Annual Display

29th January saw many enthusiastic dancers from Dancetime perform in front of their friends and relations in our 8th Annual Display.

The venue was The Tylney Room at Leatherhead Leisure Centre. As usual the event was videoed by Surrey Video Services and many pupils now have a permenant record of their day.

Once again our youngest members stole the show! Last year we included our 3 year olds but this time children as young as 2 took to the floor. They were totally captivating and were clearly having a great time.

We welcomed back our adults, who last took part in 2005, thoroughly enjoying their Line Dance Medley. Their dedicated practice paid off and they all seemed to have a good time, with wide smiles on their faces. Hopefully, their initial concerns about performing were reduced and we will see them return next year.

An energetic cheer dance was performed by three teenagers, Kirsty, Esme and Ellie. This routine was learned over just three sessions as Kirsty was away at University.

Jessica and Carla choreographed their own routine to "club can't handle me" and performed it beautifully.

A street dance was included this year and the pupils involved showed that they can easily adapt to the many styles taught at Dancetime.

The audience was also entertained with the Jive, Salsa and other partner dances.

The steppers once again rose to their challenge line dance - They have only 40 minutes to learn the steps over 2 weeks. No easy feat especially when facing a new wall.

At the end of the display Audrey Sawyer presented the medals to the pupils who had taken part in our latest medal test. The awards ranged from Rosettes to I.D.T.A. Stars. We were very proud that our Steppers all achieved Honours in their Line Dance exams.

Can't wait for next year!

Local Dance Classes

Dancetime offers classes and private lessons in the following styles:

Freestyle, Line Dance, Ballroom and Latin American.

Classes are for children and adults from 2 years and are held in Effingham and Ockley.

Our youngest and oldest pupils performing at our display in January.

     

Join us at 

The Studio, Standon Stables, Standon Lane, Ockley, RH5 5QR

King George V Hall, Browns Lane, Effingham, KT24 5ND

Our timetable shows our current class times. Private lessons are booked in to suit.

 

Clothing for medal tests

It is important that candidates are dressed smartly for their examinations.

The candidates below are dressed for Rosette, Stardance, Ballroom and Latin American tests.

                

The following candidates entered Freestyle and Line Dance exams.

Remember the important thing is to be clean and smart with hair neatly tied back and polished shoes.

Smiles complete your overall appearance.

Why Dance?

Have you noticed?
Dancing is such FUN.
It is infectious, spontaneous, unstoppable.
It enables you to express yourself, to enjoy life and feel exhilerated.

Did you know?
Dancing is one of the oldest and most sociable forms of entertainment.
It is a social skill which will stay with you throughout your life.
You will meet new people and make new friends.
You will become more confident.
Working with your teacher and classmates will help your communication and leadership skills.

Is it good exercise?
Dance helps keep you fit and happy.
It is energetic.
It is an excellent way to improve your strength, stamina and flexibility.
Your coordination, poise and balance will also improve.
It is cardiovascular exercise so will help keep your heart healthy and keep you trim.

Who are you?
Dance is an expression of your personality and a way of exploring your creativity.
You will discover and develop a real sense of rhythm.
There are many different styles to choose from - find the ones to suit you.

How to start?
Relax, listen to the music. Move with the rhythm. Let it carry you.

Dancetime offers both classes and private lessons to help you on your way.
Classes or private tuition will give you confidence, improve your sense of rhythm and sort out those two left feet!

If you are nervous about joining a class, time is an issue, or you want to learn a dance for a special occasion why not try private lessons?

It won't take long before you can impress your friends on the dance floor.

Email: dancetime@dancetime.uk.com

Fitness and Health

Dancing is sociable and promotes a feeling of well-being. It can be practised and enjoyed virtually anywhere and by anyone! You will be amazed at how relaxing it can be to dance your cares away.

Dancing will improve your poise, balance and coordination. You can also expect to see an increase in your strength, stamina and flexibility.

As a form of cardiovascular exercise, dancing helps you to maintain a healthy heart and overall fitness. It is a physical activity which increases the flow of blood to the brain and other parts of the body.

Most importantly dancing challenges and extends. It continuously stimulates your brain as you learn new steps and dances.

The feeling of mental and physical exhileration it promotes is one of the key prevention secrets in Alzheimer's disease and dementia.

Dr Joe Verghese's research has shown that regular dance classes may reduce these risks. This is because in order to dance you have to learn the steps and keep in time with the music.

