The School

Pointe Works is run by Nicolle Higgins and was set up in 2009. Nicolle trained with the Royal Academy of Dance and is one of their Registered Teachers. Nicolle is also a Royal Ballet Affiliate Teacher.

This means your child can take part in both The Royal Ballet Affiliate Training and Assessment Programme and Royal Academy Ballet Exams at the Jessie Hughes Village Hall in Eaton near Tarporley. Both of these routes provide an excellent focus to your children's ballet lessons and reward hard work. Pointe Works also offers Level 1 Contemporary Dance Training with Rambert Grades.

Our Ethos

Pointe Works believes in the value of dance and sharing this with young people. Attending ballet classes should enhance students’ lives by providing an outlet for their creativity. It should be therapeutic and bring joy.

Taking part in dance classes should represent a positive social engagement for young people and adults, boosting self-confidence and nurturing self-esteem.

To provide a holistic learning experience relevant to the child of today.

Why Choose Pointe Works?

• Regular opportunities to watch classes to see your child's progress at the end of each term.

• Your child can take part in The Royal Ballet School’s Affiliate Training and Assessment Programme which is driving forward the standard of recreational dance training.

• Opportunity to take part in Royal Academy of Dance Exams and Assessments

• Pointe Works also offers Contemporary Dance Training through Rambert Grades.

• Great venue - the Jessie Hughes is warm, clean and has a sprung floor essential for dance training.

• Nicolle is committed to Continuing Professional Development, attending regular teaching courses. You know your child is being taught in the best and safest way possible.

• Strict limits on class sizes - plenty of one to one guidance and support for your child.

• Classes split into academic years - your child can develop socially & make friends at dance school.

• Strong foundations built at pre-school level - develops your child's self confidence, creativity, improves their balance, muscle tone which reduces the amount of bumps & falls.

Core Values

• Student Focussed - the student is at the heart of everything we do and their training and welfare are the basis of all decisions.

• Striving for Excellence - we bring integrity, passion and dedication to our teaching practice.

• Nurturing Individuals - we are respectful of our dancers as artists and as individual intelligent human-beings.

• Faithful to our core mission - providing students with the best possible all-round dance education and in doing so opening up their opportunities beyond ballet.

• Actively widening Access - Fair treatment and opportunity for all : EDI is embedded within all operational activity and teaching.

• Always innovating - we are bold and forward thinking, committed to creative thinking.

Our Promise to You

• A supportive learning environment, respectful of individual differences.

• High quality dance tuition using a range of teaching strategies to meet students’ individual learning needs. 

• Delivery of appropriate and challenging dance activities safely and effectively.

• Up to date knowledge of dance teaching techniques to impart excellent curriculum knowledge.

• To keep class sizes small with a maximum of 12 students.

• To commit to continuing professional development to enhance teaching skills.

• To work closely with parents to tackle any areas of difficulty.

What underpins the teaching at Pointe Works? 

• Sensitive and effective communication with parents and students.

• Treating students with dignity and consistency, ensuring good relations are maintained.

• Assisting students to achieve their personal best, whatever that may be.

• Sound professional practice, knowledge of the legal frameworks, codes of practice for teaching children and statutory responsibilities surrounding dance teaching.

• Continual evaluation of practices and skills to ensure the highest quality teaching is maintained. 

• Commitment to continuing professional development.

Nicolle Higgins

Owner and founder of Pointe Works, Nicolle Higgins, attended her first ballet class in 1975 at the Lorna Timms Theatre Arts School in Camberley Surrey, taking her first exam with the Royal Academy of Dance (RAD) in 1980. On completing her RAD Grades, she attained a Bachelor of Arts Honours Degree in Psychology, spending a year focussing on Child Development.

She continued her dance training along side a demanding career in Commercial Property until 2007 when a life-long dream to teach ballet as a full time career was realised when she was offered a place on the Royal Academy of Dance Teacher Training course in Ballet Teaching Studies.

Having successfully completed her training in 2009, Nicolle is now a registered teacher with the Royal Academy enabling children at Pointe Works to enter examinations to gain certifications from the Academy.

In February 2022 Nicolle successfully applied and began training with The Royal Ballet School on their groundbreaking Affiliate Training and Assessment Programme. In January 2023, Nicolle was awarded Affiliate Teacher Status in the category ‘Exceeding Standards’. Nicolle is excited to have the opportunity to bring The Royal Ballet School ethos and expertise to all her students.

Nicolle has recently qualified with Rambert to teach their Contemporary Grades Syllabi at Level 1.

Nicolle is passionate about teaching dance in the community and is committed to providing the highest possible quality tuition at every level. Her in depth knowledge of Child Development enables her to develop students’ creative potential with appropriate learning activities at every stage.