Ballet or Street Dance? How to Choose the Right Class for Your Child
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. Chipping Norton and Fairford.
You know you want to try a dance class. The bit that trips people up is choosing which one. Ballet sounds lovely but maybe a bit formal. Street dance sounds fun but you’re not sure what it actually involves. And what about the little ones who aren’t ready for either? We get these questions all the time from families in Chipping Norton, Fairford and the surrounding villages. Here’s a straight-talking look at what each style does, who it suits and how you can try without committing to the wrong thing.
If your child is under four: start with Dance Explorers
Before you worry about ballet vs street dance, 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 the very youngest). These are 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 do 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 the one that matches their stage, not a label. You can always add ballet or street dance later.
What RAD ballet gives your child
Ballet at Intune follows the Royal Academy of Dance (RAD) syllabus. That means clear progression: pre-primary, primary, then graded levels. Children learn positions, steps and short sequences. There’s a strong focus on posture, placement and musicality. The classes still feel playful. We use stories and imagination, especially for the younger groups. But there is a structure. 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, it’s a good fit. 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. 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 attitude. It appeals to children who love music, want to move in a less formal way or have seen street dance on screen and want to have a go. Some children find it easier to relax into street dance than ballet 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 different.
Can they do both?
Yes. Quite a few of our pupils do ballet and street dance. They’re on different days or 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 rule. 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. You’re not locking them in for life. You’re finding out what they enjoy.
What if they don’t like the first one they try?
Then they’ve learned something useful. Maybe ballet felt too slow or too strict. Maybe street dance felt too fast or too “cool”. That’s fine. 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 turn up 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.
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. So whether your child ends up in ballet, street dance or Dance Explorers, they’re in the same kind of hands. Small classes, same teacher each week, no shouting. That’s what we care about. 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. Book a £10 trial (no commitment) and see which class fits.