We are passionate about teaching ballet
Emma Thompson is an experienced dance teacher and choreographer with a career spanning over 30 years. She started her vocational dance training under the direction of Sara Neil at The Hammond School and later at The Laban Centre.
Emma has teaching qualifications from the Royal Academy of Dance and ISTD Associate Ballet, Tap and Modern. She is also a Progressive Dance Technique certified teacher and a mentor for Royal Academy of Dance student teachers.
She has taught and performed both in the UK and abroad, including Germany, Canada and The Netherlands.
Her past students have gone on to study at Vocational Dance Schools, become Junior and Mid Associates at The Royal Ballet School and Central School of Ballet, perform with The London Children’s Ballet and The National Youth Ballet. Many of Emma’s ex-students have gone on to dance and teach professionally.
Emma has been an RAD examiner since 2012 and is a CPD tutor for graded and vocational levels and travels extensively in these roles.
Enhanced DBS, Safeguarding and First Aid Certificates are available on request.
At the Crouch End School of Dance, we are proud to offer a full programme of Royal Academy of Dance (RAD) classes, from Pre-Primary through to Grade 8, including vocational grades from Intermediate Foundation to Advanced 1, as well as weekly Pre-School and Adult Ballet classes. The RAD is one of the world’s most influential dance education and training organisations, and its ethos is at the heart of everything we do.
Founded in 1920 with the goal of raising the standards of dance teaching, the RAD has spent over a century shaping dancers and teachers across the globe. Today, its carefully developed syllabus is taught in 85 countries and is renowned for combining artistic expression with strong technical foundations. The RAD believes in the transformative power of dance, not only as an art form, but as a means of supporting physical health, mental wellbeing, discipline, and joy. These values guide our teaching and inform the nurturing, inclusive environment we strive to create in every class.
By following the RAD syllabus, students at the Crouch End School of Dance benefit from a structured and internationally recognised pathway. Our students consistently achieve excellent results in RAD exams, which are accredited by UK regulators and can contribute to UCAS points at the higher levels, opening further opportunities in education and beyond.
All classes are led by experienced teacher Emma Thompson, who holds full RAD Registered Teacher Status and is also an RAD examiner. Emma brings a deep understanding of the syllabus and a passion for inspiring students to grow at their own pace. Classes are accompanied by live piano, which supports musicality and enhances the artistic and technical development of every student.