Drapers Dance

Drapers Dance is a multi-site dance school operating out of Sheffield, Doncaster and Chesterfield. The main center in Beighton, Sheffield offers three air-conditioned ballrooms, a large free car park, comfortable lounges and a licensed bar. The studio has been established for over 40 years and operates from a full-time dance center.

For adults, the school runs beginners classes in ballroom and Latin (16-week courses at £20 per couple per session), solo Latin classes (4 weeks at £10 per person per session), intermediate and advanced classes for those with months or years of experience, adult dance fitness classes, and private tuition starting from £35 per hour. Wedding first dance packages are available with 3, 5 or 7 hours of private tuition. Beginners classes cover Cha Cha, Foxtrot, Salsa, Waltz, Square Tango, Rock and Roll and Quickstep. All classes run in a friendly, relaxed atmosphere designed for complete beginners through to serious competitors.

Children's classes start from 18 months with Didi Dance (ages 18-36 months), Dance Fusion for ages 3-10 (covering freestyle, Latin, and musical theater), and specialist ballroom, Latin, commercial and street classes for ages 11+. Children have the option to take IDTA medals every six months and perform at presentation days, galas and the annual Beighton Gala in July. The school does not enforce a strict uniform or dress code for regular lessons.

The teaching team comprises nine IDTA-qualified, fully insured and DBS-checked instructors: Hayley and Scott (managers), Ella (head of freestyle and street), Joanne, Caroline, Kay, Olivia, Siobhan and Alysia. Several teachers are active or former competitors; Olivia appeared in the Netflix series Baby Ballroom, filmed partly at the center. Kay holds a degree in Dance from university and heads up musical theater classes. Saturday social practice nights are open to members and non-members. Private lessons are flexible and available seven days a week across all three ballrooms.

Your first visit to a beginners class will be friendly and relaxed. You'll be greeted on arrival, placed with other complete beginners in the same boat, and guided through one-hour sessions at the same time each week. Teachers emphasize fun and comfort over pressure; most nerves disappear quickly once you realize everyone is starting from scratch.

Nine IDTA-qualified instructors teach across the school. Managers Hayley and Scott both teach all levels from beginners to advanced competitors; Scott is renowned in ballroom and Hayley teaches a range from children's to fitness to professionals. Ella, head of freestyle and street, is a past Ballroom and Latin competitor. Joanne is a former competitor and mother of two, strong with children's classes. Caroline (joined 2019) is one of the country's top ballroom competitors, trained in sequence and ballroom. Kay has a degree in Dance and heads musical theater. Olivia, a championship title holder, appeared in Netflix's Baby Ballroom and is a ballroom specialist. Siobhan, a long-time dancer who qualified as a teacher in her teens and rejoined the team in 2014, is well-liked across all three sites. Alysia actively trains and competes with dance partner Vaclav and now teaches full-time.

Beginners are completely welcome; all levels from 'two left feet' to competitors learn side by side in a deliberately relaxed, friendly environment with no pressure.