Adult drop-in classes in London (Improver level) - current recommendations

[RuthE]

I’m having to take the Spring term off my two regular classes at City Lit because of other commitments that would make a termly subscription a huge waste of money.

 

I haven’t done drop-in classes for years, not since I was barely above Absolute Beginner level, and I note that very few classes at the usual places are labelled “Improver” or similar. I just wondered if anyone had favourite one-off classes they can recommend at that sort of standard. I’m a bit scared of anything labelled “General”. I’m secure at the barre but not a confident turner.

 

I’m familiar with David Kierce’s Beginner Improver classes at Central, and though the last time I did them I was a lot less experienced, I know I would still find the level OK. Also familiar with Hannah Frost’s Beginner classes (ditto). I know availability of individual classes often comes up at ENB where I recently did a taster class with Lucy Lowndes and again was happy at her Improver level - if only their Improver classes weren’t all so late in the evening!

 

So… any other recommendations in light of the above context, at Central, Pineapple, Danceworks or anything else I might have missed?

 

(Central is my fave as it’s quite local to me, but the only teachers whose classes I’ve done before are David’s and Hannah’s.)

[WhensMyDayOff]

I can recommend Hannah's Wednesday improvers class at Pineapple - quite a range within the students but very very supportive and sounds like might be well worth trying. I've also tried Adam Pudney's improvers which I found harder, although that might be just less familiarity with his style (it seemed faster moving but I can't attend regularly so I haven't had a chance to test whether that was just a product of the fact that I went there after a busy morning). Hubert Essakow's General Improver at Central was also very welcoming. I'm told Anna du Boisson's general class at Pineapple is also friendly to allcomers but I haven't been brave enough to try and probably won't be for some time, if ever!

 

 

[RuthE]

Thank you - all very helpful suggestions!

[Balletbloke]

Amber Doyle's General class on Sunday at Pineapple! She's a wonderful teacher, hard work and fun. The only drawback is it does get a bit crowded, but otherwise I can recommend her class unreservedly.

[LinMM]

I can recommend Franziska Rosenzweig ( Holistic Ballet) 
I know she does a couple of classes on Sundays at Pineapple but not sure what level they are as like you it’s some years since I’ve attended drop in classes. You’d be okay with her Intermediate class as she takes things slowly and builds up gradually and demonstrates very clearly etc. 

She is also very precise in her teaching similar to one of your City Lit teachers!! 
Hope this helps anyway. 

[RuthE]

Thanks both! LinMM I might have known you’d have some good ideas!

[RuthE]

9 hours ago, WhensMyDayOff said:

I can recommend Hannah's Wednesday improvers class at Pineapple - quite a range within the students but very very supportive and sounds like might be well worth trying. I've also tried Adam Pudney's improvers which I found harder, although that might be just less familiarity with his style (it seemed faster moving but I can't attend regularly so I haven't had a chance to test whether that was just a product of the fact that I went there after a busy morning). Hubert Essakow's General Improver at Central was also very welcoming. I'm told Anna du Boisson's general class at Pineapple is also friendly to allcomers but I haven't been brave enough to try and probably won't be for some time, if ever!

 

 

This also all sounds very promising in relation to the fact that I’m often free on Wednesday evenings! (My regular classes are Tuesdays and Thursdays, and it’s mainly these that are a write-off for most of the first quarter of 2025.)

[SugarPlumpFairy]

With the caveat that I’ve not actually tried them yet (I work most evenings!), https://www.everybodyballet.com do classes on Mondays and Thursday labelled as beginner two and intermediate.  I know you mention Thursdays aren’t good but if you’ve got a Monday free might be worth a try to see if the level suits?  (And then let me know how it goes!!)  I only mention them because I’d never heard of them before until last month despite taking classes in London for quite a while so might be one that you’re not as aware of yet. 
 

Someone mentioned Anna’s classes, obviously the timing is not so great (midday, Mon-Fri) for those who work standard hours but if you ever can make it I can confirm it’s generally very welcoming to all levels, and if you’re lost there are always a million people who know what they’re doing to follow. But might want to avoid Wednesdays in school holidays where the number in the class is often 60 or more (66 the first time I ever did it!).  The class also varies quite a lot - some days I will be able to try everything, other days I will sit out a few of the more complicated exercises.  Sometimes she will suggest a simpler step for people who can’t manage the set one in an exercise, especially when she’s on one of her bring-back-less-familiar-steps kicks (gargouillades!).  
 

