IDance January – February 2014

IDance is a programme of dance classes open to all visually impaired adults at any level of experience or ability.

We are offering several styles of dance:Contemporary, Street Dance, Ballroom, African and Zumba.

Ballroom, African and Zumbadance classes will be held on Friday evenings at TripSpace Arch 339-340, Acton Mews, London E8 4EA (5 mins from Haggerston Overground station) from 6pm – 9pm.

Contemporary andStreet Dance will be held during the day at Sadlers Wells,Rosebery Avenue, London EC1R 4TN (Angel Tube Northern Line City Branch is a 250-metre walk from Sadler's Wells).

All sessions are free, but we do ask for a full commitment to the course of any one style – for example, if you want to learn Contemporary, please come to every Contemporary dance session.

There will also be an opportunity to show what you have learnt at the end of your dance sessions.

See below for details on each tutor and dance style.

DATES and Times: (There will be regular breaks during the sessions below)

Contemporary with Aidan Treays

Monday 17th February – 22nd February, 1030am – 1.30pm

Street Dance with Louise Dickson

Monday 17th February – 22nd February, 2.30pm – 5.30pm

Ballroom Dance with Odette Battarel

Friday 17th and 24th of January from 6pm – 9pm.

Zumba with Chrissie Kiyou

Friday 31st January from 6pm – 9pm

African Dance with Chrissie Kiyou

Friday 7th February from 6pm – 9pm

TO REGISTER

To register for one or more styles of dance, please email or call 07847 643134.

Places are limited to a maximum of 12 per session, so email soon to reserve your place.

Please let us know:

  • Your name
  • A contact telephone number
  • Whether you are blind or partially sighted
  • What your access needs are

Information about the dance styles

Contemporary dance with Aidan Treays (Sadlers Wells)

These dance classes will be light and fun. The emphasis will be on exploring our physical presence in the context of dance and movement and working at our own individual pace.

As part of preparing our bodies we will explore how the awareness of planes and vectors of space can enhance our wakefulness and presence when moving. We will work towards releasing tension and held patterns and coming into relationship with gravity. This will make us ready to dance freely. We will tell stories and then improvise movement sequences to tell these tales in ways that are meaningful and imaginative. We will also learn choreographed sequences, that connect to our preparatory work. This method of working is fun and simple. It also can enhance our everyday movement bringing a greater sense of clarity in how we are mobile. You will need to wear loose and comfortable clothing.

AidanTreays teaches movement to actors at Drama Studio London. He is also a freelance choreographer for theatre and Dance Artist. He is training inRolfing-Structural Integration, and will graduate in July 2014.

Street Dance with Louise Dickson (Sadlers Wells)

Street Dance is a fun and fantastic way to explore and enjoy movement and is very much about the expression of the individual. Originally created outside of the formalised dance studio setting, street dance is about taking traditional moves and making them your own, tailoring them to your own unique way of moving.

In an informal setting, we will be learning a range of street dance styles and moves, learning and creating some choreography and learning how to feel comfortable with improvisation.

These dance workshops are for all levels and will improve your performance skills, confidence, co-ordination and fitness. Please wear loose comfortable clothing and trainers with soles that will not rub off or leave blacks marks on a dance floor.

Louise Dickson currently teaches dance at Circus Space, London and also teaches on various creative arts projects across the UK in a variety of dance styles.

Louise is a dancer and teacher who suffers from an invisible disability called Fibromyalgia.

Ballroom Dance with Odette Battarel (TripSpace)

These Friday evening sessions are particularly suitable for beginners and those wanting to refresh their ballroom dance skills. You will learn the Slow Waltz, Cha Cha Cha and Fox trot. Time permitting, you may also have the opportunity to learn some jive, rock n’ roll and salsa. The aim of these classes is to have fun, enjoy dancing and develop confidence in learning basic moves and dance etiquette. Wear comfortable loose clothing and shoes (not trainers!). Sighted partners are welcome to come along as volunteers.

Odette Battarel grew up in a village in France where she enjoyed taking part in many different dance fetes. She studied ballet in Austria and also learned wide-range of ballroom dances. She attained her teaching certificate from Westminster Adult Education College and she has since taught many different dance styles. Odette is partially sighted and she has extensive experience of teaching blind and partially sighted people.

Zumba and African dance – With Chrissie Kiyou

Zumba is the most fun way to keep fit and dance at the same time. It is a combination of Latin American dance style, street dance and fitness exercises set to music. The emphasis of this class is to have fun, keep fit and to move, in a party atmosphere.

African dance expresses life though the body using pulsing beat and driving rhythm. This class will teach you African steps and give you the opportunity to express them your way. Chrissie says ‘For me, dance is about freedom. No dance form is as liberating as African dance!’.

Chrissie Kiyou is a dancer, choreographer and teacher of several dance styles. She has been teaching and choreographing in the community dance sector for over 20 years, working in England and abroad. Her classes are energetic and fun.

For all dance sessions

Please wear comfortable loose clothing and bring your own water and refreshments. There are cafes at both venues. Support will be provided on the day and we can meet you at the local point of transport if required.

Footwear

Contemporary – bare foot or light trainers

Street dance – trainers

Ballroom – leather soled comfortable shoes (no trainers)

Zumba and African dance – comfortable plimsolls / trainers

Please attend all of the dance sessions that you sign up to as there will be the opportunity to show what you have learned at the end of your dance sessions.