Primary Times North London Easter 18

More documents

Recommendations

Info

COME ON YOU DANCER! We all like to boogie, whether it’s on a Saturday night or any time a great song appears on the radio. A flurry of flailing limbs and abandonment in music is a delight, even a shuffling dad-dance has its merits, but what if your children want to hone their dance skills? There are many forms of dance from street dance to tap and ballroom, but ballet possesses many of the techniques and disciplines required for all genres of dance. Ballet is sometimes perceived as elitist, but that is not the case. It is an incredibly welcoming form of dance, and it is surprisingly easy to find a good teacher, for example, the Royal Academy of Dance (RAD) website allows you to find an accredited teacher nearby. Michelle Groves, Director of Education and Training at The Royal Academy of Dance, points out that it is important that your dance teacher is accredited. “Young bodies are at a vulnerable stage in those early years, all the way through to adolescence” she says. “You need to have a teacher that is aware of teaching safely to different age groups, that is able to meet the different demands of teaching to different age groups; both physically and cognitively as well.” Classes can start from as young as 18 months for baby ballet, but the more “serious” side starts from around 4 years and up. Michelle points out that “ballet and dance is for everybody at any age, what you need to start is an interest, a passion and curiosity. You don’t have to be a particular physical shape or a certain gender; ballet classes are much more inclusive than they were 10 years ago.” If cost is a concern, then fear not, classes are actually more affordable than you might think. Some schools will charge by the lesson and that can be from around £5 a lesson upwards. Most schools will charge by the term – a term being 10 to 12 weeks – and that would be anywhere between £80-100 per term. Even the ballet kit isn’t too pricey and many schools offer second hand equipment. The main cost, Michelle says is the shoes, because they need to fit properly, and young bodies grow fast! Classes are usually mixed, with some activities for both boys and girls, but sometimes the classes may be split so that specific techniques can be taught. According to Michelle, “the stigma of boys dancing, whether it’s ballet or any other form of dance has lessened over the years.” Getting boys involved in ballet can still be hard. “It’s the word ballet, it puts a barrier up straight away, and it conjures up images that ballet is for girls” says Iain Mackay, Principal Dancer for the Birmingham Royal Ballet and founder of Open Door Dance. “It’s princesses and tutus, it’s pink, it’s frilly, it’s going to be lovely. It’s not just in the children’s minds, it’s in the parent’s minds that’s what ballet is” Ballet isn’t all pink and frilly. By introducing contemporary music for classes and routines and aligning it with role models and sports such as rugby, the hope is that more boys can be encouraged to take up dance. Iain has worked with youth rugby teams to help give them balance, flexibility and the ability to create really fast bursts of power. Once they’ve seen what ballet can do for them Iain says that the players often say “forget about the stigma, this is HARD, and it’s going to help my game. I’m willing to do anything extra that’ll help”. Dance is for everyone. Be brave and take a chance. You may find out you really like it. Project B is RAD’s initiative to encourage more boys to take up ballet by promoting male role models, forming dance partnerships inspired by sports and providing boys only workshops. “Project B is something I’ve been involved in since it began 18 months ago. It’s about celebrating boys in ballet. It’s about supporting boys that already do ballet and giving them the confidence to keep going and to enjoy it” says Iain. “It’s also about encouraging more boys to get involved and breaking down the barriers about what ballet really is.” Ultimately, dance is for everyone. As Michelle says “be brave and take a chance. You may find out you really like it and whether you’re good at it or not you can develop a real passion for it. Don’t think it’s not for you. Don’t think you’re too old either, we have our Silver Swans for older people! It’s never too early and it’s never too late.” 20 Primary Times EASTER 2018 | www.primarytimes.co.uk/north_london
LAST CALL FOR EASTER COURSES & NOW BOOKING FOR SUMMER! Our Performing Arts Holiday Courses in NW3 include: • Dramatots (3-4yrs) • Stage 1 Drama (4-6yrs) • Musical Theatre (5-11yrs) • Street Dance (5-11yrs) • Youth Theatre Group (11-15yrs) • 2-week Trinity College Drama Exam Course (7-18yrs) PLUS TERM-TIME SATURDAY CLASSES & BIRTHDAY PARTIES! Performing Arts ✭ ✭✭✭ ✭ ✭✭ ✭ PERFORMING ARTS info@dramarama.co.uk | 020 8446 0891 | www.dramarama.co.uk Great selection of after-school classes at Raise the Barre We have a great selection of after-school classes for children aged between 7-12 years old. Classes include Street Dance, Zumba and Barre. We have a laid back and friendly styles - this is a place you can dance and exercise without the pressure of gradings or exams. All classes are taught by our in-house team in the safe environment of our lovely studio in Hampstead Garden Suburb. Have something more bespoke in mind? At the studio we can also teach privately or in small groups. www.primarytimes.co.uk/north_london | EASTER 2018 Primary Times 21
Page 1 and 2: 52,000 COPIES FOR FAMILIES OF PRIMA
Page 3 and 4: Hello Readers! It’s Spring! Well,
Page 5 and 6: Every Sat and Sun Pony Rides, Kenti
Page 7 and 8: Sat 31 Mar - Fri 6 Apr Animal Easte
Page 9 and 10: FOSTER CARE FORTNIGHT Every year, t
Page 11 and 12: spotter sheet Town species THERE’
Page 13 and 14: Fri 13 - Sat 14 Apr London on the M
Page 15 and 16: WHAT'S ON WHERE Easter at The Place
Page 17 and 18: MiLy FuN! Spring into Easter at Odd
Page 19: ing Arts ✭ ✭✭ ✭ Helen O’G
Page 23 and 24: Spring it on! It’s the most wonde
Page 25 and 26: BoxOffice Your family theatre guide
Page 27 and 28: MEI Theatrical presents BOX OFFICE
Page 29 and 30: EDUCATION Inspiring Minds. OLÉ SPA
Page 31 and 32: EDUCATION English Maths Science Chi

Primary Times North London Easter 18

You also want an ePaper? Increase the reach of your titles

Delete template?

Save as template?