Please enquire today for a fast and friendly reply about our classes, timetable, and uniform requirements.

Meet Oonagh Phelan

Founder, Principal & Ballet Teacher

Oonagh founded Bourn to Dance in 2014, and teaches all ballet classes herself.

Ballet has always been part of Oonagh’s life. Her childhood was filled with ballet classes, exams and performances, as her mother ran a ballet school too! She found a love of theatre through her dance training, and did a BA (Hons) in French and Drama. Oonagh then worked for many years in book publishing in London, for publishers such as Bloombury, Penguin, DK, Walker Books and Kingfisher. She also studied and taught stage combat for ten years – choreographing fights for the stage!

Throughout this time, Oonagh went to ballet classes regularly, and having taught some classes at her mother’s school, she studied to become a ballet teacher with the ISTD. Oonagh opened her first ballet school in Islington, north London in 1997. When she was pregnant with her first daughter in 2007, Oonagh sold her dance school, and moved to Cambridgeshire. She had a second daughter, and then opened Bourn to Dance in 2014.

Classical Ballet and Contemporary Dance

High quality tuition in classical ballet and contemporary dance in central Cambridge and the villages to the west of the city, for boys and girls ages 4 to teenage. We also offer adult ballet classes.

Venues

Comberton Village Hall, Green End, Comberton CB23 7DY
St Mark’s Community Centre, Newnham, Cambridge CB3 9JZ
Meadows Community Centre, 299 Arbury Road, Cambridge CB4 2JL
Newnham Scout Hut, Chedworth Street, Cambridge CB3 9JF

To see what classes are run at which venue, see our full timetable.

Classes for Every Age and Ability

Training with Care, Dancing with Confidence

Ballet Classes for Kids in Cambridge

Beautifully structured ballet training for children aged 4+, following ISTD Imperial Ballet syllabus. Great progression from beginner to advanced levels.

Contemporary Dance Classes in Cambridge

Contemporary dance for ages 10-13 and 14-18, building strength, flexibility, creativity and self expression

Adult Ballet Classes in Cambridge

Enjoyable classes for adults of all levels - perfect whether you’re rediscovering ballet or starting as a beginner.

Term Dates

Summer Term 2026

Last classes of this term will be the week of Monday 6th to Saturday 11th July. Parents are invited to watch the last classes of term. We will be performing at the Abbotsley Fete, PE19 6UJ, as we have in previous years, on the afternoon of 11th July. Parents will be contacted about this in early June.

Autumn Term 2026

Begins on Saturday 5th September, and ends on Saturday 12th December. There will be no classes over half term: 26th to 31st October.

Join our Cambridge ballet and contemporary dance classes – try a taster class or sign up for a full term today.

 

What families and adult dancers in Cambridge say about our classes:

Bourn to Dance place picture
4.9
Based on 30 reviews
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Alex Harvey profile picture
Alex Harvey
4 days ago
My daughter absolutely loves the ballet lessons and has made lots of friends. The classes are very well taught with high standards but the staff also clearly care deeply for the kids. And Oonagh is a force of nature and wonderful.
Joining Oonagh’s adult ballet class after growing up dancing and then taking a ten year break has been an absolute pleasure. Oonagh is an excellent teacher and the classes are a perfect mix of technique and enjoyment.

I also thoroughly enjoyed watching the Bourn to Dance show in May - the standard of Oonagh’s teaching was clear to see across all of the pupils, as well as their joy and love for dance!
Emma Hopkins profile picture
Emma Hopkins
6 days ago
Leane Rivers profile picture
Leane Rivers
6 months ago
Our daughter takes the Contemporary class on Thursday evenings at Bourn to Dance. We are so thrilled with her progress and she really enjoys coming to class. Jenna, her teacher is absolutely fantastic and a credit to a wonderful dance school.
Rebecca Stone profile picture
Rebecca Stone
6 months ago
I’ve taken a couple of different adult ballet classes over the years, and Oonagh’s are by far my favourite. The class size is small enough that she can provide consistent personal feedback. She doesn't just offer encouragement; she gives clear, actionable guidance on how to improve technique. I find the classes incredibly grounding, and I always leave feeling positive and refreshed. It’s the perfect way to reset both body and mind!
Tina D profile picture
Tina D
6 months ago
I had been looking for a beginner's adult class for a while - I had wanted to learn for a long time, and tried a class elsewhere which threw me straight in with stage 5 dancers and then did not correct anything I was doing, making me feel totally lost. Oonagh is great, she is pretty demanding and pays attention to detail, making sure we get it right, and i feel I am learning a lot and progressing.

She teaches my daughter as well (who is progressing much quicker than me of course) and it's great to practice together at home!
Victoria Grebe profile picture
Victoria Grebe
1 year ago
Bourn to Dance is a simply fantastic ballet school. Oonagh has taken on my daughter at a relatively late age, but has really poured herself into her and she is now preparing to sit her first exam. I am really impressed by the balance Oonagh strikes between progress and technique, enjoyment, fitness and focus. I can really see how my daughter is progressing and gaining confidence in her own ballet and body, to the extent that her siblings are now desperate to start ballet too. I would recommend Bourn to Dance to any prospective family.
Heather Ashmore profile picture
Heather Ashmore
2 years ago
Fantastic dance school, would highly recommend to any dance loving child!

Oonagh teaches both my son (age 8) and daughter (age 5) ballet, and they both love it. The variety and experiences they have had being part of this dance school is fantastic. For example, they get to take part in official gradings, performing in a high quality show (with costumes!!) held at the Cambridge junction and other local events promoting the benefits and joys of dance.

I've seen their confidence grow leaps and bounds being part of Bourn to Dance, especially my daughter who was initially very shy performing in front of others.

Thank you Oonagh and all at Bourn to Dance!!

Get In Touch

If you have any general questions or need help and information about the timetable, our uniform for each class or about any of the classes we do, simply send us a message or call Oonagh on 07966 141 213.

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