Yes. We often have workshops and master classes running at weekends and holidays. Please see our Parties page for details of how to hire us for your Dance Parties.

Yes. In the summer holidays we run week long summer schools for all ages. Non D.E.S students are welcome to join too.

Yes! Please see our Parties page for details of how to hire us for your Dance Parties.

Yes, all our teachers are first aid trained.

Yes, all our teachers are DBS Police checked.

When you enrol you have the option to “opt out” of permission for photos and videos.

No, we take anyone over the age of 2 regardless of age, ability or experience. There is no need to audition.

Absolutely! We welcome everyone to Dance Expression Studios, regardless of additional or special needs or medical conditions. Where possible our teaching assistants can work one on one within a class situation with anyone with additional needs or medical conditions. All our staff are first aid trained, and are made aware of student’s additional needs or medical conditions. Information on additional needs and medical conditions is kept strictly confidential and only shared within the teaching faculty.

Boys are welcome to enrol in any of our dance classes!

If it’s your child’s first lesson and you are concerned that they are going to be shy or particularly nervous without you, then please check with the teacher and they are normally fine with letting you watch. Normally parents don’t watch as attention can be divided between parent and teacher, and this can be a distraction and we find that children concentrate and develop more confidence on their own. We have special “Watch Weeks” where friends and family are invited to come and watch what the children have learned that term. If you wish to leave the premises and collect your child at the end of the class, please wait until your child has been signed in and entered the studio. Please arrive promptly to collect them at the end.

We do not have the provision to offer written feedback on a regular basis. However, if you want to discuss the progress of your child with the teacher please contact us and we will be happy to help!

Our term dates follow the school year calendar, generally running for 10-14 weeks each term. We also offer half term/summer workshops out of term time too!

Our youngest dancers are 2.5 years old!

We do ask the parent to leave as attention can be divided between parent and teacher, and this can be a distraction. Parents can either wait in the waiting area (venue permitting) or leave the premises and return at the end of class. We have your mobile phone numbers to hand in case of emergency.

Yes, we offer free trials for new students and existing students trying new classes.

Yes, we are happy to take on new students at any point in the year!

Our timetable includes ages/year groups so hopefully this will help you to find the most suitable class but if you are still unsure, please contact us if you have any questions!

Please arrive at the studio 5-10 minutes before the start of the class with your child dressed accordingly and ready to go! A register is taken at the start of every class and each child is signed in and out of the studio as parents drop off and collect. Parents should arrive promptly at the end of the class and let us know if they are going to be late or if someone else is picking up their child. Children should wear clothes that they can easily move in such as leggings/shorts and t-shirts with their hair tied back. They will be asked to have bare feet if they don’t have dance shoes yet. If you have been organised and have already purchased the DES dance uniform they can of course wear this from their first day.

We really hope your child will enjoy their classes when they enrol! But if they decide they're not for them, then please give us 2 weeks written notice if they do not wish to continue.

We appreciate that most children prefer to be in a class with children of a similar age. Therefore, where possible we will place you into a class with children of a similar age, and our teaching assistants will give you some extra help to catch up. With Tap which is particularly difficult to pick up at a later stage, we might start you off in a class with younger children, and “fast track” you through to students of your own age. We have classes for students of all ages and ability levels. Please contact us so we can help identify where the best place to start is.

Most children who dance choose to take graded exams as this gives them a great sense of accomplishment and pride (along with a certificate!). However, if your child decides they don’t want to take exams then that’s fine too and they can move through the classes with their friends and continue to learn all of the new dance steps. There are many performance opportunities at Dance Expression Studios in addition to exams for all to take part in.

Exam costs vary for the genre and grade taken. All fees will be communicated with you at the time of committing to the exam.

This is dependent on ability and experience rather than age. As a general rule, it’s about two years per grade, although some very able students will move more quickly. It’s a common misconception that students move up every year along with their school years. This is not the case for dancing, and generally it’s a much steadier progression through the grades in order to build a secure foundation.

Yes, uniform is compulsory and we ask new students to be in full uniform after they have been with us for 4 weeks.

Our dress code ensures that students receive the best possible instruction, minimise injury, increase focus, and develop a strong sense of self-confidence and studio unity. All students should have hair secured in a neat bun for all classes.

Everything your dancer needs for class can be purchased via our online shop. We carry a large inventory of shoes, leotards, dancewear, and tights and there is a handy size guide too, to help with sizing.

Normally it’s a size bigger than outdoor UK shoe size. If in doubt, please check the size guide for the particular brand of shoe before purchasing as they can vary.

We do a big school production biannually as well as multiple other performance opportunities throughout the year!

All students are invited to take part.

We do not currently take part in festivals and competitions.

Fees are paid termly in advance. We run our terms in line with the local Essex county council school terms. On average there are 12 weeks per term, however on occasions, a 13 week term can be followed by an 11 week term. We will send out invoices at the end of term in advance of the start of the new term. As existing pupils of Dance Expression Studios, we will automatically enrol you in classes for the following term unless we receive written notice that you would like to discontinue classes. We kindly ask for two weeks’ notice.

We accept bank payments only. Cash and Cheque not accepted.

There is a one-off registration fee. Costume fees and show fees will be charged in show term as well as any exam fees for students entered for examinations.

Yes. We offer private tuition depending on studio availability. Please contact us for more details.