Dancing Feet Academy of Dance in Braunton has clearly made an impression, not least on the adults who took up dancing later in life and found a second home there. One reviewer started tap as a complete beginner at 58, another spoke of a fantastic show at 66, and both describe a supportive family atmosphere. Based at a studio on South Street, the academy teaches children and adults alike. It kept classes running through lockdown, which families remember with gratitude.
This is a dance academy serving a broad age range, with a notable strength in welcoming adult beginners into styles like tap and jazz ballet. Teachers are described as professional and as mentors, passing on life skills alongside dance. The recurring theme in reviews is a genuinely supportive, family-like community.
Tap and jazz ballet feature prominently, with reviewers mentioning new terms and routines that stretch dancers of every age. Classes cater for children through to adults, and the academy is happy to start people who have never danced before, including those well into their fifties and sixties. Shows and performance routines give students something to work towards beyond the weekly class.
Comfortable clothing you can move in and the right shoes for tap or ballet are the practical essentials. Adults nervous about being new will find the academy used to first-timers of all ages, so there is no need to feel out of place. Checking which class matches your age and experience before you arrive is a good idea.
Braunton and the north Devon area have dance schools that welcome all ages, and this one stands out for its openness to adult beginners. Taking up dancing later in life is increasingly common, and a supportive school makes all the difference.
Dancing Feet Academy is so much more than just an AMAZING dance school. My 2 girls both have dance classes with Dancing Feet the teachers are professional and also act as mentors, teaching them valuable life skills. During lockdown Dancing Feet continued to bring dance classes and workshops into our homes via zoom. My girls were not getting a huge amount of support from their school but Dancing Feet continued to give encouragement and praise which has really helped my girls physically as well as mentally through this difficult time. My girls are looking forward to meeting up with their 'dan— david wyeth
WOW what a show and thank you for encouraging me to stretch myself and take part in that fantastic Anything Goes tap routine I am really looking forward to the new Jazz Ballet and Tap classes Who would have thought at 66 I would be saying that !!!! Heres to the new term and the next show You have unleashed the dancer in me !!! beware !!!!!!hahah thank you— Yvonne Fagan
It's never too late to take up dancing! I started Tap as a complete beginner aged 58 and I have loved being part of the DFA family. The staff are so supportive, not like the harridan who ran a ballet school when I was a kid 🙁 Tap is such a sociable and enjoyable way to keep fit and you might find yourself on stage in a Dancing Feet show! Kate U x— Len&Kate Upton
Yes. Styles such as tap and jazz ballet are danced solo or in a group, so no partner is needed. This makes them easy to take up on your own.
Comfortable clothing you can move freely in, plus the correct footwear for the style. Tap needs tap shoes and ballet needs soft shoes, so check before your first class.
Fees vary with class length and whether you pay by term. Asking the academy for its current rates is the most reliable way to plan.
Accessible styles like tap and jazz ballet are popular, sociable places to start. The best choice is often the one you are most drawn to trying.
Tap is a favourite among adult beginners for being sociable and good exercise, and jazz ballet suits others. As reviewers here show, it is never too late to begin.
Gentle dancing can support general heart health, but anyone with heart failure should speak to their doctor first. A medical professional can advise on safe levels of activity.