This week saw us host another holiday club in collaboration with Club 4 at Surrey Arts Studio in Woking. Participants were treated to dance activities, making cards, making gingerbread dough, Christmas ornaments, a reindeer run and a very special performance of Beastly Belle by Norwich Puppet Theatre. Each person attending was entitled to a free lunch each day and despite the extra restrictions and increase in COVID rates the attendees had a brilliant time with some experiencing dance for the first time.

Thank you to all our participants for coming – we’ll share a highlights video soon!

We have been busy planning and confirming our much anticipated Spring Programme of Creative Industry Insights and CPD Workshops that will further our Inspired Talent Growth ambition for our local dance community professionals.

We are delighted to launch our Spring 2022 Programme of CPD and Creative Industry Insights events.

January will see us host an in person CPD workshop that is open to all with Amina Khayyam. Amina Khayyam will lead a Kathak technique class as well as explore the process of story telling using mime and hand gestures. The workshop will focus on how story is created using kathak technique vocabularies. You can book your place below:

Dance Surrey PRO and Dance Surrey Directory members have exclusive access to the creative industry insights and discounted access to CPD session . Members will be emailed your EXCLUSIVE access codes.

With insights from industry professionals and workshops to benefit your practice, there is something planned for everyone! We are planning even more events for 2022 so do keep an eye out for more information.

To find out more about becoming a member of Dance Surrey or to book our CPD events click on the button below.

The participants of our Hunky Dory Christmas Holiday club were treated to a wonderful performance of Beastly Belle from Norwich Puppet Theatre on Monday.

Featuring a skillful mix of puppetry, film projections and an original musical score, Beastly Belle brings the classic Beauty and the Beast tale to puppet form with a contemporary twist! The young heroine Belle is plucked from a life of poverty by Merill, a greedy film producer who sweeps her off her feet and into fame and fortune in the movies. Caught up in the glitz and glamour, Belle forgets her roots and is ensnared by a world obsessed with good looks – but looks aren’t everything, right? A journey of discovery which explores perceptions of physical beauty and how two strangers can overcome their differences. Will Beauty come to understand and accept the Beast?

They were captivated by the classic story that was reimagined in puppet form from start to finish.

Thank you so much to Norwich Puppet Theatre for visiting us!

Dance Woking are seeking a choreographer to deliver their Half Term Evolve Youth Dance Intensive this February 2022, using a contemporary and urban dance genre.

We are looking for prospective applicants to apply with a C.V. and covering letter detailing creative ideas and concept for the final piece. Dance Woking is continuing to focus on climate change and the environment along with mental health and well-being; we are keen that these issues are included in the concept and there is room for the young people attending to add in their own ideas too.

Applicants should have experience working with young people aged 12-17 years and be available to work 5 hours per day (breaks included times TBC) on 14th – 16th February 2022. They will be required to produce a piece that is 3-5 minutes long to be performed at a performance platform.

Artist fee, inclusive of planning, expenses, delivery, and evaluation: £600

Deadline to apply – Friday 14th January 2022

To apply, or for any more information, please email Ellie Dowling, Engagements Manager: ellie@dancewokingltd.onmicrosoft.com

As part of our ambition to create a thriving local dance community we wanted to showcase some of our excellent schools that are on our Dance Surrey Directory. Today we are thrilled to introduce you to First Dance Studios as part of our Take Part Tuesday Campaign.

First Dance Studios opened in 2005 with one aim – to provide fun dance classes for adults. No syllabus work, no exams, no stress and no previous training necessary. Based at their studio on Heather Farm, they have an extensive timetable including ballet, tap, jazz, contemporary, musical theatre, yoga and pilates to name but a few! First Dance classes offer a fun and friendly environment to anyone that loves dancing or would love to learn to dance.

You can find out more about First Dance Studios by visiting our Dance Surrey Directory. Here you will be able to find out more about what they offer and contact them directly.

Dance Surrey Directory is a NEW refreshed platform-listing site designed to help the dance community increase their reach and for those seeking dance classes to find out what’s on offer in Surrey. With new search options this is a comprehensive tool which we hope will help promote dance classes and encourage new sign-up.

Are you a local dance school and would like to benefit from being showcased on our platform? You can find out more about the listing service and member benefits here

As part of our ambition to create a thriving local dance community we wanted to showcase some of our excellent schools that are on our Dance Surrey Directory. Today we are thrilled to introduce you to Cremona School of Dance as part of our Take Part Tuesday Campaign.

Cremona School of Dance established in 1990 is based in Woking and is renowned for its excellence. The School is a traditional dancing school offering tuition for 3-18 year olds in Ballet (Cecchetti Method), ISTD Modern, ISTD Tap, ISTD Contemporary, Musical Theatre and GCSE Dance.

Students have the opportunity to train right through to the Vocational Grades at Intermediate, Advanced 1 and Advanced 2 levels. Examinations are held annually. Alongside our own School shows, students are offered chances to audition for local productions at The New Victoria Theatre and the Rhoda McGaw Theatre. Talented children are encouraged to audition for The Royal Ballet School, The Cecchetti Associate Programme, London Junior and Senior Ballet, London Children’s Ballet and other organisations.

You can find out more about Cremona School of Dance by visiting our Dance Surrey Directory. Here you will be able to find out more about what they offer and contact them directly.

Dance Surrey Directory is a NEW refreshed platform-listing site designed to help the dance community increase their reach and for those seeking dance classes to find out what’s on offer in Surrey. With new search options this is a comprehensive tool which we hope will help promote dance classes and encourage new sign-up.

Are you a local dance school and would like to benefit from being showcased on our platform? You can find out more about the listing service and member benefits here

On Saturday 20 November, the Rhoda McGaw Theatre was full again, this time with 159 dancers from 12 community dance schools from some of the best local dance groups in Woking & Surrey, joining them were guest groups from London Contemporary Dance School, Berkshire, Isle of Wight & Oxford.