The social, creative and and sensory activities created through dance are also significant factors.

Dancing exercises every part of the body, toning muscles and stimulating the nervous system. It keeps you trim - you can burn off as much as 300 calories in one session!

Dancing can make you a more confident, happy person.

Let's get moving! With so many different styles to chose from there will be one to suit you.

Dance Parties

Children's Parties.
Dancetime offers a range of party themes for children aged between 2 and 12 years.

For 2-4 year olds
Rhymes and Dance

For 4-7 year olds
Hawaiin and Pirate
Cheerleading
Disco Dance

For 7-12 year olds
Cheerleading
Disco Dance
Line Dance
Street Dance

Venue:
Your home or hired hall

Each theme includes the following:
1 to 1.5 hours entertainment.
Choreographed routine appropriate to the chosen theme
Additional related dance routines
Fun and games

Costumes and props available to hire or buy:
Hawaiin  and Pirate - flowers, garlands, pirate hats
Cheerleading - pom poms
Line Dance  - cowboy hats
Street Dance - baseball caps, T shirts

Props supplied:
Rhymes and Dance - dressing up items and props
Hawaiin and Pirate - hula hoops
Disco Dance - disco lights


Contact Beryl for more information

dance@dancetime.uk.com

Practice

Practise makes perfect!

If you are new to dancing or want to consolidate steps already learned, why not attend a practice session at Dancetime?

These sessions are aimed at supporting the class you already attend or are thinking of joining. As well as revising steps and routines, emphasis will be placed on learning new moves, improving technique and styling.

Each session will focus on your needs in order to improve and extend existing skills.

Practice sessions are especially relevant to newcomers because at first there are so many steps to learn and it can be quite daunting to join a class where most people seem to know what they are doing. A slower and repetitive introduction to moves will increase confidence and enjoyment on the dance floor.

Come to a session by yourself or with friends - Please phone or email to book.



Please contact Beryl:

01306 628217           07733 107079


dance@dancetime.uk.com

Choreography and Presentation Evening

On 23rd and 24th June 2010 we held our Choreography and Presentation evenings.

Parents were invited to watch their children perform routines taught to them and ones they had choreographed themselves.

A good time was had by all and our pupils danced beautifully.

The event culminated with a presentation of awards earned at our Medal Test in May.

Congratulations to Rosy Blanks on completing her Stardance Plaque with 12 medals.

Audrey Sawyer

Having spent many years teaching all ages within our school Audrey now concentrates on teaching adults Ballroom and Latin American. She teaches in Effingham and also gives private lessons in Bookham.

Audrey is qualified with the IDTA as a Licentiate in Ballroom and Latin American.

She was on the committee of the South East Area of the IDTA 1995 to 2010 and has served as Minutes Secretary, Vice Chairman and Chairman.

Audrey was an active member of the team and assisted at numerous South East Area festivals. For many years she was responsible for organising the adjudicators' timetable and was always willing to turn her hand to the needs of the day.

Within Dancetime Audrey has trained many pupils for various medal tests and assisted in the organising and running of many different displays.

Audrey loves to dance and enjoys teaching.

Assistants

Roz and Tina

Our Dancetime assistants are invaluable.

They ensure the smooth running of the classes and help teach.They are on hand to answer queries, sort out uniform, tend to the poorly and carry out a multitude of other tasks. We couldn't do without them.

Dancetime assistants are always happy and keen to join in. They create a lovely friendly atmosphere which pupils warm to. No one is left out - parents and children are welcomed equally.

Roz, Tina, Becca, Ellie, Kirsty and Esme

Our assistants' help at displays and medal tests is much appreciated by all. Their knowledge of procedures at these events guarentees success. A friendly face is very reassuring before and during such events and our pupils benefit from being known personally.

 

Jo and Kirsty

 

Wedding Dances

WEDDING DANCES

Choreography for your special dance is provided through private lessons at The Studio in Ockley.

Once you have chosen your music we work together to create a dance you are happy to perform in front of your guests. The routine is tailored to ensure you will feel comfortable and confident.

You may wish just to dance some basic steps in, for example, the waltz or the rumba or you could learn some more intricate figures to suit your chosen song.


Routines may be based on either Latin American and Ballroom dances or choreographed to any chart music using freestyle or line dance moves. Often the routine will incorporate a combination of styles.

