Pre-School Ballet at Judith Keyes School of Ballet

Nurturing confidence, creativity, and classical technique from the start.

This class follows the Associated Board of Dance (A.B.D.) Pre-Preparatory Ballet syllabus, and is aimed at children aged 3–5 years. It offers a beautiful and engaging introduction to classical ballet in a structured, fun, and supportive environment, encouraging musicality, movement, discipline, and imagination.

What Pre-School Ballet Develops:

-Strength & stamina
-Coordination & flexibility
-Vocabulary & musicality
-Discipline & listening skills
-Confidence & independence
-Friendship & social interaction

What’s Included in Pre-School Ballet:

-Weekly engaging ballet classes led by qualified, insured teachers
-A reward system to encourage and celebrate effort and progress
-Opportunities to perform in recitals and attend social events
-A clear pathway to continue ballet training within the school to pre-professional level

Class Independence Requirements:

This is a fully independent, ‘drop & go’ class.

Children must be:

-Confident and comfortable attending without a parent or guardian

-Able to use the toilet independently (in line with child protection policies)

-Strictly no exceptions can be made regarding adult attendance in the studio.Allowing one parent to remain in class can cause confusion or upset among other young children who may not understand why their own parent isn’t staying. To maintain a calm and emotionally supportive environment for all, we ask that all children attend independently once they are developmentally ready.

Once you have registered, if your child is not already known to the school, we will contact you to confirm that your child meets these prerequisites. If not, your child must attend our Baby Ballet class, where a parent or guardian accompanies them — subject to availability.

Important Information:

-Trial sessions: Children may attend a single class on a one-off basis for £9. This must be booked via Class4Kids

-Uniform: Uniform: After your trial class, a regulation uniform is required. This should be worn from the third class onwards and is available to purchase directly through the school via our uniform shop:
👉 https://judith-keyes-school-of-dance.sumupstore.com/

Please don’t hesitate to ask for advice on sizing – we’re happy to help!

-Examinations: May be offered on an individual basis when a child is developmentally ready.

Fees & Registration:

-The 2025/2026 registration price includes a £15 yearly registration fee.
If your child is enrolled in both Irish Dancing and Ballet, please note these are two separate schools, and a separate registration fee is required for each.

-If you registered during May or June 2025 and paid the previous £10 fee, we are happy to honour that payment. A £5 balance will be due to align with the updated £15 fee.

-Anyone entitled to this £5 balance will receive a text message when registration is processed, confirming this. If you do not receive a text, the full £15 fee is payable.

-Partial payments will be processed during office hours, and as Miss Judith personally handles all admin, this will be done at her earliest convenience.

Thank you for your patience and understanding.

Booking & Policies:

Please ensure you book the correct session time. All bookings are strictly non-transferable and non-refundable, including in the case of illness, absence, or change of mind.

All bookings are subject to our full Terms & Conditions, available at:
👉 www.judithkeyesballet.co.uk

About the School

Judith Keyes School of Ballet was established in 2015 by our Ballet School Principal, Judith Keyes.

We have created a space where students connect with others, form friendships, develop a passion for dance, and grow emotionally and artistically as they progress through the school.

Our school is unique in offering seamless progression from walking age right through to pre-professional level—a true one-stop shop for all your dancing needs, regardless of age or experience.

At JK Ballet, Classical Ballet is taught through the Associated Board of Dance (A.B.D.) Syllabus, where we proudly hold a 100% pass rate at examination level, including our most recent Summer 2024 exam session.

We are equally passionate about supporting dancers who wish to train for enjoyment, fitness, and friendship through non-exam-based classes focused on wellbeing and fun.

Our commitment to excellence was recognised when we were named finalists at the 2024 NI Dance Awards for Highest Performing School for Ballet. We are also proud of our dancers who placed in the Top 100 Classical Dancers at the prestigious UK Young Dancer 2025 Competition.

Students enjoy a wide variety of opportunities including:

-Recreational classes
-Graded examination classes
-Medal tests
-Competitive classes
-Show performances
-Our most recent showcase took place in August 2024 at Corr’s Corner Hotel, and we’re thrilled to announce our upcoming Christmas Show in December 2025, a magical celebration for all.

We also cherish the social side of dance, regularly hosting events like discos and holiday camps to help children build lifelong friendships and wonderful memories.

Parent Testimonial:

"I have two young daughters (3 years old and 5 years old) who started at JK Ballet last year. They're both quite shy with no previous experience of dance classes. They now go into the class on their own and have no interest in me staying with them! They have grown so much in confidence in just a matter of months, and have made some lovely friendships there too outside of school. Both girls just adore Miss Judith and she truly brings out the best in them. They look forward to their class so much each week. It has been a game changer for us. I honestly can't recommend highly enough – 5⭐️"
— Dervla, Parent

At JK Ballet, we truly know every child by name. You’re never just a number – you’re part of the JK Ballet family. We take pride in our exceptional standards, but even more so in how we support each student as an individual. We care for your child as if they were our own, nurturing their confidence, creativity, and artistic development in a warm and positive environment.

Join us at our vibrant school in the heart of Glengormley, Newtownabbey. Whether you're a beginner or an experienced dancer, our professional teachers, welcoming community, and purpose-built dance studio will support you every step of the way.