Yrosered Posted February 21, 2020 Share Posted February 21, 2020 Hi We were in London earlier this week (to see Dancers at a Gathering/The Cellist) and as my 16yo DD has missed a week of dance thanks to a virus and was full of GCSE revision blues so I suggested she book into Pineapple or Danceworks for a class. She did ballet with Louise Bennett at Danceworks who she knew from NYB and came out glowing. She loves her training but it can be really pressurised. This was a mixed class of hobby and professional dancers and she really liked the option of taking a class for fun. Does anyone know of any studios like Danceworks/Pineapple in the north (preferably Yorkshire) where dancers can do drop in classes every now and then? It would be nice for her to have the option whenever she wanted to take a class for fun but crucially knowing the teaching was good as well? Thanks! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jan McNulty Posted February 21, 2020 Share Posted February 21, 2020 Northern Ballet offer classes in Leeds. It looks as though you have to register and book in advance but may be useful for you: https://northernballet.com/academy/training-programmes/open-classes I know that member Terpsichore also thinks highly of KNT in Manchester: http://www.manchesterdanceclasses.co.uk/ 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NJH Posted February 25, 2020 Share Posted February 25, 2020 KNT in Manchester in well regarded , Karen certainly seems to have no problems in getting really good guest teachers - as well as being a damn good teacher herself - KNT's class descriptions do match those that if you are used to taking classes Danceworks /pineapple /Central you'll be familiar with the levels Hype in Sheffield has good Ballet and Contemporary classes for adults on a Monday ( my only gripe is that the classes are only an hour - but i am egualr and do pointe , InterBallet and 'Beginner' Contemporary on a regualt basis ) while Northern Ballet does have public classes which are bookable PAYG their offer is somewhat limited and I don't know how capitalised the I is on their Intermediate offering , especially if you are used to what. there are other good teachers and schools in West Yorks, however i'm not sure about PAYG options Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Balletchick Posted February 25, 2020 Share Posted February 25, 2020 I'd second both Northern Ballet - sounds like the advanced class would best meet your DD's needs, and KNT where Karen is fab. There is also Dance Studio Leeds just outside Leeds City Centre (it's walkable but a stiff walk and probably not one I'd do alone after dark) and Yorkshire Dance (near Northern Ballet) - although I don't think YD have ballet on any more due to the proximity to Northern. Their lyrical and contemporary classes are nice though. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NJH Posted February 25, 2020 Share Posted February 25, 2020 1 hour ago, Balletchick said: I'd second both Northern Ballet - sounds like the advanced class would best meet your DD's needs, and KNT where Karen is fab. There is also Dance Studio Leeds just outside Leeds City Centre (it's walkable but a stiff walk and probably not one I'd do alone after dark) and Yorkshire Dance (near Northern Ballet) - although I don't think YD have ballet on any more due to the proximity to Northern. Their lyrical and contemporary classes are nice though. Northern does not have an 'Advanced' public class and their Intermediate if i recall correcrtly is not necessarily what what would expect from Inter in London or at KNT (Northern's public classes do not allow pointe work AT ALL - this appears to be a lay management decision as i have taken pointe class in the building under the aegis of another provider and have been taught pointe classes by AoNB teachers at other venues when not teaching on behalf of AoNB )https://northernballet.com/academy/training-programmes/open-classes/adult-courses Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Yrosered Posted February 25, 2020 Author Share Posted February 25, 2020 Thanks everyone! Manchester is a bit far unless a special trip sadly but will investigate all the Leeds ones. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kate_N Posted February 25, 2020 Share Posted February 25, 2020 What about studios in York? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Yrosered Posted February 26, 2020 Author Share Posted February 26, 2020 19 hours ago, Kate_N said: What about studios in York? We live in York and although there are plenty of good dance schools I don't know of any that do drop in classes. Looks like Yorkshire needs a Danceworks/Pineapple of its own, if any entrepenerurial teachers are out there?! