Altrincham’s Premier Dance School

The ethos of Cardwell Theatre School, Altrincham is to maintain a happy environment where children can develop their creativity and a love of dance whilst allowing them to achieve their full potential. We accept boys and girls as students from age 2½ to adult. There is a class for everyone from beginner to advanced level as well as vocational training.

Cardwell Theatre School has excellent results for both IDTA and RAD examinations.
Pupils regularly appear in pantomime and professional shows, the most recent being Aladdin at the Manchester Opera House, Dick Whittington and Annie at the Garrick Altrincham and Oliver at Sale Waterside
Former students have performed with English National Ballet, The Royal Ballet Flanders, Univeral Studios and Disneyland. Also in West End and touring production of Wicked, Flashdance, Once, 42nd Street, We Will Rock You, Seven Brides for Seven Brothers, Shrek The Musical Uk Tour, Billy Elliot, Joseph and the Technicolor Dreamcoat and Sunny Afternoon. Also with several major cruise companies and in cabaret around the U.K.

Principal Sophie Robinson began her training at the age of 4 with Lynda Cardwell (IDTA Examiner) at Cardwell Theatre School (Then named Sharples Cardwell Theatre School).

At the age of 14 she started assisting teaching in the lower school classes at the Cardwell Theatre School and at the age of sixteen took her first teaching exam for the IDTA. Now she holds IDTA Fellowship’s in all subjects and also her diploma in Gymnastics dance. In 2019 Sophie won the IDTA John Knight Award for Modern Jazz, a prestigious award given for the highest mark in Fellowship Modern that year.

After Cardwell Theatre School she continued her professional training at Phil Winston’s Theatre Works in Blackpool where she studied a vocational course in Dance and Musical Theatre. Since graduating she worked as a singer and dancer for Warner Leisure Hotels.

In 2014 Lynda Cardwell welcomed Sophie back to teach and be a Junior Partner within the School and in September 2020 Miss Lynda stepped down as principal and happily passed on the role to Sophie, however we is delighted that Lynda is still actively involved in the school.