The Gielgud Academy is a performing arts school based in Sussex for children age 3-18. We offer professional performing arts training in all dance disciplines and theatre arts with qualified teachers who are all former professional performers, ranging from Royal Ballet Principals to West End choreographers.We are blessed with male teachers for the boys to inspire a new generation of Billy Elliots.
We discover and nurture talent and are proud of our affiliationwith Gielgud Management-one of the UK's leading talent agencies which ensures that professional West End Theatre, Film and TV work opportunities are brought to the GAPA pupils through it's very own children's book - GAPA Management. The pupils also benefit from GAPA's affiliation to Gielgud Films - an award winning film production company that specialises in filming dance and the arts.
We teach children Ballet (RAD and ISTD), Modern, Tap (ISTD), Jazz, Singing (ABRSM), Drama and Musical Theatre (LAMDA) to boys and girls aged 3-18. We also offer private coaching in ballet, singing and drama.
Classes are held at The Hub, Haywards Heath, Sussex and in the Performing Arts Studio at Great Walstead School, Lindfield, Sussex.
View timetablePlease contact us for pricing details for your chosen classes.
We've been going to Gielgud Academy of Performing Arts for a year now and are thrilled with it. The facililites are fabulous as on a Saturday the school has the full use of the college, including the dance studios. The quality of the teachers must be mentioned - not only are they extremely professional, and all fully qualified, but also have experience with in the business which is invaluable. What is particularly helpful now is the GAPA team chaperones children to and from classes. My children have commented on how, at a previous school the teachers may start the class with a bit of chat, whereas at Gielgud all the teachers work the children for the full hour
My son has been attending Gielgud Academy of Performing Arts studying dance, mainly ballet, for about a year now . We are very pleased with the level of teaching that he receives and would have no hesitation in recommending it. The school is set up in a very professional manner, with excellent teachers and run in a sensible and methodical way - the lessons are well structured, and the pupils know what they should be doing and what is expected of them. My son loves it there.
I thought by paying more for this school, I'd expect it to be better than other ballet schools. In terms of the quality of the teacher, it's average, same as other ballet schools. On top of the fee (which is already expensive), be prepared to pay for overpriced extra things, such as uniform, shoes, let alone with the show performances. I don't mind paying expensive things if it's worth it, and this isn't worth it at all!
I was so disappointed with the last show (2015), which was a total chaos. We wasted money and time. The rehearsal was 2 hours late, and run over the next day. I paid for the overpriced costume, which I didn't even have in the end, as they didn't gave me the costume after the show. My daughter didn't even have a chance to try the dress on right until the show, as they didn't bring the dresses on the dress rehearsal. Why even bother calling it a DRESS rehearsal without the dress??? it's unbelievable! Each costume costs around £25, which was worn only for 5 minutes (my daughter said the dress was so uncomfortable! in a way lucky it's only for 5 minutes), and they expect volunteers to iron the costumes!! If they charge a higher price, at least give a proper service, not relying on volunteers (which are paying parents!) to do everything, including organising the show.
The show itself wasn't great. There were technical problems, dance movements were all the same/similar. I won't recommend this school at all. There are other better ballet schools in the area.
A smart outwardly impressive school.
Sadly didn't live up to expectations.
Large class sizes with little chance to watch progress. Limited feedback.
When I raised concerns, these were dismissed and ignored. I found this quite rude.
Very disappointed.
Simply add a password and you are good to go!
Suzanne Gielgud (Dobson) trained at the Bush Davies School and the Royal Ballet Upper School after which she enjoyed a career as a professional ballet dancer with the Wiener Ballet Theatre, the Vienna Festival and Ballet Sopiane - National Ballet of Pecs in Hungary.
Her repertoire included ; Sleeping Beauty (The Lilac Fairy and Carabosse), Swan Lake (Neopolitan Princess, Big Swans), The Nutcracker (Snow Pas de deux, Spanish, Arabian), Coppelia (Corps de ballet) and Giselle (Willis).
In 1997, along with choreographer Piers Gielgud, she founded Re.Animator Management – which soon became the leading agency for professional dancers in the UK. They have since renamed it Gielgud Management and specialise in providing artists for West End musicals and tours as well as Film and TV.
In 1998 she married Piers Gielgud and they now have two daughters - Violet and Scarlett.
In 2003 Suzanne established Gielgud Films and her first documentary was entitled ‘Dancing for Oliver’ which featured an exclusive interview with Oliver Stone and told the story of Piers’ choreographic work on the Hollywood movie ‘Alexander’. It was screened at several film festivals worldwide including the Raindance Film Festival in London and the Marbella Film Festival where it won the Best Documentary Award 2006.
Suzanne's has produced films of the Mikhailovsky Ballet, Rambert School, English National Ballet School, Great Walstead School and Opera Brava, In 2010 she made ‘Bush Davies School – the Final Curtain – a documentary film about the renowned school of which she was a pupil, which sadly closed in 1989. Inspired by the achievements of Bush Davies School she decided to create a new professional dance school in Sussex - the Gielgud Academy of Performing Arts.
Suzanne is a member of the Imperial Society of Teachers of Dancing and is currently working on the ISTD Diploma for Dance Instruction at the Chichester Dance Studios.
I can wholeheartedly recommend the Gielgud Academy of Performing Arts. My daughter enjoys a variety of classes there; ballet, modern, tap, jazz, contemporary, musical theatre, drama and pilates . Other classes are also available. All the teachers are extremely dedicated, many having successful careers in dance and the performing arts so they are able to impart their extensive knowledge to their pupils. The management of the school is very professional, they have a great faculty, renowned patrons and a vast knowledge to enable them to get the best out of each dancer and performer. Please look at their fantastic website for more information about this amazing school.
Jane 13 Sep 2013