About Us – Welcome to JA Performing Arts, Clacton-on-Sea

Hello and a big warm welcome!

We’re Claire & Gemma, sisters, Clacton locals, and the proud owners of JA Performing Arts, a family-run dance and performing arts school in Clacton-on-Sea.

JA has been part of our family for as long as we can remember. Our mum, Jackie, founded the school in 1988, and we grew up in the studios – dancing, helping on Saturday mornings, and watching JA become an important part of the local community.
In 2015, we were honoured to take over the school, and 1n 2025 we celebrated 10 amazing years of continuing the family tradition, offering high-quality dance classes in Clacton-on-Sea for children and adults.

JA is more than just a dance school in Clacton – it’s a place where children feel safe, welcomed, encouraged and inspired. We are proud to provide a friendly, family-oriented environment where every child can flourish, grow in confidence, and discover the joy of performing arts.

Claire

Claire is usually your first point of contact – handling messages, calls and emails with warmth, clarity, and more organisation than we can put into words! With many years of experience as a PA and legal assistant, she brings efficiency, attention to detail, and a friendly, calm approach to everything she does.

Behind the scenes, Claire runs all aspects of JA’s operations – from organising shows, showcases and exams, to managing enrolments, marketing, emails and everything office-related. She ensures that every dance class in Clacton-on-Sea runs smoothly and that students and parents always have the best possible experience.

Gemma – Head of Teaching

Gemma leads our teaching team with a wealth of performing and teaching experience. She has taught at JA for as long as she can remember, and brings passion, skill, and heart to every single performing arts class in Clacton. Gemma loves nurturing each student’s potential, helping them gain confidence, enjoy performing, and reach their personal goals.

Our Teaching Team

We carefully select teachers not only for their experience and qualifications but because they want to be part of a real family, not just hold a job. Every teacher brings kindness, professionalism, and a genuine passion for helping children thrive in our Clacton dance school.

Jackie – Our Mum
Our mum, Miss Jackie, although now retired, still guest teaches Adult Ballet, Pointe Work and Adult Jazz. She remains a much-loved part of the JA family, and her influence is felt in every class and performance.

What We Offer

We provide specialist dance classes in Clacton-on-Sea for boys and girls from 2.5 years upwards in:

Ballet, Tap, Jazz, Modern, Drama, Hip Hop/Street, Musical Theatre & Acro.

From our tiniest toddlers taking their first steps to seniors preparing for college auditions, we ensure every student is treated with respect, nurtured with care, and encouraged to become the performer – and person – they were meant to be.

Many of our students go on to vocational training at top colleges such as:

Arts Ed, The Midlands Academy of Dance & Drama, and Laine Theatre Arts.

But equally, if your child simply wants to dance for fun, friendship and confidence, that’s perfect too.

All students are offered opportunities to perform and can take ISTD examinations in their chosen styles. We also offer popular Adult Tap, Adult Ballet and Adult Jazz classes in Clacton-on-Sea.
And all of this takes place in our purpose-built studios in Clacton, designed to give families the very best dance experience.

✅ We also offer FREE trial classes in all styles and ages – a perfect way for your child to try JA risk-free! You can book your free trial here: Book a Free Class

You Are Welcome Here

It’s incredibly important to us that your experience is positive from the very first enquiry. We want you and your child to feel heard, supported, and genuinely excited to be part of our JA family.

If you have any questions at all, Claire is always here and happy to help. Pop us a message – we’d love to chat.

We can’t wait to welcome you to JA Performing Arts, your local dance and performing arts school in Clacton-on-Sea.

Claire & Gemma x