Author: admin

We have had a great start to the new school year, welcoming many new faces to our dance family. Our new pointe class has been an exciting addition, giving those on pointe more time to progress and also a group of girls working hard on demi pointe with the aim of working towards their 1st shoes at Christmas

We also introduced a brand new beginners Tap class for little ones on a Saturday morning at 10am, and they have delighted in learning to make a noise with their feet. We are even now getting some actual Tap steps with hopefully some well mastered Step ball Changes by the end of 2025!

As always within our little ones classes, there are seniors to help out and the little ones really look up to them. Having started as little ones on their very own dance journeys, in what feels like yesterday, they have grown to become accomplished dancers. Helping out in class also brings many benefits for them. They have a greater understanding of how to break down steps to achieve a better technique, and appreciating an increased knowledge of the time it takes for our bodies to learn new things, and creating muscle memory. They also have an increased confidence through having the opportunity to lead and assist, giving a greater confidence in their own abilities and accomplishments.

Its been a very busy time for Melody Bear celebrating everything Autumn, swishing and blowing in the leaves, rain dances, galloping on our ponies and ending term with mixing spells. Our Saturday morning class is now full, but we are hoping to add an afternoon class very soon, so please do register your interest or join the waiting list.

There was a lot of spooky goings on the last week of term, including some scary musical bumps, mixing potions, and balancing bats, rats and spiders on our heads to end a very long and busy term.

During half term we held one of our fun dance and craft workshops, where 10 children came together to choreograph 2 spooky themed dances, along with crafting 2 props to use within these dances.

We began by creating a day of the dead inspired dance, breaking up into smaller groups to choreograph, using the ideas of different levels when travelling and freezing in a spikey shape. Some really beautiful masks were made to use for this dance.

We then crafted a witches brooms to use in a Hocus Pocus inspired dance. A more upbeat, musical theatre inspired dance where again we then broke into sub groups to choreograph dances using the brooms and partner work. We learned its not always easy to use large props, but worked together to make a really fun.

Again lots of fun together.

We are all looking forward now to getting back to dance and working on our syllabus work, with the aim of a bbodance exam session in the new year.

Dare I also mention the Christmas word? Lots of excitement brewing, and we are very much looking forward to Christmas fun week from the 15th December onwards. Not forgetting watching week for parents from the 8th December. We have a particularly lovely Contemporary dance to perform for you that week!

Wow what a fabulous end to the school year we had, with our incredible 20th anniversary show! Then a busy last week of free trials classes.

On the 12th July we finally got to perform the dances we had been creating together in class to audiences of over 100, with 2 performances at The Townsend hall. Children from 2 years, right up to students of 22 years took part, performing on what was one of the hottest days of the year!

I am the proudest of teachers. Not one moan about the heat and they all danced beutifully throughout.

Not only did our bi annual show fall in our 20th year, but it was also time to say goodbye to 2 of our seniors as they head off into the world as adults and fly the dance nest after 15 and 17 years of dancing with us. It was a very celebratory and yet emotional day.

Its never really goodbye though. We had 2 students return from university/post university come back and join us again to dance in the show and 2 more watching us in the audience. Not forgetting a great team of Mums and Dads who helped out behind the scenes, to enable our fabulous show to happen. They worked so hard to make everything run so smoothly and I think they had a great time too. We really do have a wonderful dance family!

It wasn’t our 1st show, but there were many 1st timers dancing this time and although there were a few nerves they definitely danced their hearts out and shone in front of the audience. “can we do it again?” “When can we do a big dance like the older ones”

Whenever we have a show or whole school event, it always amazes me how well everyone gets on. No matter the age, everyone mucks in, chatters, hugs and generally support each other to ensure everyone is having a great time. I think this is what I came home feeling most proud about.

We have a dance school with friendships across ages and schools, filled with love and a care/interest in each other. “oh wow, these are really great, they are growing into such beautiful dancers. They are so grown up this show, not little any more”-senior watching our junior dancers

It really was a fun filled day. Did i mention it was hot!! Soooo HOT, but we kept smiling, kept dancing.

