Lesley Taylor School of Dance

Timperley, Altrincham and Cheadle, Stockport based dance school for children aged 2+

Intro

Hello and welcome, learning to dance should be an enjoyable and affordable hobby that lots of people can enjoy. Trial classes are available for all of my children's classes. Please get in touch if you want to book a trial, or press the button below:

Book a Trial

Trial classes only available at 3rd Timperley Scout Hut, Cheadle Village Hall and Cheadle Hulme Methodist Church

The Lesley Taylor School of Dance

All Little Dancers

I have taught preschool dance for many years for dance schools, leisure centres and in community centres. These classes are a really fun introduction to dance and children can attend from 18 months old. I teach tap, ballet and creative dance as the children get more able and include lots of imaginative ideas, props and time for the children to dance in their own way to music they recognise and love. Parents are welcome to stay for all my preschool classes - only 1 parent/carer per child. There is no set uniform for this age so any clothes and shoes that the children can safely run around in are fine for them to wear. Free trial classes are available and fees are payable by the half term in advance.

School Age Children

All these classes are a mix of dance styles meaning children can learn lots of different types of dance in the same class so children can learn lots even though they only come once a week. The classes start with tap and ballet when the children are 4 and then I add in modern stage, musical theatre, singing, gymnastic dance, freestyle/street and contemporary depending on the age and interest of the group. Lots of students have joined me in my preschool classes and continued to attend until going to university and beyond. A few have gone on to dance professionally. I make the classes as much fun as I can and always aim to make them stress free and affordable for parents. I have collection of second hand dance shoes that can be borrowed and I provide all costumes for my shows for a small hire fee. Free trial classes are available for new customers. Please contact me to book.

Adult Classes

I run a variety of fitness classes for adults including Pilates, aerobics, Barre fitness and body toning. In the past I've taught Salsa aerobics, step, adult tap and ballet and many other types of fitness classes in leisure centres, adult education colleges, community venues and health clubs. I currently teach for Cheadle Hulme Fitness which is an amazing community club, Aquinas College and Life Leisure. For more information about Cheadle Hulme Fitness please visit their website www.cheadlehulmefitness.org.uk Please contact the venue/club directly to book.

For times and locations of classes please see the timetable below.

About Me

I started dancing when I was 6 and began teaching dance and gymnastics at 16. I went on to perform in and later choreograph pantomimes and studied dance and dance teaching full time and the Merseyside Dance and Drama Centre and Preston College. I've trained at the Royal Academy of Dance, The Northern Ballet School, The Alvin Ailey American Dance Centre and some local dance schools. I began teaching NATD ballet, tap and modern at the Altrincham Dance Centre and the Richmond School of Dance when I left dance college and later went on to take over and rename the Altrincham Dance Centre as the Lesley Taylor School of Dance. I taught Baby Ballet for a school in Wilmslow (not in any way related to the franchise) and in many other venues and leisure centres. I qualified as a fitness instructor in 1995 and have taught a wide variety of classes including Fit Kids, aerobics, step aerobics, jive, Salsa, Pilates, body conditioning, stretch classes and many styles of dance fitness. I've taught fitness classes at many health clubs, leisure centres, adult education colleges and community settings. More recently I have qualified to teach gymnastic dance, musical theatre and contemporary dance.

I love teaching such a wide variety of classes from the tiny little dancers to the more mature members of my fitness classes and everyone in between. I aim to make learning to dance hassle free and affordable for parents. I hold a show every year and exams when they children are ready to progress but these are completely optional. I provide all the costumes for shows for a small hire fee and all the show routines are taught within normal lessons.

I hold the following dance & fitness qualifications:

200 Hour Yoga Teacher

Level 3 Pilates

Associate NATD Ballet

Associate NATD National Tap

Associate NATD Modern Stage

Associate ISTD Ballet

Associate ISTD National Character

Licentiate NATD Ballet

Licentiate NATD Modern Stage

Licentiate NATD National Tap

Fellowship NATD Ballet

NATD Diploma in Gymnastic Dance

NATD Diploma in Musical Theatre

NATD Diploma in Contemporary Dance

RSA (YMCA) Exercise to music

Fitness Pilates

Nutrition and Weight Management

Ante and Post Natal Fitness

Barre Fitness

I Move Freely Biomechanics Coaching

Timetable

Monday
Time	Activity	Venue
1:30pm - 2:30pm	Aerobics	Cheadle Hulme Methodist Church, Ramillies Avenue, Cheadle Hulme, SK8 7AL
6:25pm - 7:25pm	Pilates	Aquinas College, Nangreave Road, Heaviley, Stockport, SK2 6TH
7:35pm - 8:35pm	Pilates	Aquinas College, Nangreave Road, Heaviley, Stockport, SK2 6TH

Tuesday
Time	Activity	Venue
11:00am - 11:45am	Pilates	Grand Central Pool

Wednesday
Time	Activity	Venue
10:30am - 11:15am	Stretch class	Life Leisure Avondale
11:30am - 2:30pm	Aerobics	Cheadle Hulme Methodist Church, Ramillies Avenue, Cheadle Hulme, SK8 7AL
3:00pm - 3:45pm	Seated exercise	Dutton Court, Station Rd, Cheadle Hulme, Cheadle SK8 5BF

