The Academy of Professional Physical Arts
About APPA-NI
Balancing amalgamated techniques and artistry with educational needs, APPA-NI's instructors, working within purpose-built training facilities, provide a positive and unique learning environment for students of all ages and abilities.
Who we are
A specialist physical arts centre in Castlereagh, Belfast
The Academy of Professional Physical Arts (APPA-NI) is a specialist performing arts centre based in Castlereagh, Belfast, Northern Ireland. We deliver combined physical arts training across Ballet, Jazz Dance, Contemporary Dance, Song & Dance, Aerial Arts, Rhythmic Gymnastics and Acrobatic Tumbling.
Our mission is to offer opportunities for excellence and inspired instruction. Alongside the training itself, we run community outreach initiatives so that the centre stays accessible to a wide range of people, from pre-school children through to adults, and to those with additional needs.
The Academy was awarded Small Business of the Month through the Funding for Lending Scheme, a commitment that helped create 12 jobs.
Our disciplines
One centre, many physical arts
Dance
Ballet, Jazz Dance, Contemporary Dance and Song & Dance, with classes for pre-school, youth and adults.
Aerial Arts
Silks, ropes, extended trapeze and hoop lyra practised in our dedicated aerial space.
Rhythmic Gymnastics
Technique, artistry and performance standards on a continental high-performance rhythmic floor.
Acrobatic Tumbling
Strength, flexibility and tumbling progression in a safe, professional environment.
Leadership
Our Leadership Team
Elaine Bailie
Leadership Team
Part of the leadership team guiding APPA-NI's teaching programmes and standards across the centre.
Sarah Durrant
Leadership Team
Part of the leadership team supporting the Academy's work with students of all ages and abilities.
The Academy of Professional Physical Arts in Castlereagh, Belfast, is a specialist centre for ballet, jazz dance, contemporary dance, aerial arts, rhythmic gymnastics and acrobatic tumbling. By bringing these disciplines together within one training environment, APPA-NI offers students the chance to explore different forms of physical performance while building a strong foundation of technique, coordination and artistry. The emphasis is on combining movement disciplines with educational needs, creating a structured yet encouraging pathway for learners who wish to develop their skills across multiple forms of dance and gymnastics.
APPA-NI's learning environment is designed to be positive, welcoming and appropriate for students of all ages and abilities, including children, young people, adults and participants with disabilities. The centre's instructors work within purpose-built facilities, allowing disciplined training to take place in settings created with movement, safety and progression in mind. This specialist approach reflects a broader commitment to accessible physical arts education, where each learner can find opportunities suited to their experience, confidence and ambitions while engaging with a varied programme of classes and training.
Training at APPA-NI links the technical demands of ballet, jazz, aerial work, rhythmic gymnastics and tumbling with the creative qualities of performance. Students are encouraged to develop balance, strength, flexibility, musicality and expressive movement, gaining a wider understanding of the physical arts through combined disciplines and shared performance experiences. For families considering dance or gymnastics classes in Northern Ireland, the centre presents a distinctive option that values both careful instruction and imaginative exploration, supporting learners as they progress and pursue opportunities within the arts.
Our Patron
Charlotte Broom
Charlotte Broom is the patron of the Academy, supporting the centre's work in physical arts training and community outreach.
Join us
Everyone is welcome
Whether you are a novice or a serious performer, APPA-NI welcomes students of all ages and abilities. You can read more about our purpose-built studios, then get in touch with the team in Castlereagh.
Join APPA-NI
Registration is completed online and our staff will contact you after submission.