A group of young girls in purple shirts and black shorts or leggings standing in a line in an indoor room, with a man in the center holding a flag with the logo 'Dance Beat' above his head. The girls are posing with hands on hips, smiling.

ABOUT dance beat

Collage of four photos featuring various groups of people at events: top left shows three women in turquoise dance costumes holding trophies, middle right shows women practicing dance routines in a studio, bottom left depicts young girls hugging and talking at a celebration or competition, bottom right displays a group of women and girls in black outfits celebrating.

meet jessica

Jessica Ward A.I.S.T.D.
Fully DBS Checked | First Aid Trained | Fully Insured

Jessica began her dance journey at the age of 4, starting with ballet. By age 6, she was eager for something more energetic and joined the Andrews School of Dance, an established ISTD school. It was there that she discovered her true passion: Disco Freestyle.

At 14, Jessica became a class helper—an early sign of the dedication and love for teaching that would shape her career. When the school was acquired by Dance-Beat, she entered a vibrant new world of competitions, team dances, shows, and additional disciplines including Rock and Roll, Ballroom, and Latin. Under the expert mentorship of Amanda and Nicola, Jessica spent years honing her technique and deepening her understanding of dance.

In 2014, she achieved a major milestone by earning her Disco Freestyle Associate Certification with the ISTD—receiving one of the highest candidate pass rates that year.

Since 2015, Jessica has led the Stevenage class on Fridays and the Welwyn Garden City classes on Saturdays. She takes immense pride in guiding her students through their medal exams, where they consistently achieve high marks. Many of her dancers have also gone on to become ISTD National Finalists and Champions in both Freestyle and Rock and Roll.

Jessica is fully DBS checked, first aid trained, and holds full teaching insurance—ensuring a safe, professional environment for every student.

Her passion for dance is infectious and unmistakable. After completing her professional dance exam, the examiner smiled and said:
"Jessica, if you were a stick of rock, you'd have 'DANCE' running through you!"

what is disco freestyle, street and rock n roll?

Disco Freestyle – A high-energy dance style full of jumps, spins and expressive moves, set to upbeat music. Perfect for building confidence and having fun while developing strength and flexibility.

Street Dance – Inspired by hip-hop and urban culture, street dance is dynamic, creative and great for self-expression. Kids and teens learn cool routines with plenty of attitude and style.

Rock ’n’ Roll – A lively partner dance with fast footwork, twists and turns to classic rock ’n’ roll beats. Fun, social and energetic, it’s a brilliant way to keep active while learning rhythm and teamwork.

dance examinations

Dance beat is an exam focused school, we proudly offer examinations through the imperial society of teaching of dancing (istd). we activiely encourage all children and teens to take part in exams when they feel ready, helping them build confidence, discipline and a strong sense of achievement.

we hold exams twice a year in disco freestyle and rock n roll providing clear goals and a structured path for progression in each dancers journey.

Three young girls in dance outfits standing in a line with hands on hips, on a wooden floor in a dance studio.

dance competitions

Two young women in matching bright pink dresses, holding awards, standing on a winners' podium at a dance competition.

Competitions are great for dancers who want to take their passion of dance to the next level, we provide opportunities to participate in compeitions. these events not only build performance skills and resilience but also promote teamwork, disapline and sportsmanship

shows & local Performances

we host an exciting end-of-year showcase and take part in local school and seasonal events. all students are encouraged to join in and experience the thrill of performing - its a highlight of the year for everyone involved.

Collage of four photos featuring groups of children and young girls. Top left shows girls outside a Smyths toy store. Top right depicts girls in black and white T-shirts outdoors on a grassy field. Bottom left shows young girls lying on the floor, smiling and resting their chins on their hands during an indoor activity. Bottom right features girls in black T-shirts standing in an indoor event, smiling and posing for a group photo.
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