Starting a new dance journey is exciting, and we know you probably have a few questions. We've gathered all our most common questions about registration, class details, studio policies, and more, all in one place.
Our goal is to make getting started simple and clear, so your dancer can focus on the joy of movement. Find some answers below!
Yes – most families start with a trial class.
You can register for a trial through our Studio Portal, which lets your child meet the teacher, see the venue and get a feel for the class before you commit to a term.
If the class you’d like is currently full, just pop your child on the Wait List for that class and we’ll be in touch as soon as a trial space becomes available.
If there are spaces available in the class, you’ll be able to choose one of the next two available lessons during term time. This helps your child experience the class as it normally runs, with their future dance classmates and teacher.
If you’re on a Wait List and we’ve contacted you to offer a trial place, please follow the instructions in that email or message so we can confirm your child’s trial date.
Yes. Trial classes are charged at our usual one-off class fee and must be paid before attending.
This small fee reserves your child’s place in the class so they can experience the level, group and teaching style as a regular student, without committing to the full term.
After the trial, we’ll want to know how your child found the class.
If you’d like to continue, we’ll confirm their place and enrol them. You’ll then be billed in advance for the remainder of the half-term, calculated pro-rata, so you only pay for the weeks still to come.
If it’s not the right fit yet, there’s no pressure to continue.
We want your child’s first class to feel exciting, not overwhelming! A few simple things really help:
When a class is full, you can add your child to the Wait List. This gives them priority access as soon as a space opens, while helping us keep class sizes small, safe and focused for the dancers already enrolled.
You can only join the Wait List for classes your child is currently age-eligible for. The time spent on a Wait List can vary and we can’t predict exactly when a place will come up. If you’d like your child to start dancing sooner, we’re always happy to suggest alternative classes or venues with spaces available.
When your child reaches the top of the Wait List and a space becomes available, we’ll contact you with the details of the offer.
The offer will either be a trial place in that class, or an automatic place for your child to join the class as a regular student.
You’ll have a 3 day window to reply and accept or decline. If you’d like to go ahead, you will need to be able to attend one of the next two available class dates so the space doesn’t sit empty with others waiting.
If you can’t commit to either of those dates, your child will be removed from the Wait List for that class, and you’re very welcome to rejoin the Wait List in future if your circumstances change. Final confirmation of places is at the discretion of Stardust.
If you don’t respond within the three-day window, or you choose to decline the offer, your child will be removed from that specific class Wait List. You’re always welcome to rejoin the Wait List for that class in future if circumstances change.
If you’re on multiple Wait Lists:
Studio Portal is your secure online hub for everything Stardust. From one place you can:
It’s the easiest way to manage your child’s dance journey with us and keep everything in one place, whether you have one dancer or a whole family of stars.
Your child’s place is secured once payment for the trial or term is made through the Studio Portal.
As soon as this goes through, their spot is automatically reserved and you’ll receive an email confirmation straight away with all the details you need for class.
If your child loves their trial class, you can book ongoing lessons by completing their enrolment in the Studio Portal.
We’ll send you a follow-up email after the trial with a direct link, so you can secure their place in just a few clicks.
Yes, as long as there’s space in the new class.
If you’d like to move day, time or level, you can contact our team, and we’ll do our best to find a class that suits your child.
Class fees are paid in advance each half-term (usually 5–7 weeks). Once your child is enrolled, they’re automatically re-enrolled into the next half-term so they don’t lose their place in a busy class.
You’ll receive renewal reminders by email before each new half-term, so you know what’s due and can plan ahead.
All payments are made securely online through the Studio Portal, using our trusted payment provider.
If you need a different way to pay or have any questions about fees, just contact the team and we’ll do our best to find a solution that works for your family.
We don’t refund or credit classes that you miss, as our costs and staffing remain the same whether or not your child attends. Regular attendance also helps your dancer build confidence and progress with their group.
