Didcot classes moved to Abingdon Studio

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Due to the decision by Didcot Girls School to not allow external bookings on their premises for the remainder of this year we are moving all our Studio Classes to Abingdon.

To accommodate this we have had to make changes to our timetable. Please click here to see the latest timetable (which will last until the end of this term).

All students who are under the age of 18 and still at school can attend our classes in-person. Those over 18 may attend via Zoom.

Remember, we also have our unique ‘on demand’ classes which any of our subscribers  can access via our Membership site.

If you have any questions, please email us on info@downland-dance.co.uk

Thank you for your continued support.

Classes with Adam, our Artistic Director

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We’re delighted to announce that Adam Harris, our Artistic Director and professional ballet dancer, is delivering virtual classes on Friday 22nd and Friday 29th May 2020.

Adam quickly responded to the lockdown by moving all Downland Dance’s ballet classes online and he has been observing our virtual classes these past few months from his home in Zagreb. As Adam says, “It has given me a wonderful opportunity to get to know our students better, and I’m so proud of the talent and enthusiasm that I’ve seen across our student base.”

Before he returns to dancing full-time with the Croatian National Theatre, Adam would like to offer Downland Dance students the chance to get to know him a little better by offering to teach two classes this week and next.

Fridays 22nd and 29th May 2020:
Juniors (ages 12* – 15) : 5.30pm – 6.20pm
Seniors (ages 16+) : 6.30pm – 7.30pm

These classes are FREE to any student of Downland Dance and are an exciting addition to our timetable of open ballet classes, RAD graded classes, Masterclass with principal ballet dancer Iva Vitić Gameiro and weekly yoga sessions.

This is a fantastic opportunity to receive tuition from a professional dancer and experienced teacher and everyone will benefit from his friendly and encouraging style.

If you’d like to come along, please just sign into Zoom using our usual Meeting ID and password. There is no need to pre-register.  If you are attending one of our classes for the first time, or if you have any queries, please email info@downland-dance.co.uk.

Virtual Yoga Classes Now Available!

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We are delighted to be introducing yoga classes into our weekly schedule of virtual classes up until 31st May. The classes will run on Tuesday evenings, at the times listed below:

5.30pm – 6.20pm: Juniors (12 – 15 years old)
6.40pm – 7.30pm: Seniors (16+ years old).

The classes will both be of a beginner standard to start with, and we will adjust and adapt as we go along if needed. We are very lucky to be welcoming Tara Todic Curk to our teaching staff to lead these classes.

About Tara

Born in Slovenia, Tara began her ballet education at the Slovenian National Ballet Conservatory. She continued her training under Masha Mukhamedov and Luka Žiher for three years, before finishing at the Joffrey Ballet School in America. In 2017, Tara joined the Serbian National Ballet, where she danced in many classical ballets including Swan Lake, Sleeping Beauty and The Nutcracker, performing in multiple theatres across Europe.

Tara is a Certified Yoga instructor and is currently at University studying physiotherapy.

She is looking forward to sharing her knowledge and experience with all her students.

What is the benefit?

Yoga offers ballet dancers the valuable opportunity to gain a greater understanding of their bodies, and is used by professional dancers worldwide to help them refine their strength, balance and flexibility.

Tara has put a few of her own words together so that she could introduce herself and let you know what to expect:

“Hello! My name is Tara Todic Curk and I’m a former ballerina with Serbian National Ballet and a Certified yoga instructor. 

I’m grateful that I will be able teach you beginners yoga. 

Classes are open for everyone with our without previous experience who wants to find more stillness, harmony and connection with yourself. 

We have divided classes into Juniors (12-15) and Seniors (16+). 

Both classes will be structured in the same way where we will start with some grounding exercises, moving into more active asanas where we will engage the whole body and then finish off with some stretching and relaxation at the end. 

I will explain, demonstrate and lead you through all asanas so you don’t need to worry. Also I will be giving corrections in order to prevent any injuries. 

Hopefully after the class you should feel more relaxed, more calm, less tense and more aware of yourself. 

All you need for the class is a yoga or any kind of mat, comfortable clothes and if possible a peaceful place. 

Hope to see you in class,
Tara”

We are incredibly excited to be able to offer yoga classes, and we believe them to be of HUGE benefit to dancers at every level. Students already enrolled in our virtual classes programme can join in by using the same Zoom login details as our other classes – no further fee applies! If you are not already enrolled into our online classes, and would like to take part, please contact info@downland-dance.co.uk

We hope to see you there!

Free Virtual Classes this Easter!

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FREE Virtual Classes this Easter!

