The Heights Ballet and Theatre School

The Heights Ballet and Theatre School has been teaching dance in Sheffield for over twenty years. They work from Hallam Community Hall on Hallam Grange Crescent and have built a reputation for small class sizes — their core principle is that every child has a name, not a number. They're the only dance school in Sheffield to offer a live pianist in every ballet class, bringing the music to life and deepening students' connection to both movement and musicality.

They teach ISTD Cecchetti Classical Ballet as their foundation, alongside Modern Theatre and Tap as core genres. Beyond these, they offer Contemporary, Commercial, Musical Theatre, and Acrobatic Dance. All pupils must take ballet to join additional genres. The school runs annual shows that are the only ones in Sheffield to produce a full-length children's ballet alongside themed divertissements. They've been awarded Sheffield's 'Best Ballet School' three years running.

Classes run from age 2 (preschool Dance With Me classes, twice weekly) through to adults. The Heights offers a 2-week free trial so new students can try as many age-appropriate lessons as they like. For younger children, they provide school pickup on Tuesdays and Wednesdays for Hallam Primary School pupils. Students aged Y2 and below get a 2-for-1 offer: attend Ballet, Modern and Tap twice weekly (Wednesday and Saturday) with the second set free. Y3+ students get the second weekly lesson of one genre at half price, others free.

The studio is a validated Learning Destination for Children's University, awarding credits for lessons, rehearsals, shows and reviewed performances. They use the International Dance Rewards scheme in classes up to Grade 5. ISTD exam sessions run in Ballet, Modern and Tap, with pupils entered when their teacher judges them ready. The school is currently the only ISTD School in Sheffield.

Adult classes meet weekly: Adult Tap on Tuesdays 7:00–7:45pm, Adult Contemporary on Wednesdays 6:30–7:15pm, and Adult Ballet on Wednesdays 7:15–8:00pm. Private 1-1 lessons are available in any genre, invoiced termly. The Hallam Community Hall provides sprung floors for safe dancing, mirrors, ballet barres, two purpose-built changing rooms, and a fully functional kitchen. Communication happens through the BAND app for announcements and newsletters, plus year-group WhatsApp chats.

You'll arrive at Hallam Community Hall to find spacious dance studios with sprung floors, mirrors and barres. Class sizes are intentionally small. For your first visit, wear anything comfortable to move in. The school offers a free 2-week trial — you can try as many lessons as you like during that period. Staff will get to know you and your child personally.

The teaching team includes Miss Caroline Ambery (Principal, AISTD, certified PBT teacher, trained at Northern Ballet Lower School and Kate Simmons Dance Limited, owner since 2002), Miss Michelle Hathway (Modern Theatre, Tap, Musical Theatre, Commercial; BA Hons Dance and Performing Arts), Miss Joanna Smith (Ballet, Tap, Modern Theatre, Contemporary; certified PBT teacher, former Heights pupil from 2002–2016 now in Dance Education degree with Royal Academy of Dance), Miss Kirsty Jeeves (Acro and Tumbling, trained at Dore School of Performance Arts, performer across UK and Europe), Miss Anya Mooney (Junior Musical Theatre and Singing, BA Hons Musical Theatre and Dance from Performers College), and Miss Elana Ashton (Contemporary and Commercial, BA Hons from Wilkes Academy of Performing Arts). Guest teacher Miss Alix Sutch returns for ballet, modern, tap and Spanish dance. Resident pianist Pete Hurst has played for all ballet classes since 2019.

Classes welcome all abilities and ages from age 2 upwards; the school emphasises creating a safe, friendly environment where children gain confidence and poise.