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From family support, fitness classes and learning to art exhibitions, festivals and talks, our activities are wide and far reaching.
I teach the Line Dancing for Over 50s at Rambert and also teach many classes across London in social dance styles for adults of all ages. I am one of the older teachers in the faculty and have been qualified for 20 years. I live locally in Elephant & Castle and love teaching for Rambert in their fabulous studios, helping to add different dance styles to their diverse programme.
In my classes, the emphasis is on fun and inclusivity. As a plus sized dancer myself, it’s important to me that everyone feels comfortable and welcome as I believe that dancing is for everybody. I love it when a beginner tells me that they enjoyed my class much more than they thought they would or that they are surprised at how much they have achieved as they never thought they could dance.
Line dancing is a fairly low impact dance style so it’s great for all fitness levels but you’ll be surprised at how many steps you rack up during a class as it’s mostly footwork based. It will definitely help you get a bit closer to your 10,000 a day! It’s also great for memory and coordination as you learn lots of short routines – lots of my regulars say the class is as good for the brain as it is for the body!
It’s not all country music either, although we’ll have a bit of that, if that’s your thing. These days line dancing incorporates all sorts of music and I will be playing songs from the 1950s to the present day including pop music, Latin rhythms and Rock ‘n’ Roll. I am also happy to take requests, for those who may have done a little line dancing before.
My background is in modern social dancing (ballroom, freestyle, Rock ‘n’ Roll / Jive and line dancing) and I started by teaching children’s classes and eventually running my own Academy. I’m qualified with the International Dance Teachers’ Association and became a Fellow in 2008. Over the years, I found I preferred teaching adult classes and after taking a degree as a mature student in Professional Dance Development, I went on to take a PGCE in adult education and started teaching for the Mary Ward Centre (now also operating from Blackfriars Settlement in SE1) and particularly catering for older adults.
You can find out more about me and my classes on my website www.dted.co.uk or you could come along to my class on Saturday lunchtimes and have a dance with me!