If you are undecided on a track we can assist with ideas which would suit many different styles of dance.

The Studio

On average 3 or 4 lessons are sufficient to achieve the desired result.

No previous dance experience is necessary to learn for your wedding.

Dancetime Annual Display

Line dance.

On Saturday 30th January 2010 Dancetime pupils danced the afternoon away in front of their parents, relatives and friends. Youngsters aged between 3 and 18 demonstrated their expertise in a variety of dance styles taught in class.

The show, videoed by Mr Paul Filnlayson of Surrey Video Services, captured a moment in time to be remembered by all. Our dancers will enjoy watching their performances and sharing them with friends for years to come.

Pupils danced with confidence and flair throughout their performance.

We're next.

Each year the display takes place without a proper rehearsal. Dances are learned in class (many only two weeks ago!) and pupils are told how the afternoon is supposed to go. There is no rehearsal of order of dances and many pupils are dancing with people they have never seen before. It aaways amazes me how everyone copes.

The hall is also an unknown - it is very different dancing in the safety of class in a recognised hall to dancing in a strange environment in front of an audience and a video camera! It is especially hard in dances that turn as facing new walls within a dance is very disorientating.

Dancetime assistants do a marvellous job of getting everyone in the right place at the right time wearing the correct clothing for every dance. This is an extremely pressured job made harder as the assistants do not know members of class groups they do not teach! FANTASTIC job  - Thank you to Tina, Ros and Jo.

Thanks also to Kirsty and Esme who learned the dances for the younger children in order to guide them through their steps during the display.

Each group of dancers performed brilliantly and conducted themselves well whilst waiting patiently for their next dance.

We began with all participants on the floor demonstrating a line dance to "In the navy". This dance was a lovely opener to our show.

Next up was a freestyle dance by our youngest classes - the Wigglers and Jigglers. Many of these pupils had not long joined Dancetime and Emma is only 3 years old! What courage they had to dance in front of everyone.

Then the Twirlers and Springers mixed together to dance a tricky line dance involving weight change followed by the Steppers who demonstrated a complicated dance to a Michael Jackson song.

After such a good start the display just got better and better.

The tango.

Ballroon and Latin American dances were performed brilliantly by each group. We enjoyed the Samba, Tango, Mambo and Rock 'n' Roll.

Twirlers and Springers entertained us with two dances using poms which is always popular.

Lucy performed perfectly her solo dance which had originally been created as a duo.

Jessica, Bea and Carla were excellent as they showed the dance they choreographed last term.

Ellie and Kirsty jointly choreographed their dance over two weeks which Ellie is using for her G.C.S.E. exam and as always executed an amazing performance.

The Steppers rose to their annual line dance challenge. The dance "Devils' Beat" was taught for a total of 20 minutes in the week of the display. The girls then had to turn it round the walls on Saturday. Very well done Steppers - you did it!

Rosie collects her award.

Medals were awarded to successful pupils who took their exams in November. The medals were presented by Mrs Audrey Sawyer who is qualified as Licentiate in Ballroom and Latin American with the IDTA. She is an active member of The South East IDTA Area.

The show ended with some partner fun dances and everyone left smiling!

Congratulations to everyone concerned for creating a wonderul display!

Glad to be back.

It's great to be dancing again after the Christmas break. The Groovers class in Effingham eased themselves back into it with dances learned last term and a few new ones. This term they look forward to dancing to Madonna and Will Young.

The Steppers are determined to dance well at our annual display despite being under constant pressure from school work and exams. At the display on 30th January they will perform a line dance which they have only 20 minutes to learn. The Challenge Dance is always popular and will be taught next week - the last class before the event.

Meanwhile all our classes are practising hard.

Dance Classes

Our youngest pupils enjoy dressing up.

Our dance classes range from 2 years old to adult and are always friendly, inspiring and full of fun!

What better way to keep fit and young than to dance? It is a wonderful sociable way to improve flexibility and coordination whilst listening to good music.

Plenty of repetition and practise helps the learning of new steps, rhythms and routines. But the variety of styles and new routines taught leaves no time to get bored.

It is sometimes hard to choose a favourite style of dance - Latin American, Ballroom, Freestyle, Street Dance, Line Dance or all of them. Why not try them out?

Our classes take place in Ockley, Capel and Effingham. Private lessons are available. See our timetable and class descriptions for more details.