Ballet or Street Dance? How to Choose
Not sure whether to book ballet or street dance? What each style offers, how age fits in, and why trying both is easier than you think.
You know you want to try a dance class. The bit lots of families wonder about is choosing which one. Ballet sounds lovely but perhaps a bit formal. Street dance sounds fun but you’re not sure what it involves. And what about the little ones who aren’t ready for either? We hear these questions all the time from families in Chipping Norton, Fairford and the surrounding villages. Here’s a gentle guide to what each style offers, who it suits and how you can try without any pressure.
If your child is under four: start with Dance Explorers
Before we dive into ballet vs street dance, it helps to think about age. Our RAD ballet and street dance classes are aimed at children from around four or five. For two and a half to four year olds we run Dance Explorers (and First Steps for our very youngest). These are gentle creative movement classes. No syllabus, no exams. Just stories, music, props and space to move. They build coordination, listening and confidence in a playful way. Lots of children enjoy a year or two of Dance Explorers and then move into ballet or street dance when they’re ready. So if your child is still a toddler or young pre-schooler, the “right” class is often simply the one that matches their stage. You can always add ballet or street dance later when the time feels right.
What RAD ballet gives your child
Ballet at Intune follows the Royal Academy of Dance (RAD) syllabus. That means a gentle, clear progression: pre-primary, primary, then graded levels. Children learn positions, steps and short sequences in a supportive way. There’s a focus on posture, placement and musicality, but our classes still feel playful. We use stories and imagination, especially for the younger groups. Parents who choose ballet often say their child loves the precision, the storytelling (swans, fairies, enchanted forests) or the sense of tradition. If your child likes to copy carefully, enjoys “proper” steps or has already asked for ballet, they’ll likely feel at home. We run RAD ballet on Saturday mornings in both Chipping Norton and Fairford.
What street dance gives your child
Street dance at Intune uses the DANG syllabus. Think rhythm, groove and performance. The style is contemporary and relaxed. Children learn to move to beats, pick up short routines and develop their own flair. There’s less “feet in first position” and more body isolation, timing and self-expression. It appeals to children who love music, want to move in a less formal way or have seen street dance on screen and fancy giving it a go. Some children find it easier to relax into street dance because it feels closer to how they already move at home. We run street dance for different age groups in Chipping Norton and Fairford. It’s a different flavour from ballet, not better or worse. Just a lovely alternative.
Can they do both?
Yes, absolutely. Quite a few of our pupils do ballet and street dance. They’re in different time slots, so it’s possible to do one of each on a Saturday morning if that works for your family. Some children love the contrast. Others prefer to focus on one style. There’s no right answer. If you’re unsure, a trial in each can help. Try a ballet trial one week and a street dance trial another, or ask us which class has space and start there. There’s no long-term commitment. You’re simply finding out what they enjoy.
What if they don’t like the first one they try?
Then they’ve learned something useful, and that’s okay. Maybe ballet felt a bit slow or too formal. Maybe street dance felt a bit fast or not quite right. We’d rather they tried and knew than never tried at all. Our trial is £10 with no obligation. So you can book a ballet trial, see how it goes, and if it’s not for them, book a street dance trial the following week (or the other way round). No pressure to continue. The class finder on our homepage lets you see what’s on by age and location. Pick a class, book the trial and pop along on a Saturday morning. If they love it, we’ll help you secure their place. If not, you’ve spent a tenner and an hour and you know a bit more about what they like. We’re happy either way.
The teacher matters more than the label
Whatever style you choose, the thing that makes the biggest difference is the teacher. At Intune our teachers are RAD, ISTD or BBO qualified, DBS checked and first aid trained. They’re used to beginners, shy children and the odd wobble, and they take care of every child. So whether your little one ends up in ballet, street dance or Dance Explorers, they’re in the same gentle hands. Small classes, the same teacher each week, and a warm, encouraging atmosphere. That’s what we care about most. The style is just the wrapper.
RAD ballet, street dance and creative movement for ages 2½ to 11. Saturday mornings in Chipping Norton and Fairford. We’d love to welcome you. Book a £10 trial (no commitment) and see which class feels right for your family.