surrey?

Most Surrey dance schools accept children from age two or three in a parent-and-child or mini dance class. Boogie Pumps Guildford (GU1 4DT) and Farnham (GU9 0JH) start at 18 months in a preschool session. From age three or four, children move into their first proper structured class, usually 30 to 45 minutes long with a small group.

How much do dance classes for children cost in Surrey?

Expect £8 to £14 per class, or roughly £110 to £150 per term for a single weekly class. Costs rise with additional classes, exams and shows. Uniform for a beginner is typically £30 to £60. By age eight or nine, a child taking two or three classes a week may run to £600 to £900 for the year.

Which is the best dance school in Surrey?

There is no single best school. Kicks Dance in Redhill and Boogie Pumps in Guildford and Farnham lead on Google review volume for street and commercial. Ashtead Ballet School is the most established pure ballet school in the Mole Valley area. Rubies Dance Centre in Egham and Hot Steppers in Camberley are two of the strongest all-round schools. The best school for your child is the one you can get to reliably each week with a teacher your child likes.

Do children need previous experience to join a dance class?

No. Every school listed in this guide accepts complete beginners at any age. Most run taster sessions that are free or heavily discounted. If your child is joining a class where the others have been going for a year or two, ask the school whether a private catch-up lesson or two would help before the group session.

What styles of dance can children learn in Surrey?

Surrey dance schools cover ballet, tap, modern, jazz, contemporary, street, hip hop, commercial, musical theatre and acrobatic dance. Most all-round schools such as Rubies, Hot Steppers, First Dance and Flipside teach four or five of these across the week. Specialist ballet is offered by Ashtead Ballet School and Hamilton Dance Academy in Guildford. Specialist street is offered by StreetNation in Haslemere and Kicks in Redhill.

What is the difference between RAD and ISTD ballet exams?

RAD (Royal Academy of Dance) and ISTD (Imperial Society of Teachers of Dancing) are the two main British ballet syllabus and exam bodies. Both are internationally recognised. Ashtead Ballet School and most classical schools in Surrey follow one or the other. Which body your school uses matters less than the quality of teaching. If your child ever changes schools, the receiving school will let you know whether they can pick up from where the previous school left off.

Can boys do dance classes in Surrey?

Yes. Every school in this guide welcomes boys. Street, hip hop and commercial classes tend to have the most balanced ratio, followed by musical theatre. Ballet and modern classes still tend to be female-majority in most Surrey schools, but the specialist schools such as Performance Preparation Academy in Guildford see plenty of boys through the door. If your son is nervous about being the only boy, ask the school before signing up rather than after.

Do Surrey dance schools run holiday courses?

Many do. Kicks Dance, Boogie Pumps, Stagecoach and PPA all run holiday intensives during Easter and summer holidays, usually running for a week and priced at £150 to £300 for the week. These are a good way to try a new school without committing to a full term, and a useful piece of holiday cover for parents and carers who need it.

How do I know if a Surrey dance school is safeguarded?

Any established dance school will have DBS-checked teachers, a written safeguarding policy and public liability insurance. Ask to see these documents. Membership of a professional body such as the RAD, ISTD, IDTA (International Dance Teachers Association) or the British Ballet Organisation is a further indication. A school that reacts oddly to being asked about safeguarding is a school to skip.

Can my child compete or perform outside of the school?

Yes. Kicks Dance, Duo Dance, StreetNation and several other schools run competitive teams that travel to national street and commercial dance events. Stagecoach and PPA run regular showcases and mainstage productions at professional venues. Ashtead Ballet School and the classical schools focus more on the graded exam route and the annual school show. Ask what the performance opportunities look like when you enquire.

Find more activities in Surrey

Dance is one of the strongest categories in Surrey and the schools listed here are just a starting point. For more, browse the full dance category on KidzRGoGo, or explore local activities by town in Guildford, Woking, Reigate, Camberley and Leatherhead. If your child is drawn to the performing arts more broadly, the performing arts category covers drama and musical theatre schools alongside dance. For classes that keep the whole afternoon busy, look at the after-school activities category for options that combine dance with sport, arts or academic support.