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NJH Posted February 26, 2020 Share Posted February 26, 2020 (edited) 13 minutes ago, Yrosered said: We live in York and although there are plenty of good dance schools I don't know of any that do drop in classes. Looks like Yorkshire needs a Danceworks/Pineapple of its own, if any entrepenerurial teachers are out there?! there simply isn't the number of Jobbing pro dancers / triple threat folx in 'Yorkshire' to support it ( plus also for the Leeds / Bradford crowd it's not that far / long to pop across to KNT ), i've no insight into the books of DW or Pineapple, but observation suggests that even Inter and General classes are populated with a significant number of performing arts pros ... I also think that both pineapple and DW make a far amount of money from studios being used for auditions / castings etc ... we have the situation in the Midlands and the North that there are patches of very good provision but it's still no where near the volumes that London is able to sustain especially at or above Intermediate / General Level Edited February 26, 2020 by NJH Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rowan Posted February 26, 2020 Share Posted February 26, 2020 York Dance Space does drop-in classes. Looks to be more contemporary dance, but offers ballet too. http://yorkdancespace.com/ 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Yrosered Posted February 26, 2020 Author Share Posted February 26, 2020 28 minutes ago, NJH said: there simply isn't the number of Jobbing pro dancers / triple threat folx in 'Yorkshire' to support it ( plus also for the Leeds / Bradford crowd it's not that far / long to pop across to KNT ), i've no insight into the books of DW or Pineapple, but observation suggests that even Inter and General classes are populated with a significant number of performing arts pros ... I also think that both pineapple and DW make a far amount of money from studios being used for auditions / castings etc ... we have the situation in the Midlands and the North that there are patches of very good provision but it's still no where near the volumes that London is able to sustain especially at or above Intermediate / General Level I was being a little tongue in cheek although as I have no knowledge of how to use emojis it's hard to tell I admit! Although my daughter did say she thought there was only one professional in the Danceworks class she attended and that although the teacher is does teach company level most people seemed to be there for hobby/pleasure but the class catered for both levels. If we ever did get the fast affordable trans Pennine we have been promised forever then those pockets could be nicely joined up and a business model look more realistic... 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jan McNulty Posted February 26, 2020 Share Posted February 26, 2020 4 minutes ago, Yrosered said: If we ever did get the fast affordable trans Pennine we have been promised forever then those pockets could be nicely joined up and a business model look more realistic... I've just seen a huge flock of pink pigs flying past my window. I had always found TP good until the last year or so ... but believe me the air was blue in Lime Street on Sunday afternoon when 3 trainloads of people were crammed onto one train heading up to Edinburgh (and that was running late!). The Scarborough and Glasgow trains had both been cancelled because of defective carriages. As these are all new trains don't they road test the blummin' things before they put them into service? Oh what a silly question that is!! Sorry for going O/T. 6 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kate_N Posted February 26, 2020 Share Posted February 26, 2020 I feel your pain. My home town of Lancaster was pretty much held to ransom by the quality (or not) of the West Coast line and Virgin Trains. Bring back British Rail, I say! 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fiz Posted February 26, 2020 Share Posted February 26, 2020 Lincoln too. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NJH Posted February 26, 2020 Share Posted February 26, 2020 9 hours ago, Fiz said: Lincoln too. lincoln is doing pretty well rail wise lately ... still a 2.5 to 3 hour trip to get to leeds by rail though Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NJH Posted February 26, 2020 Share Posted February 26, 2020 12 hours ago, Yrosered said: I was being a little tongue in cheek although as I have no knowledge of how to use emojis it's hard to tell I admit! Although my daughter did say she thought there was only one professional in the Danceworks class she attended and that although the teacher is does teach company level most people seemed to be there for hobby/pleasure but the class catered for both levels. If we ever did get the fast affordable trans Pennine we have been promised forever then those pockets could be nicely joined up and a business model look more realistic... Danceworks it depends whose class you are taking i did Denzil Bailey's wednesday morning 'Inter' class a couple of weeks ago and there seemed to be plenty of pros in there given the pre-class chatter about who was doing the fixed term gigs with ENB for the in the round ( and Denzil did say he turned the class up to 11 ) fun one forthe side eye, crowd when Denzil greeted me warmly as he came in .. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fiz Posted February 27, 2020 Share Posted February 27, 2020 9 hours ago, NJH said: lincoln is doing pretty well rail wise lately ... still a 2.5 to 3 hour trip to get to leeds by rail though It’s only been promised - like so many things - and I don’t think it’s actually operating yet. Our latest train back from London is 7.30. Can I put Beeching in Room 101? 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Peanut68 Posted February 27, 2020 Share Posted February 27, 2020 Oh I so agree with that! Total disaster policies with no foresight & no future proof planning whatsoever....unlike the fantastic Victorian railway & engineering pioneers who’s vision created amazing trusted bridges, sewers, tube & train tunnels & routes still relied on today! We should’ve added to these rail links over the years, not removed ‘capillaries’ & ‘veins’ which then missed the point of complete country connectivity! The only error? Politicians!! 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NJH Posted February 27, 2020 Share Posted February 27, 2020 2 hours ago, Fiz said: It’s only been promised - like so many things - and I don’t think it’s actually operating yet. Our latest train back from London is 7.30. Can I put Beeching in Room 101? so the 'promised' train I caught from Lincoln Central last Thursday was a myth ? a 'side effect' of this is the reinstatement of direct services Lincoln- Grantham Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fiz Posted February 27, 2020 Share Posted February 27, 2020 @NJH I only said “I don’t think it is actually in operation”. There’s no need to be so sarcastic. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NJH Posted February 27, 2020 Share Posted February 27, 2020 1 minute ago, Fiz said: @NJH I only said “I don’t think it is actually in operation”. There’s no need to be so sarcastic. LNER's increased service levels came in with the Azuma ( some of which can run on both diesel and from the wires - trains to lincoln needing to be the ones with that ability as the wires stop at Newark ) trains , with 5 trains each way from October 2019 ( the existing HST early morning to london and back to lincoln at 1906 off KGX + 4 Azuma operated services, the winter timetable saw another daytime train and weekend direct trains added )https://www.visitlincoln.com/blog/new-lincoln-london-direct-azuma-trains-announced-by-lner as they ( virgin EC > LNER) didn't have the HST (intercity 125) availability to offer more services before the new Azuma stock came - they had mainline slots and started trains from Newark using Electric locos but that still meant a EMT/EMR train to Newark from lincoln and a trek across from Castle to NG there's still the one slightly circuitously routed service each way on EMR as well which goes via Nottingham and the Midland main line to St Pancras each morning Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Peanut68 Posted February 27, 2020 Share Posted February 27, 2020 My my, that all sounds crazily complicated....I used to take a train from Newark to Nottingham to school many many years ago.....happy memories of wind in hair as hanging out of doorways, playing with tennis balls in the guards carriage & leaping on & off moving trains.....those were the days 🤣 And in case I already dint feel old enough.... I can visit my local heritage railway & travel on those very same style carriages.... ah, the joy of that scratchy geometric 2 tone blue fabric!!! 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NJH Posted February 27, 2020 Share Posted February 27, 2020 32 minutes ago, Peanut68 said: My my, that all sounds crazily complicated....I used to take a train from Newark to Nottingham to school many many years ago.....happy memories of wind in hair as hanging out of doorways, playing with tennis balls in the guards carriage & leaping on & off moving trains.....those were the days 🤣 And in case I already dint feel old enough.... I can visit my local heritage railway & travel on those very same style carriages.... ah, the joy of that scratchy geometric 2 tone blue fabric!!! post Beeching the majorityof Lincon's train services to civilisation went to weither Nottingham or Sheffield , there was one early morning to London and one evening train back from London ( via Newark and the east coast mainline) , although thes was cut in the days of GNER ... it was brought back and then east midlands trains replaced a Lincoln -nottingham train in the morning with a train