Like many dance schools around the world, Downland Dance have had to close our studio doors in light of the current pandemic, and find other ways to share the joy of dance with our students. We’ve been so pleased with the response we’ve had from our school community, so after the success of our first two weeks of virtual ballet classes, we are delighted to be extending our classes into the Easter Holidays.

We know that these are uncertain times for everyone, and that many people have genuine concerns about job security and meeting their expenses. We still want our students to enjoy the many benefits that they get from our classes though, which is why we are offering classes FREE of charge throughout the Easter Holidays.

Of course, we will still have to cover our expenses during this difficult time, so we are asking anyone who does join in with classes to support the running of the school by donating whatever they can.

Donations will be used to pay our teachers for their time, and cover our overheads so that our studio can survive to reopen its doors when things get back to normal.

Click here see the timetable of virtual classes we will be running over the next two weeks.

Email info@downland-dance.co.uk to take part.

We also hope to include some other fun activities like repertoire workshops and master classes with special guest teachers.

If you’re a non Downland Dance student (or even if you’ve never danced before), and looking for a way to stay in shape and exercise your passion for dance over the next two weeks (or perhaps just looking for something to keep the boredom at bay!), we welcome you to take part in our classes too.

Simply contact us at info@downland-dance.co.uk for more information.

Guest Teacher to Start New Term

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With the start of the new school term just around the corner, Downland Dance are delighted to announce that we will be welcoming an exciting guest teacher for our first week, to help our students hit the ground running for a successful school year ahead!

Becky Clow has returned to her native UK after retiring from a successful international career as a classical ballet dancer. She trained at Elmhurst Ballet School, where she performed with Birmingham Royal Ballet. During that time, she also performed for “Reach-Out 4 Dance” which took ballet to hospitals, secure facilities and orphanages around the world. Since then, Becky has danced with Moscow State Ballet, touring Europe and Mexico with productions such as Swan Lake, Nutcracker and Sleeping Beauty. The final stop in Becky’s career saw her dancing with The National Theatre Belgrade, Serbia, where she danced for three seasons including roles such as Swanhilda’s friends from Coppelia and the Lead Čardaš from Swan Lake.

Between Thursday 5th September and Wednesday 11th September, Becky will be taking over the following classes:

Thursday 5th September: Grades 2 – 6 (Didcot)

Friday 6th September: Grades 2, 3, 4 and Advanced 1 (Abingdon)

Saturday 7th September: Grades 3 – 6 (Didcot)

Wednesday 11th September: Senior Mixed Ability (AM class Abingdon), and Vocational Grades (Didcot).

Becky will use the opportunity to give many of our RAD students a taste of the many benefits of open classes.

As she will not be taking the majority of scheduled Open Classes, adults are welcome to join in with Advanced 1 classes so that they may benefit from her experience.

Becky is a gracious and bubbly person, and we are thrilled to be welcoming her!

Summer Holiday Classes 2019

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For those looking to keep fit this summer, our Summer Holiday Classes schedule is now available to view below. Classes are PAYG, open to anyone aged 14+ and will be invoiced for at the end of the Summer. For information about prices, please contact us: info@downland-dance.co.uk. We hope to see you there!

The Little Mermaid tickets now on sale!

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We’re delighted to announce that the students of Downland Dance will be performing the story ballet, The Little Mermaid on Saturday 12th and Sunday 13th July at the Civic Hall in Didcot.

Parents, friends, relations and members of the public are most welcome to join us in the end of year performance and school celebration.

Tickets can be purchased below or via links on our Social Media pages.

Click here to buy tickets

Jubal Battisti Ballet & Contemporary Workshops

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A Graduate of the prestigious Juilliard School (New York), Jubal has performed for dance companies across the United States and Europe. Now an accomplished classical and contemporary dance performer, Jubal has gone on to assist choreographically with some of the dance industries leading names.

As the next one in our series of professional standard masterclasses, on Sunday 28th April 2019, Downland Dance is excited to be welcoming Jubal Battisti for a day of exceptional masterclasses in both classical ballet and contemporary dance styles.

All classes are open to anyone aged 14+ (exceptions can be made for very talented young students and adults are very welcome) , and have been tailored to suit all abilities.

SPECIAL DISCOUNT: Get 15% off when you attend both classical and contemporary workshops.

EARLY BIRD SPECIAL: Get an EXTRA 10% off ticket prices when you book before 11th March 2019.

DOWNLAND DANCE MEMBERS: On top of all of these savings, you can secure an extra £5 off per person by using the special discount code posted on our studio notice boards.

Click here to see a YouTube video of Jubal dancing with the Cedar Lake Contemporary Ballet Company.