Thursday
Time	Activity	Venue
9:30am - 10:15am	Pilates	Ladybridge Park Residents Club, Edenbridge Rd, Cheadle Hulme, Cheadle SK8 5PX
11:00am - 11:45am	Pilates	Grand Central Pool
4:00pm - 4:30pm	Ballet and Tap (age 2-4)	Lyburn Hall, Brook Close, Off Brook Lane, Timperley, Altrincham WA15 6RH
4:30pm - 5:30pm	Ballet, Tap and Modern (age 11-13)	Lyburn Hall, Brook Close, Off Brook Lane, Timperley, Altrincham WA15 6RH
5:30pm - 6:30pm	Ballet and Tap (age 16-18)	Lyburn Hall, Brook Close, Off Brook Lane, Timperley, Altrincham WA15 6RH
7:30pm - 8:15pm	Pilates	Life Leisure Avondale

Friday
Time	Activity	Venue
9:50am - 10:20am	Preschool dance class (age 1.5-3years)	Cheadle Village Hall, Brook Road, Cheadle, Stockport, SK8 1PQ
10:30am - 11:15am	Preschool dance class (age 3-4 years)	Cheadle Village Hall, Brook Road, Cheadle, Stockport, SK8 1PQ
1:30pm - 2:30pm	Aerobics	Cheadle Hulme Methodist Church, Ramillies Avenue, Cheadle Hulme, SK8 7AL

Saturday
Time	Activity	Venue
9:00am - 9:30am	Ballet and tap (age 2-4)	Lyburn Hall, Brook Close, Off Brook Lane, Timperley, Altrincham WA15 6RH
9:35am - 10:20am	Ballet, tap and modern (age 9-11)	Lyburn Hall, Brook Close, Off Brook Lane, Timperley, Altrincham WA15 6RH
10:20am - 11:05am	Ballet and tap (age 8-10)	Lyburn Hall, Brook Close, Off Brook Lane, Timperley, Altrincham WA15 6RH
11:05am - 11:50am	Ballet, tap and modern (age 4-6)	Lyburn Hall, Brook Close, Off Brook Lane, Timperley, Altrincham WA15 6RH
11:45am - 12:45pm	Ballet, tap and modern (age 12-15)	Lyburn Hall, Brook Close, Off Brook Lane, Timperley, Altrincham WA15 6RH
1:00pm - 1:40pm	Ballet and tap (age 6-7)	Lyburn Hall, Brook Close, Off Brook Lane, Timperley, Altrincham WA15 6RH
1:45pm - 2:25pm	Ballet and tap (age 7-8)	Lyburn Hall, Brook Close, Off Brook Lane, Timperley, Altrincham WA15 6RH
2:30pm - 3:15pm	Adults Pilates	Lyburn Hall, Brook Close, Off Brook Lane, Timperley, Altrincham WA15 6RH

Free trial classes are available for most classes.
Individual or small group Pilates classes available in person or online. Please contact me for more information.

News and Events

2025/2026 Term Dates

Autumn Term

3 September – 20 December
Half term:
29, 30 October and 1 November

Spring Term

7 January – 28 March
Half Term: 18, 19, 21 February

Summer Term

15 April - 18 July
Half Term: 27, 28, 30 May and 3, 4, 6 June

FAQ

How much do classes cost?

Classes range between £4.00 - £7.00 depending on the class. My children's dance classes are very affordable and are up to 50% cheaper than other dance schools.

How do I pay?

Dance classes can be paid for in cash or by bank transfer. Fitness classes at Cheadle Hulme Methodist, Ladybridge Park and Dutton Court are cash only. Life Leisure classes are included in their memberships or can be paid for in cash or by card at the centre or online for non-members. Aquinas College classes can be paid online or by cash or card at the reception.

Do you allow trial classes?

Yes, trial classes are available at all my children's classes, Cheadle Hulme Fitness and Dutton Court. Trials are unavailable at Aquinas College.

Are the classes drop in or a block booking?

All my children's dance classes are booked and paid for by the half term in advance with no credits or refunds for missed classes. Fitness classes at Aquinas College are booked in a school term in advance. Dutton Court classes are payable by the month in advance. All other fitness classes are pay as you go.

Do I need to bring anything?

Please bring a mat to all fitness classes, you may also want to bring water.

What should I wear?

Loose comfortable clothing that can be safely exercised in. Any clothes and shoes that are safe for children to run around in are fine for them to wear but nothing too long that could be tripped over. Trainers must be worn for aerobics. Tap and ballet shoes are required for children's dance classes. I have some spare tap and ballet shoes that can be borrowed.

Is there free parking?

Yes, all the venues I teach in have free parking.

Do you do shows?

Yes, my children's dance class do a performance for family and friends once a year.

What age are the classes for?

I teach dance classes for children from 18 months to 18 years and fitness classes to adults of all ages. I currently have people in their 30s up to 90s in my exercise classes.

Do you have to take exams?

After 25+ years of entering children for formal exams I moved to a fairer, more inclusive, less stressful and expensive system of optional in-house dance assessments so the children progress through dance grades and can earn certificates and trophies for their work without the stress of traditional dance exams. When the children are in high school, they can take formal dance exams that can gain UCAS points if they reach the required level and wish to do so.

Can parents/carers watch classes?

Parents are welcome to stay for all my preschool classes. When the children are older, I prefer parents to either wait in the kitchen or leave their children for the class. Please make sure I have an emergency contact number if you are leaving the building.