that ran Lincoln - castle - Nottigham and then down the midland main line Virgin east coast got mainline slots for 4 or 5 trains Lincoln to KX but didn't have the trains to do it - so started this trains under the wires at Newark as they had carriages to do it and could provide or hire in an electric loco to haul it - when the Azuma trains arrived they could start those trains from Lincoln - running on diesel into Newark NG, then connecting to the wires and running to Lonodon on electricity 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Peanut68 Posted February 27, 2020 Share Posted February 27, 2020 I’m sure when my son was 5 in the the ‘Thomas the Tank Engine’ phase of life he could’ve scheduled all this better 🤣 Toot toot! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pups_mum Posted February 27, 2020 Share Posted February 27, 2020 I learned from a local history book recently, that in the late 1800s it was possible to travel by train to London literally from the end of the road I live on in our tiny Cumbrian village. Now that I know, I can indeed recognise the signs on the landscape of the old railway infrastructure. These days we have a nearly 40 mile drive to the West Coast Mainline and even then not every train stops at our nearest mainline station. We have one bus per week through the village to our nearest town. And they call this progress. 🙄 5 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Balletchick Posted March 4, 2020 Share Posted March 4, 2020 On 25/02/2020 at 10:57, NJH said: Northern does not have an 'Advanced' public class and their Intermediate if i recall correcrtly is not necessarily what what would expect from Inter in London or at KNT (Northern's public classes do not allow pointe work AT ALL - this appears to be a lay management decision as i have taken pointe class in the building under the aegis of another provider and have been taught pointe classes by AoNB teachers at other venues when not teaching on behalf of AoNB )https://northernballet.com/academy/training-programmes/open-classes/adult-courses You are right about the advanced class. I think because they call them Beginner - Improver - Intermediate, in my head that translates as Beginner - Intermediate - Advanced. Apologies for any confusion. I must admit I have found that the intermediate class at NB is good for setting down and maintaining technique - the exercises may not be flashy or overly complex but they certainly allow for you to focus on technique. I know a few post vocational school students (or holiday vocational school students) who have attended and haven't found it worthless. Yes - there's no pointe, but the class is still valuable IMO. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kate_N Posted March 4, 2020 Share Posted March 4, 2020 To a well-trained and thoughtful dancer, a beginners class with an experienced and expert teacher can be tough and challenging because the slow pace and emphasis on fundamentals allows for no skimping on clean precise and correct technique. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NJH Posted March 5, 2020 Share Posted March 5, 2020 8 hours ago, Balletchick said: You are right about the advanced class. I think because they call them Beginner - Improver - Intermediate, in my head that translates as Beginner - Intermediate - Advanced. Apologies for any confusion. I must admit I have found that the intermediate class at NB is good for setting down and maintaining technique - the exercises may not be flashy or overly complex but they certainly allow for you to focus on technique. I know a few post vocational school students (or holiday vocational school students) who have attended and haven't found it worthless. Yes - there's no pointe, but the class is still valuable IMO. as @Kate_N says in their reply immediately above , class with a good teacher at a modest level has it's own benefits, especially if the teacher knows you. I have known dancers be shocked both ways when attending class described as 'intermediate' , with those who have danced places which call a class ' intermediate ', that others might call an Improvers / Improvers + / Elementary class, and then have taken an Intermediate class by London / Awarding body standards ( quick paced barre with brief explanations lots of change of weight / inside leg / long combinations and forward - revrse and changed sides forward and reverse all just donewas one ), pointe normalised even if not expected/ required, multiple turns normalised, centre combinations described rather than demonstrated ... ) amnd equially the converse situation where someone goes to an 'intermediate' class and recieves a rather more basic class than one would expect in an Inter Class at say Danceworks / Pineapple /Central nights ... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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