Exam Season - December 2017

We have examination sessions coming up on Saturday 2nd, Sunday 3rd and Tuesday 12th December. Good luck to all pupils who are taking exams this term. Claire says practice hard and make sure you know your theory with the quiz on the Exams page!

We are extremely proud of the results from October, where a terrific number of pupils were awarded merits and distinctions. Particular congratulations go to Katy and Ben, who star in the Swan Lake finale of the Peak Village Festive Spectacular pictured below. They were both awarded distinctions in the professional grade Intermediate Ballet examination, with 92% and 95% respectively.

Peak Village Festive Spectacular - November 18/19 2017

Our latest performances were held this weekend at the Peak Village Festive Spectacular and Christmas Light Switch-On! Click on any of the photos to enlarge.

Our dancers performed on both Saturday and Sunday. On Saturday they shared the bill with Mr & Mrs Claus and the Elves, a Fire Show, and live Music from Yakobo, Can Samba, Mario & Smith. On the Sunday, the live music was from Scribble Victory and the Nottingham Ukelele Orchestra, with walkaround entertainment from Beauty and the Beast.

All the lovely shops and a selection of additional Christmas stalls opened until 8pm on the Saturday, when the lights were switched on by Peak FM's Craig Bailey. Let the Festive Season begin!

NATD Contemporary Diploma Weekend - October 2017

Claire was busy this half term teaching and hosting the NATD Contemporary Dance Teaching Diploma course.

Claire thoroughly enjoyed the weekend and would like to send our congratulations to all of the teachers who took part. Best of luck with you dancing careers with the NATD!

Claire would also like to say a big thank you to Alice Rathbone and Benjamin Jones for beautiful demonstrations of the vocational grades.

Musical Theatre Master Class with Mike Denman - October 2017

He has performed in Matilda, Singin' in the Rain, Chicago, Never Forget, The Bodyguard, Kiss Me Kate, Annie Get Your Gun, Thoroughly Modern Millie, Saturday Night Fever and more. Now West End Theatre star Mike Denman will be running two Musical Theatre Master Classes at the Claire Dobinson School of Dancing to brighten up this October half term!

Mike is holding two Musical Theatre Master Classes, both on Thursday 26 October. Please reserve a place at the dance school as numbers are limited.

12:00 - 13:30	6 - 12 year olds	'No Business like Show Business' from Annie Get Your Gun
13:45 - 15:15	13 years upwards	'Too Darn Hot' from Kiss Me Kate

Our half term break runs from Sunday 15 October to Sunday 29 October.

Welcome Back - September 2017

Welcome back after the Summer break, to an exciting term at the Claire Dobinson School of Dancing.

Studio two is now open in earnest offering additional adult and children’s dance classes as well as continued pilates with the amazing Viki Westall-Eyre and Drama with both Noelle Foster PGCE and Alicia Bloundele LAMDA Teacher. We also will be joined by the fabulous vocal coach Veronica Cotterill from September! Ronnie plays with the Wam Bam Band and is Claire's own vocal coach.

We are also delighted to report that Daisy Rathbone is taking her place this term on the dance teaching team of Kelly Lynn (street dance teacher at SLP, Northern Ballet and a professional sports therapist with Tor Sports Therapy), Viki Westall-Eyre ARAD (former principal ballerina with NBT, Pilates teacher and ballet coach) and Claire herself for the new term.

Daisy passed her Associate Ballet teaching exam earlier this year with a fantastic 92% - testament to her recent professional training at Northern Ballet School, experience dancing around the world with Costa Cruises, and her inspiring classes.

New Gymnastic Dance Syllabus - September 2017

This year Claire had the honour of co-creating the new Gymnastic dance syllabus for the NATD which has its worldwide launch on 3rd September 2017. Claire has been appointed as a Gymnastic Dance examiner and our school will be an examining centre where teachers can take their professional examinations. A big thank you to all the gymnastic dancers for their hard work on the new syllabus, especially to Chloe Gilbert and Katie Redfern who helped film the official training DVD.

Congratulations Daisy, Theo, Poppy and Emily - September 2017

Huge congratulations to Daisy Edwards as she graduates from Urdang Academy, London. Claire taught Daisy from the age of two and was immensely proud of her graduation performance, and on The Voice Kids Final where she danced on television!

Also, our congratulations are sent to former pupil Theo Girvan as he finishes his classical Ballet training with Ballet West, Scotland. Theo joined us for a class at the end of last term which was a delight. He will continue his training in Sweden from September for a one year placement.

Congratulations to Poppy Cordingley –Lynn on a phenomenal achievement. Poppy was invited to attend the Royal Ballet School final auditions for White Lodge, despite having not applied! Out of around 3000 applications approximately 30 children make the finals. She was spotted in another audition! Poppy has been a Royal Ballet School Junior Associate and has now chosen to become an associate at The Pointe, CentrePointe in Manchester after a successful audition. Well done Poppy.

Emily Rathbone has accepted her fifth consecutive contract aboard Celebrity Cruises, this time sailing around Australia and New Zealand! We are very grateful that Emily found time to join us to teach at our summer school, it was fantastic to see her dance again.

