ISTD Tap Dance is an internationally recognized theatrical art form rooted in American tap. It blends traditional jazz rhythms with historic influences like Irish stepping and clog dancing. The Imperial Society of Teachers of Dancing (ISTD) Tap Faculty structures classes into distinct paths based on a dancer's age and goals.
Early Years (Ages 3–6): Pre-Primary and Primary levels. These focus on basic coordination, listening to music, and making simple sounds like stamps, walks, and skips.
Pre-Vocational / Graded (Ages 7+): Grades 1 through 6. Dancers build intricate feet combinations, weight changes, and musical timing.
Grade 4 and above introduces faster tempos and more complex rhythm patterns.
Vocational (Ages 13+): Intermediate, Advanced 1, and Advanced 2. This stream prepares serious dancers for commercial performance or professional teacher training. Higher vocational levels award UCAS points for UK university applications.

Every class works through a sequence of a dedicated warm-up, close technical exercises (focusing on shuffles, ball-taps, and heel drops), dedicated rhythm sections, and choreographed dance routines.

Find your level below and let us know when enquiring, so that we can assess which class is the best one for you (our teachers will also assess when you join the class to make sure it is the correct level for you):

Foundation – New to this style or still building the basics.
Developing – Comfortable with the basics and ready for more challenge.
Intermediate – Good technique, confidence and previous experience.
Advanced – Strong technique, experience and ability to learn at a faster pace.

DISCOUNTS:

A 10% discount is automatically applied for sibling bookings. This discount applies to the fees of additional children, not the first child enrolled.

A £15 discount is offered for two different Junior/Senior classes enrolled onto. Please use code HKQ996 at the checkout.

A £25 discount is offered for three or more different Junior/Senior classes enrolled onto. Please use code EQJ224 at the checkout.

Please note that misuse of discount codes will result in MPAS contacting you.