Jubal Battisti is a professional freelance ballet and contemporary dancer, based in Berlin. Born in the USA, Jubal began his training at Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre School, before graduating from the prestigious Juilliard School in New York with a BFA and Scholastic Distinction. As a dancer he has performed for companies across the United States and Europe, including the Cedar Lake Contemporary Ballet Company, and GoteborgsOperans Danskompani in Sweden. He has worked, both as a dancer and as an assistant choreographer with some of the dance industries leading names, including Didy Veldman, Hofesh Shechter and Jiri Bubenicek. With a solid classical ballet background, and extensive experience on the contemporary dance circuit, Jubal has developed a beautifully fluid movement and an excellent sense of musicality. He has a wealth of knowledge to offer dance students of both classical and contemporary ballet, and Downland Dance is extremely privileged to be welcoming him.

The timetable for the day is as follows*:

  • Mixed Ability Ballet: 9.00am – 10.30am
  • Mixed Ability Contemporary: 10.45am – 12.15pm

Do you have any questions? Please fill out our contact form or email info@downland-dance.co.uk

Places are limited, so get your tickets now to avoid disappointment!

Click here to buy tickets
Sell tickets online with Ticket Tailor

*Timetable updated April 2019, and subject to alteration.

Tips for exam candidates

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We know how important exams are to our students and their families, which is why we work hard to make sure all exams candidates are looking and feeling their best before they go in. Don’t worry if you are feeling nervous – that’s quite normal! We know that our students try their very best in the build up to exams, so we hope that the tips below will give them the impetus to perform at their best on exam day:

  • Arrive Early. Make sure you get to the studio with plenty of time to get ready. Rushing yourself before the exam will add unnecessary stress, and giving yourself an extra few minutes to settle your mind will give you the confidence to do your best!
  • Dress to Impress. Please make sure you arrive with hair and uniform in an impeccable condition. Showing the examiner that you are well disciplined with your appearance and manner will go a long way to impressing them.
  • Nervous? Being nervous makes you dehydrated, and being dehydrated makes you feel nervous. Make sure you drink plenty of water on the day of the exam.
  • Worried? Remember that we’re all human (including the examiner) and mistakes happen. If something goes ‘not to plan’ during the exam, don’t let it distract you. Just smile and keep on going!
  • Remember: Confidence is King! Take a deep breath before you enter the room to help focus your mind, and let any fears you might have leave your body as you exhale.
  • Enjoy! Exams are a golden opportunity to practice performing in front of a new audience, and what could be more enjoyable than performing the dances that you have worked so hard to get right?

Open Day 2019

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After the success of our 2018 Open Day for young children, Downland Dance is delighted to be running another Open Day in 2019. On Saturday 23rd February 2019, we will be offering FREE ballet classes in Didcot and Abingdon, and this time we’re pleased to be including a class for Adult Beginners too!

Places are limited, so pre booking is essential. Please read on to find out how to secure your place.

Times and Locations

The following classes will be available:

Didcot

Aureus School, Candytuft Way, Harwell, Didcot, OX11 6FF

9.00 – 9.45am Ballet for boys and girls (aged 3 – 6)

10.00 – 11.00am Adult Beginners Ballet (Ages 14+)

Abingdon

West Wing Studio, Coxeter House, Abingdon, OX14 3RG

9.00 – 9.45am Ballet for boys and girls (ages 3 – 6)

After the classes, you will have an opportunity to talk to our teachers about the different classes we offer and find out which one might be right for you, they will also be able to answer any questions you might have.

What are the benefits?

Dance is well known to have a positive lasting effect on the body and mind:

– Develop coordination, fitness and flexibility
– Enhance your energy levels, concentration and self-confidence
– Improve posture, which will help reduce aches and pains
– Build strength, stamina and agility
– Increased general physical and mental wellness.

Registration

Places are limited, so don’t delay! To sign up for our 2019 Open Day, please fill out the following form. For any questions, please do not hesitate to get in touch via email at info@downland-dance.co.uk

[contact-form to=”info@downland-dance.co.uk” subject=”Open Day Application”][contact-field label=”Your name” type=”name” required=”1″][contact-field label=”Email address” type=”email” required=”1″][contact-field label=”Age (required for under 18’s)” type=”text”][contact-field label=”Please select location” type=”select” required=”1″ options=”Didcot,Abingdon”][contact-field label=”Please select class” type=”select” required=”1″ options=”Ballet for ages 3 – 6: 9.00 – 9.45am,Abult Beginners ballet (Didcot only): 10.00 – 11.00am”][contact-field label=”Please select number of students” type=”select” required=”1″ options=”1,2,3,4″][contact-field label=”Please list the names of all students” type=”textarea” required=”1″][contact-field label=”Notes (please include any relevant medical information)” type=”textarea”][/contact-form]