Welcome
A Note From Our Principal
I am delighted to welcome you to the Apollo School of Performing Arts. I am Phoebe Cooper, the Principal of our wonderful Performing Arts School.
When establishing Apollo School of Performing Arts, I knew I wanted to inspire others and instil a great passion for the Performing Arts, within the ASPA pupils. ASPA creates a safe and inclusive environment for children and adults to have fun, whilst providing them with a high standard of training, where they will gain confidence and develop their creativity.
Since entering the dance studio for the first time, at the age of 2, Performing Arts has always been a love of mine. Throughout my Performing Arts journey, I have created childhood friends for life. They have always been so supportive and we have made unforgettable memories together. At ASPA I hope to create a family ethos and wish these valuable friendships for all of our pupils.
I am beyond excited and am so lucky to have the opportunity to share my experiences and enthusiasm with the ASPA pupils. Please enjoy exploring the Apollo School of Performing Arts website, I hope you find all the information that you need. I look forward to meeting you in person at the Apollo School of Performing Arts.
About Apollo School of Performing Arts
Apollo School of Performing Arts is a Performing Arts School in Kent, newly established in 2022. At ASPA, we aim to provide an outstanding standard of training, for boys and girls from the age of 3. We are a friendly, nurturing school, who are dedicated in guiding our pupils to grow in confidence and fulfil their aspirations in a safe, supportive and encouraging environment.
Our highly trained and enthusiastic faculty strive to encourage our pupils to reach their full potential in all aspects of the Performing Arts. At ASPA, we educate the pupils by following one of the world’s leading dance examination boards, the Imperial Society of Teachers of Dancing (ISTD). Alongside our ISTD Classical Ballet, Modern Theatre and Tap Dance lessons, we provide a variety of fun and engaging non-syllabus lessons to ignite your child’s passion for Performing Arts. We hope to create a full timetable, with an abundance of lessons to cater to every child and offer our pupils multiple performance opportunities throughout their time here with ASPA, one of these opportunities being a bi-annual showcase. We aspire to train our pupils to a high standard to achieve excellent ISTD examination results bi-annually. Our teaching faculty are vocationally trained and qualified and hold enhanced DBS and paediatric first aid certificates. Our teachers attend continuing professional development (CPD) courses throughout the year, to ensure we are delivering up-to-date training.
Whether your child is looking to pursue a Performing Arts career or the Performing Arts is their fun hobby, we welcome children to attend for their love of dance. ASPA guide our pupils in gaining confidence, whilst developing their creativity in a well-disciplined, supportive and inclusive environment. Our pupils are encouraged to reach their full potential, whilst creating unforgettable memories with their ASPA family.
Our Faculty
Our friendly and supportive faculty, strive to encourage and motivate the ASPA pupils to have fun whilst providing them with the high-quality training they need to achieve excellence. Our Faculty holds paediatric first aid training and DBS, to ensure the safety of our pupils. The ASPA teachers are qualified in ISTD training, Zumba and Progressive Ballet Technique (PBT).
Phoebe Cooper DDE ISTD, Dip
Principal
Phoebe is the Principal of Apollo School of Performing Arts. She was first introduced to the Performing world at the age of 2, when she attended classes in Imperial Society of Teachers of Dancing (ISTD) Classical Ballet, Tap Dance and Modern Theatre, and later joined Street Dance, Singing and Drama lessons too. Phoebe has performed in many solo and group festivals throughout the South East of England. She took part in the ISTD Classical Ballet Awards, Janet Cram Modern Awards and Tap Awards yearly, throughout her childhood. After 16 years at her childhood dance school, Phoebe trained at The Centre Performing Arts College for 2 years, where she gained a Diploma in Teaching Studies, as well as the Full Diploma in Dance Education (DDE) in Classical Ballet, Tap Dance and Modern Theatre and is now a Full Registered Member of the ISTD. Phoebe is a firm believer in lifelong learning and as such, is currently studying for her Diploma in Dance Pedagogy (DDP). Phoebe has taught in various dance schools in Kent, as both permanent staff and a cover teacher, teaching from age 2 to adults in all genres of Performing Arts. She is extremely excited to now be the Principal of Apollo School of Performing Arts and can’t wait to spark the passion for the Performing Arts in the ASPA pupils.
