The 10 best ballet schools in Manchester

Children from age two can start dance at Footsteps Dance School in Sale, with classes progressing through freestyle, ballet and acrobatics. The Starlets programme introduces two- and three-year-olds to movement through stories, props and imagination, while older students develop technique through structured age-group classes.

The school also runs dance camps, birthday parties and invite-only competition teams for committed freestyle dancers. Team members perform in school shows, local showcases and regional competitions, with at least four performances each year. Students can take IDTA exams, and new pupils are invited to attend a two-week trial before deciding. Children’s dance classes in Sale welcome all abilities from age two upwards.

Dance, drama and musical theatre classes are available at Stalder Academy of Dance for all ages and levels. The Sale school also teaches commercial and street dance, with examinations, workshops and performances forming part of the wider programme.

Training takes place across seven indoor studios and an outdoor covered studio, with mirrors, barres and Harlequin flooring. Students can follow training pathways, enter examinations, join the competition team or take part in theatre productions. The academy runs six terms each year and has an onsite dancewear shop, changing rooms and a lounge for families.

KNT Danceworks teaches ballet, contemporary and jazz or modern dance for children and adults in Manchester city centre, with additional classes in Handforth. Adult evening classes welcome all ages, abilities and backgrounds, including complete beginners and people returning to dance after a break.

Beginner ballet develops work at the barre before moving into centre exercises and a cool-down, while pre-intermediate classes build technique, stamina and muscular endurance. Contemporary sessions focus on movement and expression. Adult classes are drop-in, whereas children need to be registered and booked. Students can also take part in shows held around two or three times a year.

The Nicholson Academy Of Performing Arts provides dance and performing arts training for children and young people, from early movement classes to advanced performance work. Age groups include Tiny Stars, Rising Stars and Shining Stars, with classes in ballet, tap and modern.

Children can work towards performances, examinations and competitions while developing technique, creativity, teamwork and confidence. Tiny Stars introduces movement, music and sensory play alongside grown-ups, while the senior programme offers advanced training across dance and performing arts. Families can try a class before enrolling, with a four-week trial costing £15. Complete beginners are welcome, and children can start from two years old.

Central Performing Arts teaches ballet, commercial dance and performing arts to students from age 2.5 upwards. Evening programmes cater for different ages and skill levels, from first-stage learners to advanced performers, with classes in jazz, contemporary and musical theatre.

The Denton campus offers fully funded BTEC Level 3 pathways in Dance and Musical Theatre for 16 to 18-year-olds, alongside a two-year Extended Diploma in Performing Arts Practice. Its purpose-built facilities include six studios, a 150-seat studio theatre and a café bar, giving students space to train and perform. Students can also access tap, acro, body conditioning, singing and drama.