Business Details
34 Years
experience
Your Trusted Dance School in Sheffield
Ecco Theatre Arts was founded in 1992 by Amanda Horne, a professional dancer with extensive competitive and teaching experience. Our studio specialises in ballet, tap, freestyle, street dance, and performing arts education for children from age 2 and adults. We provide structured training through IDTA examinations, competitive opportunities via ADFP events, and performance experiences in professional theatres across Sheffield, Rotherham, and Chesterfield. Our team of fully qualified, DBS-checked instructors has trained multiple scholarship recipients and industry professionals, with many students progressing to prestigious institutions like Italia Conti and Northern School of Contemporary Dance.We prioritise individual development, offering tailored classes that build confidence, discipline, and artistic expression in a welcoming environment. Our bi-annual dance shows and community performances showcase student achievements while fostering teamwork and creativity.
Services
Ballet
Tap
Street Dance
Performing Arts
Freestyle
Contemporary
Acro
Theatre Craft
Rock n Roll
Studio Hire
Details
- Year established: 1992
Highlights and features
- We have over 30 years of experience training award-winning dancers and industry professionals.
- Our fully qualified, DBS-checked instructors specialise in diverse dance styles and performance techniques.
- We offer IDTA examinations and ADFP competitive opportunities for structured progression.
- Our students regularly perform in professional theatres across Sheffield and surrounding regions.
- We prioritise individual development in a safe, inclusive environment that builds confidence.
Associations and certifications
- IDTA
- ADFP
What people say
Excellent fully qualified teachers
Safe, secure and skilled environment
Guaranteed to make friends for life
Incredibly talented teachers
Best dance school around
Services
Ballet
Our ballet classes develop elegance, strength, and posture through traditional techniques. Students learn graceful movements and choreography while building foundational skills applicable to other dance styles. Regular performances and IDTA examinations provide structured progression opportunities for all ages and abilities.
Street Dance
Street dance classes focus on hip-hop culture and contemporary urban styles. Students master ground-based movements, body isolation, and syncopated rhythms in a high-energy environment. Classes incorporate current trends and freestyle elements to encourage individual expression and creativity.
Performing Arts
Our performing arts sessions combine dance, drama, and singing with technical theatre skills. Students develop stagecraft knowledge, audition techniques, and collaborative performance abilities. Regular showcases and professional production opportunities build confidence and stage presence for aspiring performers.
Freestyle Dance
Freestyle dance training prepares students for ADFP competitions and solo performances. Classes focus on technical precision, choreography creation, and performance quality. Our award-winning instructors have trained multiple championship winners and IDTA scholarship recipients through structured competition preparation programs.
Studio Hire
Our professional dance studio offers flexible hire options for external groups and individuals. The space features sprung flooring, mirrors, and sound equipment suitable for rehearsals, workshops, and community events. Competitive hourly rates start from 15 with availability outside regular class hours.
People
Amanda Horne
Principal
Amanda founded Ecco Theatre Arts in 1992 after training at the Laban Centre. She holds teaching qualifications in multiple dance styles and has grown the school from one class to a full-time studio operation.
Helen Tomlinson
Dance Teacher
Helen teaches commercial and freestyle classes while running adult dance fitness programs. She qualified as a dance teacher in 2010 and adjudicates competitions nationally while managing her degree in Arts Management.
Rebecca Gadsby
Dance Teacher
Rebecca specialises in freestyle and rock n roll instruction. She trained at Ecco before qualifying with IDTA in 2008, bringing championship experience to her engaging, student-focused teaching approach.
Carly Winter
Dance Teacher
Carly teaches contemporary and freestyle classes with professional performance experience. She graduated from Chester University in 2009 and develops community dance programs while maintaining her own dance fitness initiatives.
Harriet Stanley
Dance Teacher
Harriet instructs competition crews with championship credentials. She completed her CertHE in Contemporary Dance in 2020 and holds IDTA freestyle qualifications while mentoring young dancers in competitive environments.
Questions
What dance styles do you offer?
We teach ballet, tap, freestyle, street dance, contemporary, theatre craft, rock n roll, acro, and musical theatre classes for ages 2+.
Do you offer performance opportunities?
Yes, we provide bi-annual dance shows, annual performing arts productions, and professional theatre auditions for students.
Are your teachers qualified?
All instructors hold IDTA teaching qualifications and DBS checks, with many having professional performance and competition backgrounds.
Can adults join classes?
Yes, we offer adult tap/jazz classes and welcome mature students to our open ballet and contemporary sessions.
Do you prepare students for exams?
We offer IDTA examinations in dance and performing arts, with structured training programs for all grade levels.
Is studio hire available?
Yes, our professional dance studio is available for hire at £15-£18 per hour outside regular class times.