If Stardust ever has to cancel a class (for example, due to teacher illness or venue issues), we will either reschedule the class or credit your account.
Occasionally we have grants available for families experiencing financial difficulties. This grant aims to provide financial support for children to attend dance classes, including covering a portion of dance fees and expenses for dancewear.
These grants may have geographical restrictions and may require evidence of any benefits being claimed. To obtain more information, please email team@stardustdanceacademy.com.
If your child is unwell, please keep them at home to rest and to help protect other dancers and families. They should stay home if they:
To keep everyone healthy at Stardust, we:
Some of our families include members with suppressed immunity, so staying home when poorly is a real act of kindness.
Make-up classes aren’t guaranteed, but where there’s space in a similar class we’ll always try to help.
Our priority is keeping class sizes safe and focused for every dancer.
We don’t usually run classes on UK bank holidays, and some sessions may be paused during venue exams or special events.
Any closures will always be confirmed in advance by email, and we’ll reschedule or credit your account where needed.
If a teacher is away, we’ll arrange a qualified cover teacher so your child’s lesson can run as usual.
All cover teachers follow our Stardust syllabus and safeguarding standards, so classes stay safe, structured and familiar for your dancer.
For a first class, comfy clothes are perfect – leggings, joggers or shorts with a t-shirt or fitted top, anything they can move and stretch in.
For ballet, bare feet are absolutely fine if you don’t have ballet shoes yet. Once your child is settled and continuing, we’ll guide you on the best footwear and dancewear for their class and age.
For every class, we recommend:
Comfy clothes (or the correct dancewear if you already have it) help your child move freely and feel confident in class.
To help children focus and feel confident, classes are closed for parent viewing. Parents and carers are asked to stay on-site in the venue’s waiting areas so we can reach you quickly if your child needs you.
You’re warmly welcome to settle them at the studio door, then relax nearby while we take care of the rest.
Yes, toilets are available at all our venues.
We do ask that dancers use the toilet before class so they can enjoy the full lesson without needing to leave the studio.
We offer several Fairytale Ballet® Little Stars classes that are parent-and-child sessions, where grown-ups are welcome to join in the magic.
All other Fairytale Ballet® classes are independent with the teacher. They’re gently structured to build your child’s confidence, focus and independence, while you relax nearby.
Most children settle into class quickly; some take a week or two, and that’s completely normal. Our teachers are experienced at supporting new dancers and will always move at your child’s pace.
If your child becomes very upset, we may invite you into the studio briefly to reassure them, then gently return to independent learning once they’re comfortable and ready to stay. We’ll always chat with you if we have any concerns or ideas to help the transition.
We place dancers by age and readiness, so they learn alongside children at a similar stage. Teachers regularly review each child’s progress and will let you know when it’s the right time to move up a level or try a new challenge.
For Acro Gymnastics, age is a helpful guideline, but we also look carefully at strength, body awareness and previous skills or experience, which can be even more important for safety and confidence.
Yes – subject to availability.
If your child is curious about a new style (like Street & Hip Hop, Acro, Lyrical or Musical Theatre), email us or contact the team and we’ll recommend a class that suits their age, experience and confidence.
Yes. We offer internal examinations that use ISTD-aligned grading to recognise your child’s progress in a calm, familiar setting.
Teachers will always advise if and when a dancer is ready, so exams feel like a positive milestone, not pressure.
Yes – and more than one!
We run our Showcase Performances, where invited classes get to shine on stage and share what they’ve been working on with family and friends.
Relevant classes are invited by email with dates, rehearsal details and any costume information. Invitations run on a 2 year cycle, so most dancers will have the chance to take part in a Showcase over that period.
All uniform information and ordering links are on our Dancewear page.
From there, you can see what each class needs and order the correct items through the Studio Portal and our uniform partner, Rock the Dragon.
