As you’ll be aware, the Government has today announced that schools in England will close on Friday this week as part of efforts to help delay the spread of Coronavirus (COVID-19).
We’re heartbroken
In line with this advice, it’s with a very heavy heart that Susan has today announced that SK Dance Studio will also temporarily close after classes on Friday until further notice. We’ll keep communicating via our Facebook and Instagram pages, so please do look out for updates.
Dance show postponed
Given we don’t know at this point when we’ll be able to re-open the dance studio, we have no choice but to postpone our show that was scheduled for July 3rd and 4th. We know this is really disappointing given how hard all our dancers have been working, but we will reschedule as soon as possible, probably in the Autumn. Please do keep practising your dances at home!
Virtual classes hopefully coming soon
Susan is really keen to ensure dancers have the opportunity to continue their dance education and their routine at this time. Her intention is to run some classes virtually. Like many small business owners, Susan now has a lot to do to work through her continuity plans, so your patience at this time is very much appreciated. We’ll get back to you as soon as possible with the details.
In the meantime, please stay safe and take care of each other.
11-year-old SK Dance Studio ballet pupil, Violet Stout, is celebrating success this week after learning she’s won a place on a much sought-after training programme for talented young ballet dancers.
Violet has been studying ballet at SK Dance Studio since she was just two years old, and in the last few years in particular, has really stepped up her commitment and is showing great promise.
With encouragement from her teachers, including dance school principal Susan Kielb, Violet applied for entry into the September in-take of the highly prestigious UK Cecchetti Ballet Associates programme, which is much respected in the ballet world.
She was invited to audition in early June 2017.
Audition success for the Cecchetti Ballet Associates
“The audition was really tough” said Violet. “Not only was it a really hot day, but there were so many very talented dancers there, all competing for a place. I knew I’d have to work extra hard to stand a chance of success, and I was determined not to let this dream opportunity pass me by. I gave it my all”.
This week Violet learned that her hard work had paid off when she received a letter offering her a place on the programme. She’ll begin training with the Northern Associates group in September, where she’ll be taught by a professional faculty in the world renowned Cecchetti method of classical ballet training.
About Enrico Cecchetti – Possibly the greatest ballet teacher of all time
This rigorous method of teaching was developed by Italian ballet maestro Enrico Cecchetti (born in 1850) who taught legendary ballet dancers such as Anna Pavlova and Vaslav Nijinskyz. British pupils of Cecchetti included Marie Rambert, founder of Ballet Rambert and Dame Ninette de Valois, who founded the Royal Ballet School based on the Cecchetti method.
“There’s a huge amount of competition to gain a place on the Cecchetti Associates programme, so we’re proud as punch that Violet has been successful” said Susan. “This is such a fantastic opportunity for her to further her ballet training and I know she’ll fully embrace it and make us very proud”.
Alongside her Cecchetti Associates classes, Violet will maintain her existing class work with both SK Dance Studio and the Manchester Ballet Associates, where she trains every week with Royal Ballet School graduate and former professional ballerina Kimberley Berkin.
As you’ll no doubt have heard on the news, many parts of Lancashire were affected by terrible flooding as 2015 drew to a close. It’s been a really difficult time for many communities across the UK, including our very own community of Appley Bridge, as properties became overwhelmed by flood water.
The SK Dance team were devastated when on Boxing Day, our dance studio in the hall at The Vale Methodist Church in Appley Bridge was flooded, along with the meeting space in the adjoining room.
Once the water receded, Susan and friends of the church tried their hardest to make the space usable for the first dance classes of 2016, but for the immediate future at least, it’s now clear that we’ll need to move to an alternative venue whilst building works are carried out to refurbish the hall.
At this point, it’s not known exactly how long it will take before we’re able to return to The Vale, though the estimate is currently thought to be in months rather than weeks.
SK Dance Studio classes will continue at an alternative venue Please see below for temporary venue arrangements
In the meantime, we’ve arranged alternative temporary local venues for all our classes. You can find details below and also on our Facebook and Google Plus pages.
We know the next few months will be a bit awkward and we truly are very sorry for the inconvenience our dancers and parents will face. But we hope you’ll agree that SK Dance isn’t about the bricks and mortar of our hall, it’s about our wonderful, talented dancers and the high quality of tuition delivered by our dedicated teachers. Regardless of the temporary venue we use, that will never change!
We really hope you’ll stick with us whilst the building works take place. We have a wonderful year of dance to look forward to, with ISTD exams, a big show production at Blackpool Winter Gardens and our own full dance school show in the summer.
We’re determined that this awful flooding won’t beat us and would like to thank everyone for their patience and messages of support whilst we await our return to The Vale.
Update 26/05/16: With effect from today, all classes except those on Thursdays have returned to The Vale! Thursday classes will remain at Shevington Youth Club.
Saturday Classes – Now at Shevington Youth Club
All Saturday classes will be held at Shevington Youth Club & Community Centre starting Saturday 6th February 2016 until further notice. Address: Highfield Avenue, Shevington, WN6 8HB. It’s just behind Shevington Methodist Church, down the side of Muffin Man bakery.
Timings:
With effect from Saturday 12th March 2016, we’re pleased to confirm that ALL Saturday classes will return to their usual time-slots (that’s the standard class schedule we followed when we were at The Vale). Click here to view our standard timetable.
Monday Adult Ballet Classes – Now at Shevington Youth Club
Our adult ballet class on Mondays will now be held at Shevington Youth Club & Community Centre starting Monday 1st February 2016 until further notice. Address: Highfield Avenue, Shevington, WN6 8HB. It’s just behind Shevington Methodist Church, down the side of Muffin Man bakery.
Timings:
In line with our usual timetable, adult ballet will run every Monday at 9pm to 10pm.
Tuesday Ballet & Student Classes – Now at Shevington Youth Club
Tuesday ballet classes will now be held at Shevington Youth Club & Community Centre starting Tuesday 2nd February 2016 until further notice. All Cara’s Tuesday classes for older students will also run from this location. Address: Highfield Avenue, Shevington, WN6 8HB. It’s just behind Shevington Methodist Church, down the side of Muffin Man bakery.
Timings:
All Tuesday ballet and student classes will follow our usual schedule.
Tuesday Adult Tap Classes – Now at Shevington Youth Club
Our Adult Tap classes on Tuesdays will now be held at Shevington Youth Club starting Tuesday 12th January 2016 until further notice. Address: Highfield Avenue, Shevington, WN6 8HB. It’s just behind Shevington Methodist Church, down the side of Muffin Man bakery.
Timings:
Beginners & Improvers – 8.45pm to 9.30pm
Advanced Tappers – 9.30pm to 10.15pm
Thursday Classes – Now at Shevington Youth Club
All Thursday classes will be held at Shevington Youth Club & Community Centre, starting Thursday 7th Jan 2016 until further notice. Address: Highfield Avenue, Shevington, WN6 8HB. It’s just behind Shevington Methodist Church, down the side of Muffin Man bakery.
Timings:
Grade 2 Ballet – 4.15pm to 5pm
Acro – 5pm to 5.45pm
Street Dance – 5.45pm to 6.15pm
Friday Ballet Babies Classes – Now at All Saints Church, Appley Bridge
Our Friday ‘Mummy & Me’ and ‘Advanced’ Ballet Babies classes will be held at All Saints Church, in Appley Bridge starting Friday 15th January 2106. Address: Finch Lane (off Appley Lane North), Appley Bridge, Wigan, WN6 9DT. It’s right next to All Saints Primary School.