Local groups included Flipside Dance School, Cremona School of Dance, Zambesi Dance Company, Hoe Valley School, First Dance Studios, Vital Signz Dance and guest groups Illume Dance Company, Ryde Dance, Betty Bloom Dance, Scatter Dance, Shuffle Dance Company and Shift Dance Company.

Chair of Dance Woking, Alan Sutherland said ‘This is the first time I have attended Innovate Dance Platform and was blown away by the standard of the work. There was a diverse mix of age groups on stage, the atmosphere was electric, it was happy, it was supportive and exciting, a joy to watch. The support Dance Woking has from the Dance community is visible and the feedback I heard on Saturday about how important this has been for the students’ mental health and wellbeing confirms that we must continue to offer these opportunities in the future. The platforms work on so many different levels.’

Monday 15 and Tuesday 16 November saw 240 students perform from eleven different schools & colleges at Dance Woking’s Young Dance Makers Platform, some for the first time. In response to the UK Government hosting COP26 in Glasgow, Dance Woking’s 2021’s theme was ‘Our Precious Planet’, working with Dance Woking’s outreach team for just 8 weeks, the students were able to highlight their concerns through dance, creating imaginative and dynamic dance pieces.

The choreography, costume and lighting design was the responsibility of the young dancers with some help from the Dance Woking team. Monday’s school groups hailed from: Horsell Junior School, Horsell Village School, Esher High School, Kings Academy Binfield, St John’s the Baptist School and Guildford College.

Tuesday’s school groups featured groups from: Sythwood Primary School, Claygate Primary, Esher High School, Kings Academy Binfield, St Teresa’s Effingham, St John’s the Baptist School, Woking College.

Titles of the piece were extremely thought provoking, Monday night featured pieces such as Kings Academy Binfield’s, ‘A single Raindrop never feels responsible for a flood’ which highlighted the increase in flooding experienced in some countries through climate change. Horsell Juniors piece called ‘Stop the Chop’ focused on the deforestation of the rainforest and the impact this is having on wildlife, soil erosion and green house gas emission. Horsell Village School based their piece on Oliver Jeffer’s book ‘Here We Are, Notes For Living on Planet Earth’ the students traveling through space, visit the sea and explore human’s basic needs.

Tuesday’s pieces were equally thought provoking with Sythwood Primary School taking their inspiration from Greta Thunberg and David Attenborough with ‘How Dare You! From The Future Generations’, they discover their voice to protect their future planet.Closing the Platform on Tuesday evening was Woking College with ‘The Garbage Patch’, thestudentsinspired to highlight the build-up of pollution and rubbish in the oceans.

In attendance on Tuesday was Surrey High Sheriff, Dr. Julie Llewelyn, who praised the students for their performances and presented certificates of achievement to each of the groups, performing in her official duty on behalf of the Queen.

Sam McCaffrey, CEO/Artistic Director Dance Woking said ‘we were thrilled to be able to be back at Rhoda McGaw Theatre presenting live dance on stage. The standard of the dances was exceptionally high with every student excelling on the night. Being able to use dance to express and highlight their worries and fears about the effect of climate change and its impact on their future has helped them start to discover their voice. To have the Surrey High Sheriff, Dr. Julie Llewelyn at the platform was very special and meant a lot to the students performing’.

Monday’s Groups included:

Horsell Junior School, Horsell Village School, Guildford College, Esher High School, Kings Academy Binfield, St John the Baptist School

Tuesdays Groups included:

Sythwood Primary School, Westfield Primary School, Claygate Primary, Esher High School, Kings Academy Binfield, Woking College, St John the Baptist School, St Theresa’s College

Dance Woking are delighted to able to run our Hunky Dory Holiday Club this December with support from Club4 and Active Surrey.

Held at Surrey Arts Studio at Westfield Primary School, the Hunky Dory Christmas Club will run Monday 20th-22nd December from 9.30am – 2.30pm and promises to be a mixture of dance sessions, festive fun and arts and crafts! We’ve also got plans to have a live performance on one of the days too (details to be confirmed soon!)

The Christmas Holiday Club is suitable for children in Primary School Year 4 to Year 6. Registration starts each day from 9.30, with a jam packed day of activities until 2.30pm.

We are also excited to be able to provide Hot food each day to all participants from a specified menu which includes both vegetarian and meat options, plus we can cater for other dietary requirements.

Bookings can be made for the full 3 days or individual days. You can book your place and find out more here:

Students eligible for Free School Meals are also entitled to a discount – please email Ellie Dowling, Engagement Manager on ellie@dancewokingltd.onmicrosoft.com

As part of our ambition to create a thriving local dance community we wanted to showcase some of our excellent schools that are on our Dance Surrey Directory. Today we are thrilled to introduce you to Flipside Dance as part of our Take Part Tuesday Campaign.

Based in the heart of Cobham, KT11, Flipside is the number one choice for a local, established and professional dance school.

Formed in 2007 by ex professional dancer Deborah Rich, the school offers students age 2 to 19 years a wide variety of dance styles including ballet (ISTD syllabus), contemporary, hip hop, tap, jazz, acrobatics, PBT and musical theatre.

You can find out more about Flipside Dance by visiting our Dance Surrey Directory. Here you will be able to find out more about what they offer and contact them directly.

Dance Surrey Directory is a NEW refreshed platform-listing site designed to help the dance community increase their reach and for those seeking dance classes to find out what’s on offer in Surrey. With new search options this is a comprehensive tool which we hope will help promote dance classes and encourage new sign-up.

Are you a local dance school and would like to benefit from being showcased on our platform? You can find out more about the listing service and member benefits here