The Welland School of Dancing has been holding classes in Stamford since 1964; Teaching the Royal Academy of Dance (RAD) syllabus for Ballet, and the Imperial Society of Teachers of Dance (ISTD) syllabus for Tap and Modern Theatre.
The current school principal, Victoria Fallow-Norton began as the Head of Performing Arts in 2018 and stepped up to Principla in September 2024. Previous to this Maggie Purr ARAD RAD RTS and her husband James Skinner took over the running of the school in 2010 from previous principal Anne Desbruslais FISTD CDE and her husband David Walker who ran the school from 1985 to August 2010. Miss Purr is now our Head of Ballet and Anne Desbruslais continues to be involved with the Welland School of Dancing in her new capacity as Patron.
The school caters for both the serious student (many will go on to professional training and careers in the theatre), and the recreational pupil. Children are accepted from age 2 for Ballet, age 4 for Tap & Modern Theatre, Acro and Performing Arts and Age 7 for Hip Hop and Contemporary. The school had its main full time dance studio in Stamford, based in the Ballroom complex of the former Stamford Hotel (circa 1820) until August 2017, with pianists, ballet barres, mirrors and sprung floors; all essential for long term dance training. The school also holds adult classes in ballet, tap & jazz with beginners welcome. Welland school of Dancing moved premises to the former Stamford Museum on Broad Street in September 2017 where we have added a further smaller studio and continue to provide a positive and thriving environment for all our pupils.