Dance City is open! We are delighted to be welcoming people into the Dance City building to engage in dance again. Below are updates on our various activities as of September 2020.
The new Covid 19 regulations around social gatherings, known as the ‘Rule of 6’ are in force from 14 September. Please note that the activities we are offering at Dance City are still permitted as they fall into the following exempt category:
- organised indoor and outdoor sports, physical activity and exercise classes
You can find out more about the latest government guidelines here.
What we are doing to keep everyone at Dance City safe
Our team has been working hard to make sure that everyone who enters our building stays as safe as possible from Coronavirus. This has involved a thorough risk assessment, staff training, and investment in new equipment and facilities. Please read our guide to Staying Safe at Dance City before booking or visiting our building.
Public Classes
Our classes planning team have worked tirelessly to realise a safe and socially distanced public class timetable which launched on 7 September. Most classes are ‘hybrid’ meaning they are available to take part ‘in the room or on zoom’. Our customers are delighted to be able to dance (safe and socially distanced) again in our studios, and for those who prefer to join from home, the zoom option is hugely popular. We have adapted our website so that people can use the search filter ‘online classes’ to book these and they are ‘pay as you feel’ and can be accessed free of charge all season so there’s no reason to miss out! Book Now
We understand that people need more flexibility right now, so we’ve relaxed our 24 hour cancellation policy so that you can cancel your class and receive a refund up to 1 hour before the class with no quibbles.
Performances
Our fantastic programme of dance performances had to be postponed due to lockdown. We have now rescheduled many of the shows to 2021. We are planning our first socially distanced theatre performance on Saturday 28 November, with Rosie Kay’s Absolute Solo II. A limited number of tickets are available now!
Professional Artists
Throughout August we were able to offer studio space to professional artists for solo practice or groups of up to four who belong to the same ‘bubble’. In October we will be launching a new initiative – Pro Lates. This will allow professional dance artists to use our studio spaces from 9pm until midnight on specified nights of the week. We are introducing this and other measures that enable us to make the most of the precious spaces in our building (which now have smaller socially distanced capacities) by extending our opening hours.
Training Academy
Our Centre for Advanced Training (CAT) programme resumed on 7 September, with over 100 gifted and talented young people age 10-18 taking up a place on this renowned programme. We welcome our BA Professional Dance students back next week, and a new cohort of MA Advanced Dance Performance will arrive in Sunderland on 12 October.
Engagement
Our Engagement team have been very active throughout the summer, delivering dance to the streets of Newcastle in special outdoor classes, and also offering summer dance camps in a variety of styles, from musical theatre to pop and Bollywood. They have been working on lots of exciting projects including creating a fun learn to dance video you can VIEW HERE.
Donate
Dance City is the North East’s leading dance organisation and is at the heart of our region’s dance community. Over the past thirty years we have played an essential role in the community, supporting artists to forge a career in the region and delivering inspiring engagement projects for people of all walks of life.
Throughout the pandemic we – like many of you – have faced unprecedented challenges, and will continue to do so as we plan our recovery over the coming months.
We understand that the impact of coronavirus is being felt by everyone, but if you are able support us by making a donation of any size, this will help us to continue to support artists and communities and secure our future. Click here to donate.