For trial classes, comfy clothing works well – leggings, joggers or shorts with a t-shirt or fitted top. If you don’t yet have suitable shoes, bare feet are fine for ballet.
Once your child has joined, please see our Dancewear page.
Core uniform items can be ordered via the Studio Portal, and branded extras (like logo pieces) are available through our partner, Rock the Dragon.
We currently run classes at:
You’ll see the exact venue for each class when you book through the Studio Portal and in your confirmation emails.
For all class times and venues, see the full timetable.
Yes. All of our venues have free parking available on site or very nearby.
Northstowe is still developing, so parking and access can vary at busy times.
We recommend arriving a little early to find a space and walk your dancer safely to the studio.
Drop-off:
Pick-up:
We highly recommend labelling everything your child brings to class – water bottles, shoes, bags and jumpers are especially easy to mix up.
Any items left behind are kept as lost property at the venue for a short period. If you think something has been misplaced, please ask a team member at your next class and we’ll help you check.
Safety comes first in our Acro classes. We:
Our aim is for Acro to feel challenging but secure, so dancers grow in confidence as well as skill.
Yes, sometimes. To keep dancers safe and help them learn correct technique, teachers may use light, appropriate physical contact to give support, gentle corrections or directional guidance during exercises.
All physical contact is minimal, purposeful and professional, and always follows our safeguarding procedures.
Yes – but only skills their teacher has approved for home practice, and always:
More advanced Acro skills should only be attempted in class, with proper mats and a qualified teacher spotting.
Yes. Our Acro classes are taught by Acrobatic Arts–qualified teachers, trained to introduce tricks and skills in a safe, structured and age-appropriate way.
No, filming or photography isn’t permitted during regular classes. This helps us protect children’s privacy and keep everyone focused and safe.
We’ll always let you know if there’s a watch week or a specific photo/filming opportunity, so you can capture memories at an appropriate time.
We collect photo and video consent as part of the Studio Portal registration process, so you stay in control of how your child appears in our publicity.
If you do give consent, we may use images or short clips on our website, social media or printed materials – but we never identify children by full name in public posts.
Our main way of contacting you is by email, so please make sure we have your correct address, add team@stardustdanceacademy.com to your contacts, and check your junk folder from time to time.
For urgent updates (such as last-minute changes or cancellations), we may also send SMS text messages, which can occasionally appear from a US telephone number depending on the messaging service used.
We follow UK GDPR and operate robust Safeguarding, Health & Safety and Risk Assessment procedures to keep dancers, families and staff safe.
Our Privacy Policy, Terms & Conditions and Cookie Policy are all published on our website – you’ll find links to these, and other key policies, in the footer of every page.
Yes, private coaching is sometimes available, depending on studio space and teacher schedules. It can be a great option for dancers who’d benefit from extra support, exam preparation or focused skill work.
To check current availability and options, please email the team and we’ll let you know what’s possible.
We love giving dancers extra chances to enjoy their classes, so we offer half-term and holiday workshops where possible outside of regular term time.
These are advertised by email and on our social media, so keep an eye out for announcements.
To focus on growing and caring for our dance school community, we no longer run children’s parties.
The best way to reach us is by emailing team@stardustdanceacademy.com. We aim to reply within 48 hours during term time.
During school holidays, replies may take a little longer, but we’ll always get back to you as soon as we can.
A place where children shine, grow in confidence, and fall in love with dance — with clear answers for parents.
DBS-checked teachers, clear safeguarding and small, age-appropriate groups. Our FAQs explain exactly how we keep dancers safe, supported and seen in every class.
From trials and fees to uniforms and shows, we share how everything works up front so you know what to expect and can decide in confidence.
We’re a local, family-run school, not a call centre. If you’re unsure about anything in the FAQs, you can always reach out and we’ll help you find the right class and settling-in plan for your child.
If you've browsed our FAQs for answers on trials, fees, uniforms, classes and events – and if you’re still unsure, our friendly team is just a message away.