If you can do Sundays then David also has improver plus on that day. He also now does a 3pm Thursday general at Pineapple.  I’ve done Raymond Chai’s intermediate at Central and kept up okay, but that’s a Thursday so might not be convenient for you at the moment - however he does do other classes at Pineapple and Danceworks so might be worth seeing what else he offers.  

[LinMM]

Are 66 dancers in any of those studios  actually legal!! 
I once attended a class with 45 in but never went back as the teacher didn’t manage the centre work for that many students very well. It’s absolutely no good just saying “get yourself into three groups” it just won’t happen and some people always put themselves in every group!!! 
I only ever attend classes where there’s an upper limit on the number who can attend these days. 

[RuthE]

8 hours ago, SugarPlumpFairy said:

With the caveat that I’ve not actually tried them yet (I work most evenings!), https://www.everybodyballet.com do classes on Mondays and Thursday labelled as beginner two and intermediate.  I know you mention Thursdays aren’t good but if you’ve got a Monday free might be worth a try to see if the level suits?  (And then let me know how it goes!!)  I only mention them because I’d never heard of them before until last month despite taking classes in London for quite a while so might be one that you’re not as aware of yet. 

I’m aware of its existence and I know a few people who have done it and enjoy it, though it does seem really expensive in comparison to other options, particularly as some of the classes are only 60min. But then again, if I’m just doing odd classes here and there for a few weeks, cost wouldn’t be so much of an issue.

[Balletbloke]

3 hours ago, RuthE said:

I’m aware of its existence and I know a few people who have done it and enjoy it, though it does seem really expensive in comparison to other options, particularly as some of the classes are only 60min. But then again, if I’m just doing odd classes here and there for a few weeks, cost wouldn’t be so much of an issue.

I think the price reflects the fact that the classes are held in the RB studios, and you are taught by dancers, or ex-dancers, from the Royal Ballet itself. And if you're a bit of a ballet groupie it can be a bit mind-blowing to get in a lift with Anna-Rose, or stand next to Natalia in the canteen queue!

[RuthE]

1 hour ago, Balletbloke said:

I think the price reflects the fact that the classes are held in the RB studios, and you are taught by dancers, or ex-dancers, from the Royal Ballet itself. And if you're a bit of a ballet groupie it can be a bit mind-blowing to get in a lift with Anna-Rose, or stand next to Natalia in the canteen queue!

That’s what I suspected, and is of limited value to me - firstly,  a renowned dancer does not necessarily equate to a good recreational teacher. And secondly, I’m mostly an opera groupie - ballet secondary

[munchkin16]

Bennet Gartside who teaches with Everybody Ballet is a very good teacher. I did a lot of his classes on Zoom over Covid times and a few in person and he genuinely is very good at teaching adults. He really cares and gives excellent corrections. Value for money though it definitely is on the expensive side so I wouldn’t recommend on a regular basis unless you have lots of spare money for classes!

Hannah’s Wednesday class at Pineapple is very good. Also Adam Pudney does some improver classes at Pineapple and possibly Danceworks as well. He gives good corrections too. 
 

The Ballet with Isabella drop in class on Sundays at The Place could be a good option, the Beginner class is still challenging as she is all about working on the details. If you are used to improvers level you’ll definitely still have lots to work on and Isabella is excellent at correcting everyone. Not sure she runs it completely regularly though as she travels a lot.

 

 

 

[RuthE]

I have definitely (since becoming aware of the existence of Everybody Ballet) always imagined Bennet Gartside would be a very good teacher!

[Tango Dancer]

13 hours ago, munchkin16 said:

Bennet Gartside who teaches with Everybody Ballet is a very good teacher. I did a lot of his classes on Zoom over Covid times and a few in person and he genuinely is very good at teaching adults. He really cares and gives excellent corrections. Value for money though it definitely is on the expensive side so I wouldn’t recommend on a regular basis unless you have lots of spare money for classes

 

 

 

 

I would also recommend Benn's classes.  He's a very good teacher.  At the moment he's teaching Thursdays and Leire Ortueta who teaches with him is doing Monday.  She's a very good teacher also and gives a lot of feedback and adjustment.  Sometimes you get guest teachers from RB covering and some of them area really good (Luca Acri is a real poppet and Julia Roscoe is great).  