Teacher
Kezia Knights Dip
Kezia has been dancing and performing since the age of 5 in all genres of the Performing Arts, dancing, singing and Musical Theatre, after being inspired by The Marlowe Theatre Pantomime, Canterbury, in 2003. She joined the Dean Academy of Performing Arts for 10 years after taking part in their community project of The Jungle Book. At DAPA Kezia undertook weekly lessons in Ballet, Tap, Modern, Irish Dance, Musical Theatre, Street Dance, Singing lessons and audition preparation training. Following DAPA, Kezia continued her dance and performance training professionally at The Centre Performing Arts College, where she gained a Diploma in Theatre Performance and her ISTD DDE teaching qualifications in Tap Dance and Modern Theatre. Whilst training, Kezia started teaching dance in 2019 at various dance schools across Kent, teaching all styles including Cheerleading, Adult classes and Performance teams. Kezia graduated in 2020 and has since been lucky enough to begin her performing career as a professional dancer for Chessington World of Adventures and Dance Captain and Choreographer for Siblu Villages in France. Kezia is excited to be on the ASPA teaching team and can’t wait to be involved with the future of the school, supporting Miss Phoebe!
Wardrobe Manager
Frances Cooper FdA, BA(Hons), PGCE
Frances is our Principal Miss Phoebe’s lovely mum. She is here to help you make sure your child has the correct uniform they need for their classes at Apollo School of Performing Arts. She will order your uniform and ensure your child receives their uniform as soon as possible. Frances danced herself from the ages of 5 to 18 years and performed in various school shows. She is a retired Primary School Teacher, who now spends her days looking after her wonderful grandchildren and doing voluntary work. Frances has been involved in the Performing Arts world for over 30 years making, adjusting and repairing show and competition costumes for Phoebe and her older siblings.
Classes
At Apollo School of Performing Arts, we provide training in the Imperial Society of Teachers of Dancing (ISTD) syllabus for Imperial Classical Ballet, Modern Theatre and Tap Dance, which is one of the world’s leading dance syllabi. Our Principal, Miss Phoebe, is a Registered Full Member of the Society. We also provide training in Street Dance and Musical Theatre, as well as Zumba and Progressive Ballet Technique (PBT).
Classical Ballet provides a strong foundation for all other genres of dance. Our Classical Ballet classes develop our pupils' technique, whilst building physical strength and improving posture and agility in a fun and engaging manner. Our classes cognitively challenge our pupils, developing their musicality and artistry, alongside their solid classical technique and disciplined mind and body.
Apollo School of Performing Arts provide training in the Imperial Classical Ballet ISTD syllabus. We offer graded classes and the opportunity to take ISTD examinations, from Primary to Advanced levels, introducing Pointe Work at the Principal’s discretion, based on the pupils' ability and commitment. We offer Pre-Primary Ballet classes for our young pupils to prepare them for their Primary Ballet class, these classes are fun and share the love of moving to music amongst our pupils. For our youngest pupils, we have our Little Lunar classes to introduce them to the fun world of the Performing Arts.
Uniform
Our uniform is ordered and supplied, upon filling out the relevant Uniform Request Form, by our Wardrobe Manager, Frances. Our uniform is compulsory for the safety and professionalism of our ASPA pupils. If you have any queries regarding uniform, please contact Frances (uniform@apolloperformingarts.co.uk)
Little Lunars
My Name is Little Lunar
I am Apollo School of Performing Arts greatest supporter of achievement. I help Miss Phoebe award our Little Lunar who has been chosen to be the weekly Star of the Class, you might get to take me home because you were super in our class, to celebrate a special day or because you were a good listener and had fun. Our Little Lunar Superstar takes me home to spend the week with them and then brings me back to choose our next Little Lunar Superstar. I love having my photograph taken, so I can share my adventures with everyone. I love having fun, going out, having cuddles, watching films and playing with your toys! I’m not too keen on having a bath or going swimming as I don’t really like getting wet and I don’t like being left on my own with your favourite pets, but I would love to meet them, especially if I get my photo taken! Don’t forget to ask your mummy, daddy or even your grandma or grandad to take a photo of me and write about the amazing adventure we had during the week! Keep up to date with Our Little Lunar's Greatest Adventures!
Location
Fawkham Village Hall
Fawkham Village Hall is located in Fawkham Village, with a shared car park, offering allocated spaces. The village hall is a wonderful, large open space, with vinyl flooring laid, specifically for Tap Dance. There is a small foyer area where parents can drop their children off. The facility has newly decorated toilets, providing our pupils with a place to change if needed. The village hall is well-ventilated and has appropriate heating.
Fawkham Village Hall, Valley Road, DA8 8NA
Milestone Academy
Milestone Academy is located in Hartley, New Ash Green, with an on-site car park. Our classes are held in the school’s large Drama studio, which has large mirrors, theatre lighting and a perfect area of vinyl flooring, specifically for Tap Dance. This facility has large changing rooms for the pupils to change if needed, as well as the use of toilets. The Drama studio is well-ventilated and has suitable heating.
Ash Road, Hartley, DA3 8HA