We now await our fabulous professional photographs, and a long relaxing summer before returning to work hard on our grades in the autumn preparing for bbodance exams.

Do not panic however, if you are needing a dance fix we have several summer sessions before the new term starts on Monday 8th September.

Don’t forget to book your place!

I know I’m looking forward to holiday clubs and getting to grips with the new Tapathon dance for 2025

Until then enjoy the sunshine and I will see you very soon.

Sarah x

Its been a very busy spring for us at Dance with Dash. Although there have been no exams this Easter we have all been working super hard in class choreographing dances for our upcoming Summer show, on the 12th July.

Alongside the choreography we are now thinking about what we may like to wear for costumes, along with a fair few props creeping in too.

Its an extra special show this time. As this show is taking place within our 20th year of trading! The 6th of January will be our 20th birthday!

Time sure does fly when you are busy having fun.

During the Easter break we held another of our all day fun dance and craft workshops, with 14 children between 4 and 12 choreographing 2 dances along with props crafted themselves to perform to their grown ups at the end of the day.

As in all our workshops we start the day of with fun warm up games so we all get to know each other and learn names.

We used the choreographic methods of choreographer Merce Cunningham to create our dance moves. Using his chance methods and giant dice to decide on what moves we included.

The 1st dance we had a May day dance theme and made Easter baskets out of paper plates to dance with.

The 2nd dance we used the same choreography methods and this time created Easter crowns and the theme “I just cant wait to be king”

All children of different ages mixed so well together and many new friends were made. We had lots of fun and all went off home with their crafts and very tired faces.

The next of our holiday workshops will be in August. Watch out for the dates coming soon!

We are offering 2 sessions this Easter break:

Tuesday 22nd April 9-3pm, for children aged 5-11years. £30

Our full day dance and craft workshop. We will choreograph 2 dances to perform to the grown ups at the end of the session, along with crafting 2 different props to use within these dances.

Friday 25th April 10-11am Dance and craft workshop for children aged 2-5years and their grown ups (including refreshments) £10

Half an hour of spring themed dancing, followed by crafting a spring wand to take home with you, along with tea, coffee, milk, squash and biscuits for all

Don’t forget to book to book in by Tuesday 1st April to take advantage of our early bird prices of £25/£8.50

On Tuesday 18th February, 20 youngsters came together between the ages of 5 and 11 years old to enjoy a day of dance and crafts.

We got to know each other with a fun movement name game, learned some new dance moves, rolling, jumping, turning and travelling across the floor.

We then spent the morning creating the 1st of 2 dances together using wands which we crafted ourselves, using tissue paper, glue and sticks wrapped in wool and fine ribbons. We travelled through the space together then worked in smaller groups to choreograph our own sections using balances, lifts, rolls and partner work.

After lunch we created a second dance based on the formula one theme tune. We moved through the space creating different formations, using cannon and creating an archway for the younger students to travel through. For this group dance students created double sided flags, decorated themselves using a variety of drawings and stencils to use in the dance

We ended the day with a performance of both dances to our grown ups. What a wonderful day we all had, with everyone being so enthusiastic with both crafting our props and choreographing our dances. Everyone got on so beautifully across all age groups and their were lots of tired faces at the end of the day.

Our next holiday workshop will be on Tuesday 22nd April, where we will be again dancing and crafting some spring themed dances and props.

Melody Bear will also be hosting a dance and craft morning on Friday 25th April for 2-5year olds. Watch this space for more details

Tuesday 18th February 9-3pm, for Children aged 5-11years , at The Townsend Hall, Shipston On Stour.

£30, or book by Sunday 2nd February to receive the early bird price of £25.

Lots of fun dance and games, whilst learning some choreography skills to create 2 dances across the day to perform to our grown ups at the end of the workshops. We will also craft 2 different props to use within the dances we create, using fabric, pens, glue, and cardboard.

Food is not included. Please bring a packed lunch/ snacks for the day and a water bottle.