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“Belly Moves’ is only one of a of classes i Dance Base
Natalie Woolman leads you through the myriad of possibilities for part time further education, starting with dance classes for every possible taste
ula-hooping. burlesque and aerial acrobatics are all withinreach of your twinkle toes this autumn if you have the
urge. The phenomenal success of
the Strictly Come Dancing and recent Hollywood offerings including Shall We Dance." and Step Up seems to have transformed us into a nation of dance lovers. Over 2500 students pass through
the doors of Dance Base in Edinburgh every week and
Glasgow‘s Dance House has just announced a new space for the autumn session: it seems that we are surfing the cultural equivalent of a tidal wave. bandying tap shoes. cha cha heels and ballet pumps.
The plethora of dance courses available in Edinburgh and Glasgow can be daunting for a total beginner so we have picked some highlights. After all. with health benefits including increased stamina. flexibility and weight loss. who would pass up the chance to become a Pavlova or a Sway/.e‘.’
Dance Base in Edinburgh offer every type of dance class you can probably imagine. plus a few more. The 130 weekly classes. ranging from ballet to breakdance and bellydancing. are pitched at five levels. These levels. which span beginners to professionals. are
12 THE LIST 4—18 80;) 2008
highlighted in the brochure to ensure you don‘t find yourself in with Rambert understudies. Students are advised to book classes on the first booking day — Saturday (3
September — for the best chance of
getting places on m'ersubscribed courses. There are also drop-in classes if you want a taster of a new style before you commit to a term‘s worth of classes.
In Glasgow Dance House. which holds courses in locations across the
city centre. is launching a variety of
new classes in time for Autumn in its biggest programme yet. These include Ballroom Basics. Bollywood and Shiatsu Bodywork. Advanced booking is required for many of these classes. although there are a number you can drop into and pay on the day. For partners. friends and children of the couch potato variety. Dance House has Love Dance gift vouchers to draw reticent dancers into the limelight.
‘WE ARE SURFING A TIDAL WAVE 0F TAP SHOES, CHA CHA HEELS AND BALLET PUMPS'
For those with an eye on becoming involved in professional dance. Anniesland College in Glasgow and Telford (‘ollege in Edinburgh offer various qualifications up to HND and BA standard. The courses at Telford revolve around a core of ballet. jazz and contemporary dance training. with speciality units depending on your course. The faculty at Anniesland mix academic study and practical dance skills with students also getting to grips with choreography.
The Edinburgh Tango School holds classes five nights a week for neat feet. Novices are encouraged to go to the free trial class. held every Sunday evening at the Counting House. after which they can sign up for a regular class. The School also organises visits from Argentinian and European professional tango dancers several times a year.
(‘uban Salsa classes start at the Ashanti Dance Studio in Glasgow in mid September. For ladies who covet Dita von Teese. a burlesque class is starting in October and a pole—dancing course will get heads spinning from November.
See listings, page 14 for full contact details of all venues.
Arts and Crafts
Edinburgh
Art
Edinburgh College of Art run a range of art courses including ‘Painting the Landscape‘ and ‘Approaching Abstraction‘ as well as ligure modelling. life drawing and digital imaging. The eca brochure is out on 8 Sep. Telford (‘ollege also run BTEC‘s. A-levels and Foundation courses in art. ecu. Ixmriston Place. 013/ 22/ 6000, tku‘.ecu.uc.uk. tel/m1 ('o/lege. lll’est (irunton Road. ()13/ 55‘) 4000. u'n'n'.ed-co/l.u('.ltk
Jewellery
Leith School ofArt‘s evening jewellery course shows students how to make baubles in metal and other materials in time for the festive season. The course is full for autumn term but to join the waiting list. e-mail enquiries(a‘leithschoolofart.co.uk. Prices vary. Leitlr Scltoo/ (if/lrt. North Junction Street. ()15’ l 55-! 576/, H'H'n'.left/m'lIoU/(t/ttrt.cull/v Crafts
Edinburgh council ((‘E(‘) runs plenty classes for those with a secret artistic side. Drawing and painting classes are available. plus courses in calligraphy. dressmaking. photography and stained glass window design. Term begins Mon 22 Sep. (‘ourses start at £60 for ten weeks. (‘l:'('. various locations, 015/ 46‘) 3250, mm:edin/ntre/Igov.nk
Stained glass
Madge at (‘reative Glass Designs teaches students how to design. cut and weather their own panel. Five two-hour sessions cost £95. or all- day Saturday workshops are £80. ('reutr've Glass Designs. Drum Brae Sour/I. ()ln’l 5’5") 5/35. n'u'u:t‘I't’ttlii't’g/tr.s‘.s‘ designs. ( 'o. uk Fashion
If you dream of being the next Stella McCartney. 'l‘elford (‘ollege offer several fashion—related courses. (‘E(‘ also run a weekly dressmaking class if you want non- vocational tuition. Ten lessons cost £66. Prices for 'l'elford‘s courses vary. (7'1 ‘. 'Iel/tm/ ('ol/ege. see Edinburgh. Art.