AE DANCE + FITNESS

So often in these newsletter we’re talking about all the NEW AND EXCITING AND BIG things coming up in the future. But I must say, throughout this summer, when I've spent a silly number of hours spreadsheeting as I get ready for these NEW AND EXCITING AND BIG THINGS for autumn, the thing I’ve loved the most is…our actual class time together.

God it’s been LUSH. I’ve really felt that team-spirit energy in classes this term. I wonder if it’s something to do with the mixture of people in the room over the past 5 weeks? Old friends returning from uni/contracts + new pals finding their feet. And then (what’s really amazed me this month) the consistency of all of us regular dancers. Showing up every week rain or…JUST KIDDING THERE’S BEEN NO RAIN (thank god). Showing up heatwave after heatwave to train our brains and bodies and enjoy that social contact that's so essential in our adult, working weeks.

So just a 'thank you' and acknowledgment from me, really! Not for the flashiness of the term just gone, but for the every day dance classes. They keep me sane. And they’re the reason I started AE Dance. And on that note, I'm actually teaching the final Sweaty Mess of term in...3hrs, so if you're keen for a strong Bank Holiday warm up, I'll see you there!

If you're reading this after 9.40am though, let's look ahead to Term 5...

*In case you're new and didn't know this, we offer a "get your 4th class for half-price" block booking deal. So if you block book 3 classes a week, for example Mon BBF + Mon LC and Wed Burlesque, you can get a 4th class (for example Wed Commercial) for half-price! You just have to block book for the term, and book them all in one transaction.

1. Here's what's CHANGING next term 🔀

• 'Lyrical Ballet' is becoming ‘Lyrical’ – this change is just about opening up the creative scope for the class, giving the teachers the opportunity to dive into more variety of movement and style. Resident dancer/videographer Daniela got a sneak peak of them in action last week – check it out below! You can join the Beg/Int class on Mondays and the Int/Adv class on Tuesdays.

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• Level 3.5 and Level 4 Tap have graduated! The formally known Level 3.5 is now Level 4. And the formally known level 4 is now Level 5! The actual content/levels are not changing. Just the titles. But given it’s taken me 6 months to make the decision, I think it’s worth celebrating anyway.

2. Here's what NEW next term 🆕

Mystery Teacher incoming: we're just finalising the plans but we *may* be launching some new classes with a brand new teacher on Tuesdays at The Big Act next term...If you want to be the first to get the gos, click here and you’ll be emailed as soon as we know!

New weekly Beginners Ballet class: people are REALLY loving ballet at the moment. So we're starting a new Beginners Ballet class at 8pm Mondays at Cotham. It’ll be taught by lovely Eleanor, right after 7pm Lyrical. You can book here.

Always wanted to try Pointe? We’re taking on a new cohort of Pointe dancers next term! This is a beginners course for people who are new to Pointe but have about 4 years recent ballet experience. If you’re interested, reply to this email and we’ll chat details!

Floorwork Course for total Beginners! YES GUYS! Obsessed (like me) with videos of dancers slip sliding, rolling and flowing over the floor like a slippery worm? PAULA CAN TEACH YOU HOW TO DO THAT! In our new weekly beginner floorwork course - Mondays, 6-7pm @ The Island. Book here.

And here's what's happening outside the classroom next term...

Come watch us at the Rugby World Cup Fan Zone 🏉

Right, have we all heard that Bristol is hosting the Women’s Rugby World Cup quarter and semi finals?!?! And that they’re setting up a massive Fan Zone in the Amphitheatre on 19 and 20 September to bring all of Bristol together to celebrate? WELL! We will be performing at this event (and teaching workshops). And we’d love to see as many AE Dancers in the audience as possible!

You can catch us on Fridays 19 September at 3.30pm and 7.40pm. And on Saturday 20 September at 11.30am and 4.10pm.

The Choreo Show is on October 25th! 🧠

Do you know about this? It's our first ever Choreo show, where the dancers have created ALL the pieces (in fact, rehearsals start in Septmeber!)! It’s at the Improv Theatre – and we'll most likely do 2 evening sittings (one at 6pm-ish and one at 8pm-ish).

Tickets will go on sale next month. And I know your class mates would LOVE to have your support there! We’ll post on socials when tickets go live, so make sure you’re following us here to get the gos.

Extra dates for the diary 📆

Gabbie’s Intensive – 2hr Saturday morning workshops for Adv Jazz + Technique training 27^th September and 18^th October ​

42^nd Street Tap Workshops – 4^th October - with Graeme Henderson, star of the Westend production – while these workshops are currently full, we are hoping to put on an extra one. Please add you email to the waiting list and we will email you directly once the 3^rd workshop is organised 4^th October!

SLEIGH! – 5^th December – our Christmas mini show and social! We’ll spend November working on short, snappy ‘n’ sassy performance routines that we’ll then share with each other (in the fancy theatre at BGS on Dec 5th). And then we’ll have a massive party! Music to my ears!

Dancers of the…Summer!

Today we’re celebrating 2 dancers 🥳

This first dancer joined us after she graduated from The Big Act, looking to hold on to her love for dance. She’s been a fun(ny), hardworking and consistent face in Monday Jazz and Level 4 (now 5!) Tap ever since. And this year joined the Pride Project, working with and meeting a new group of dancers as they created they’re own routine celebrating the queer community in AE Dance. A reliable and smiley presence in class, I’m going to miss this dancer a lot as they start their next life phase in September, embarking on a degree in Drama at Bath Spa, with their ambition to become a drama teacher. It’s such a perk of the job watching people in our community make these big life steps and I feel very proud (and quite emotional) for this dancer as they make this move. So on that note…ABI BAKER YOU ARE OUR DANCER OF THE MONTH FOR AUGUST!

Thank you for gracing us with your immaculate presence and you have a whole load of support from your Monday Jazz/Level 4 Tap/Pride Project babes as you move on to this exciting next phase! WE LOVE YOU!

And then, a slightly delayed July dancer of the month (in part because we wanted to give this to you at Summer Showdown Hoedown but ran out of time).

This dancer first dipped her toe into classes last September, with the Total Beginners Lyrical Contemporary course with Alice (and a side slice of Beg/Int Musical Theatre). And to say they have JUMPED IN FEET FIRST, since! January saw them take on the Beginners Ballet and Tap courses. And then in the spring they added Burlesque, Commercial and Ballet Barre Fitness to their bow. I spoke to Alice about this dancer, and she said “it was so lovely to see her in the Summer Show – how much she’d improved in her confidence and dance ability. I feel like she isn’t afraid to throw herself into the unknown. All the hard work is clearly paying off! And she’s just lush!”

This (relatively new) dancer will also be creating and teaching her own routine for the choreo show in October. And if that isn’t an inspiring, brave, forward-moving action, I don’t know what is. Freya Greenwood we think you’re fantastic. When I grow up, I want to be more like you. CONGRATULATIONS BOO! You are our (slightly belated) dancer of July!

Freya, Abi, let us know which charities you’re like us to support through your winnings and we’ll send £25 donation their way.

It's taken me effing hours to put together this newsletter. I hope it's actually helpful...and interesting...if not, I'm just going to get ChatGPT to write it next time (just kidding, her tone of voice is shite).

See you in Term 5 guys!

Angie xx

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