Summer Schools - August 2017

Details of our Summer Schools are now up on the noticeboard at the dance school. Sign up at the dance school, or contact Claire, if you would like to attend. Places are limited so we ask for a deposit of £10 to secure your place.

Yoga and Yoga Tots - July 2017

New daytime yoga classes are starting this month at the dance school, taught by Bek Smith.

Yoga Tots - Wednesday 9:30 - 10:15
Yoga Tots involves songs, games, activities adn lots of yoga-based silliness - perfect for little ones when they can stand unsupported, up to preschool.

Gentle Hatha Yoga Class - Wednesday 10:30 - 11:30
This is a gentle class suitable for complete beginners and those who can't get down on the floor as well as people who have done yoga before.

Both Yoga Tots and Hatha Yoga are drop-in classes although discounts are available for block-booking. Contact Bek for details, on 07468 426765 or beksmith72@gmail.com.

Open Classes - July 2017

If you would like to watch your little dancer's class, come along to one of our Open Days.

Parents are invited to watch the children's classes on Saturday 8 July between 9am and 12:45pm, and all children's afternoon and evening classes from Monday 10 July to Thursday 13 July.

New Body Conditioning Classes - May 2017

We have exciting new Body Conditioning classes starting this month.

Lower Body focus will be held on Mondays 12:30 - 1pm.
Full Body Transform will be held on Fridays from 09:30-10:15am.

Classes are taught by Jo Giroux - click on the leaflet for Jo's contact details to reserve a place. Please bring water and a small hand towel to the class.

New Adult Ballet and Pilates Classes - May 2017

Following the success of last term's programme, Viki Westall will be running additional ballet and pilates classes this term at the Claire Dobinson School of Dancing.

Two trial adult ballet classes will be held on Tuesdays 2 May and 16 May at 10:45 - 11:30.

Beginners Plus Pilates classes will be held on Mondays 7:30 - 8:30pm (except for Bank Holiday Monday 1 May) and Wednesdays 6:45 - 7:30pm.

Click here to view the full pilates timetable and contact details for Viki, including other class times at the Friends Meeting Hall in Bakewell.

New Street Classes - April 2017

We are delighted to announce Kelly Lynn will be starting new Street Dance classes next term.

Junior Street will be held on Mondays 4-4:30pm, for ages 7-10 years.
Boys Street will be held on Wednesdays 6-6:30pm, for ages 7yrs+.
Senior Street will be held on Wednesdays 6:30-7:30pm for ages 11yrs+.

New Adult Ballet and Pilates Classes - March 2017

We are delighted to announce that professional ballet dancer Bethan Smith is joining us as a teacher. Bethan will be teaching several new ballet classes on Wednesdays and Saturdays, starting on Saturday 18 March.

Wednesdays
12:00 - 12:30	Adult Beginners Ballet	Bethan Smith
12:30 - 13:00	Ballet Fitness	Bethan Smith
Saturdays
15:00 - 15:30	Adult Beginners Ballet	Bethan Smith
15:30 - 16:00	Ballet Fitness	Bethan Smith
16:15 - 17:00	Ballet Pointe Work	Bethan Smith

Ballet fitness is a classical class containing elements of fitness to tone, sculpt and shape. All are welcome from novice to advanced. Bethan also offers one-to-one and small group classes on Wednesday daytime and Saturday early evening.

Body Control Pilates classes are held on Mondays and Thursdays, taught by Viki Westall-Eyre and Louise Patterson. Viki is also introducing a HIP High Impact Pilates class - not for the faint hearted! - from Wednesday 15 March.

Mondays
19:30 - 20:30	Beginners Matwork	Viki Westall-Eyre
Wednesdays
18:45 - 19:30	High Impact Pilates	Viki Westall-Eyre
Thursdays
09:45 - 10:45	Beginners Matwork	Louise Patterson
09:00 - 13:00	Reformer Studio	Viki Westall-Eyre

The Reformer is the original resistance based machine designed by Jseph Pilates to build strength and improve mobility. It is ideal for rehab as well as improving athletic performance. One-to-one and small group classes are available on request.

Apply for the Royal Ballet School Junior Associate Programme - January 2017

The Royal Ballet School Junior Associates are young dancers aged 8-10 (on 31 August 2017) who train with The Royal Ballet School, alongside their regular ballet classes. Royal Ballet stars Lauren Cuthbertson, Francesca Hayward and James Hay all began their dancing career as Junior Associates. Now it could be your turn!

Classes are held at 8 centres across the country (the closest being Birmingham, Manchester and Leeds). All classes take place on Saturdays except Manchester which alternates between Fridays and Sundays.

All young dancers who are eligible to apply will be offered an audition. Visit the Royal Ballet School website to complete the online form. You also have to submit photographs and pay an administration fee (£35 before 8 February, £45 from 8 February - 17 March). Applications close on Friday 17 March.

We are Moving! - January 2017

We look forward to welcoming you to our new home when classes restart after Half Term.

Monday 20th February will find us in our new home at Peak Village in Rowsley. Peak Village is just off the A6, 5 minutes drive North of our current base at the Whitworth Centre, with extensive parking.

We are delighted to be moving to our very own permanent dance centre. We will have two floors, with a large square main studio and a second smaller studio. Claire has not yet finalised the layout, but we have heard that there are mirrors in the main studio!!!

Class times will remain the same.