 

I agree they are pricy (although if you book a package they're less expensive).  You're definitely paying for being at the RB.  That said I like the classes because there are a lot of older people so it feels less competitive and the vibe suits me.   

 

I do them when I'm in London for work and the timing fits and did them regularly when I lived in London.  I do the beginner 2 class which works for me.  I mean it's not a beginner class but there's a reasonable amount of breaking stuff down and a range of levels.  

[LinMM]

I’ve never done these ( not sure if could handle dancing on the RB premises these days!!) but have had good report about Ben Gartside classes from a couple of friends who have ( one in her 40’s and the other in late 60’s) 

[Kate_N]

Hannah Frost's Improver is a good step to a true Intermediate level class on Wednesday evenings. And it's taught with Hannah's wonderful combination of dry humour and eagle eye.

 

For something more dance-y, Christina Mittelmaier's classes are wonderful, and Christina is such a caring teacher. When I first started doing her classes I found her a bit scary, but she is actually lovely, and so encouraging. I did her classes at home all though lockdown, and her Intermediate/Advanced class on Sunday morning was very hard but just flowed beautifully & I always felt totally pulled up and on my legs, I can still pretty much stumble my way through her Sunday morning Intermediate class, and enjoy watching the beautifully trained very young dancers fly through her wonderful allegro enchainements. 

 

Also on a Sunday at Central is Nina Thilas-Mohs with a very different style of barre, and then in the centre we just go for it. I find the technique Nina teaches (based on Cristina Bernal's technique) really good for my mid-60s year old body - we work gently on turn out, mostly in first and second only going to 5th quite a way through the barre. I love it. And it sts you up to really move in the centre, and cover space. Nina is a lovely caring teacher.

[Colman]

Everybodyballet classes are good, and they run some great workshops - recently started including some of the character work too, which is really interesting and less physically exhausting than variations.

 

Hannah Frost is always fun. Terrifying ability to run a physical class and a zoom class and catch everyone's mistakes.

 

London Ballet Classes run some nice classes with some very good teachers - the set-up there is designed as a ballet school, and their students really have progressed. 

 

If pas de deux interests you, Vanessa Fenton has been running classes and workshops for the last couple of years, though I think the regular classes are in abeyance at the moment. 

[Colman]

On 30/11/2024 at 20:22, RuthE said:

That’s what I suspected, and is of limited value to me - firstly,  a renowned dancer does not necessarily equate to a good recreational teacher. And secondly, I’m mostly an opera groupie - ballet secondary

 

Almost all of the ones we've done workshops or classes with have been pretty good. We had one very early on - about a decade ago now (!) - that seemed a bit annoyed at teaching adults, but he may just have resting-grump-face, and there was one that my wife did recently who gave the distinct impression that her personality may explain why her career was less stellar than one might have expected, but in the main they've taken the class seriously and been very generous. 

[Guest valentine56]

Having tried and tested many classes, I would suggest Hannah or David's improver classes for anyone who is seeking for guidance on new steps beyond beginner level (a beginner-improver). However, David's classes in particular can be extremely busy. Adam P's improver class is also very busy, but perhaps more in the middle-improver level. Hubert's general-improver class at Central is also, I would say, a middle-improver class, but less focused on teaching steps. Amber Doyle is very lovely and teaches what I'd call a middle-improver class on a Sunday. Carrie J also teaches a higher-improver/intermediate level class on a Saturday at Pineapple, which I've heard is very manageable.

 

Depending on the class, there are slightly gentler general level classes too - Raymond Chai's and Ian Knowles' classes, for example, but you would have to be comfortable with travelling turns, and some surprises! I would personally not describe, say, Anna's class as an improver-suitable class, although she is a wonderful teacher.

 

There are so many wonderful classes, I tend to choose based on manageable numbers (I hate crowded studios!)

[TYR]

On 01/12/2024 at 18:32, Kate_N said:

Also on a Sunday at Central is Nina Thilas-Mohs with a very different style of barre, and then in the centre we just go for it. I find the technique Nina teaches (based on Cristina Bernal's technique) really good for my mid-60s year old body - we work gently on turn out, mostly in first and second only going to 5th quite a way through the barre. I love it. And it sts you up to really move in the centre, and cover space. Nina is a lovely caring teacher.

 

Even if the tendency to do 20-30 minutes extra FREE! has recently been reined in...