More than just a dance class…
...It's A Culture
...It's A Culture
The reason 4D exists is because we wanted to do things differently.
Our founder & Creative Director, Sara Ford grew up dancing and loved it… but she saw too many young people lose that love along the way. She wanted to build a place where the training would be genuinely brilliant, where teachers cared as much about the person as the performer, and where every child would walk into the room feeling like they belonged.
So in 2014, she started 4D.
Twelve years on, we teach hundreds of students a week across eight venues in Cambridgeshire and Suffolk, from tiny tots in tutus to adults finding their groove again. What began as one class is now a small team of dedicated teachers, a busy office, a beloved biennial festival (4DFEST), and — most importantly — a community.
The 4D Method
We take teaching seriously — the kind of serious that means every one of our teachers is invested in, developed, and expected to keep growing.
Each teacher gets a termly training allowance so they can keep learning from the best in the industry, whether that's specialist workshops, teacher training courses, or classes in their chosen discipline.
On top of that, we run internal Teacher Development sessions every term where the whole team comes together to share what's working in class, workshop new ideas, and learn from each other. It's how we keep our teaching sharp, fresh, and consistent — and it's one of our favourite things we do.
The result: high-quality dance training delivered by people who love what they do, in an environment where students are trusted, respected, and pushed to be the best version of themselves. Without the ego, the shouting, or the pressure that's still far too common elsewhere.
We are a not-for-profit organisation🕺
In September 2024, 4D became a Community Interest Company (CIC) — a legal structure specifically for businesses that exist to serve their community. This is how 4D had been running since it’s inception in 2014, so we thought it was time to make it official!
We think dance should be for everyone. Being a CIC is how we make sure it can be.
What that means in practice:
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We pay fair salaries to our team for the work they do, and any surplus goes straight back into 4D — into our teachers, our students, our venues, and our community work.
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Accessibility for families who want their child to dance but can't easily afford it. No hoops to jump through, no shame attached.
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Training opportunities at our Spring and Summer intensives for young people who wouldn't otherwise access that kind of training.
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All through the year, we perform at events like Ely Eel Day, Aquafest, Mill Road Winter Fair, and local school fetes — because being part of the community means showing up for it.
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We ensure standards are kept high so the quality of what your child (or you!) receives keeps getting better every term.
The 4D Culture
We strive to keep the love of dance and performance alive in our students. We pride ourselves on the welcoming and friendly atmosphere that is maintained in each and every one of our classes.
Not only do students learn new skills in dance and performance they also learn valuable life skills like kindness, humility, compassion and confidence. We take huge responsibility for the children we teach and ensure they all look out for one another.At 4D we also work largely on growing the student's own creativity. We believe this is a vital part of a child's development, using their imagination and expressing themselves through performance.
We often work on choreographing their own pieces either solo or in a group to perform to the class. This helps us as teachers really get to know each student's individuality as well as improving their confidence and allowing peer-to-peer feedback.At 4d we expect our students to:
consistently try your best.
be kind, be confident and always be you.
respect all teaching staff.
treat all other pupils as you would wish to be treated yourself.
always come to class with a positive attitude.
always ask for help if you need it.