Formerly the Cathcart Church
at 9 Fort Street, Ayr, Dansarena Studios was created
in 1984 when Karen Mitchell and her husband Dennis Gage
bought the
grade 2 listed building from the Church Of Scotland.
Barr
Construction Co. did the conversion and Karen’s
father, James Mitchell co-ordinated the refurbishment.
The majestic building has been beautifully
fitted out with 4 dance studios. Fully
equipped with barres, pianos and mirrors the two largest
studios have maple sprung floors
and the other two have Harlequin dance flooring.
There
are showers and a therapy room. Parents and pupils
can enjoy fresh soup, toasties, pasta, baked potatoes and
home baking in Dansarena’s comfortable coffee shop.
Centrally
located, Dansarena is easily accessible by bus and car.
There is a large municipal car park in nearby Charlotte
Street.
As well as being thoroughly
enjoyable, dance classes help develop co-ordination,
self-confidence, good posture and general fitness.
Dansarena offers classes in R.A.D. Ballet, I.S.T.D. Tap, Freestyle Jazz
Theatre and Musical Theatre.
More information on Classes ...
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Dansarena and it's branch
schools have their own theatre group which
gives annual shows in the Gaiety Theatre, Ayr
and the St Joseph's College
Theatre in Dumfries.
All proceeds are donated to the Malcolm Sargeant
Cancer Fund for Children ...
(more
...)
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The Royal Academy of Dance
holds Examinations and Presentation Classes in
classical ballet which test the student's progress
and ability.
Students may only enter for Academy Examinations and Presentation Classes if
they have been trained by a teacher holding an Academy teaching qualification.
The Academy's Syllabus has been devised with great care to ensure the safe
and correct training of students. It provides two distinct training pathways
in classical ballet - Graded and Vocational Graded programmes... (more...)
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Dansarena enters candidates annually
for the John Marshall Shield for Vocational Ballet
Students.
The competition is run by the Scottish Region of the R.A.D. and attracts entrants
from Dance schools all over Scotland.
Winner of the 2005 John
Marshall Shield for Scottish Dance Students
Joanne Carswell (Dansarena Studios)
Winner of the
John Marshall Junior Shield 2005
Abbie Watson (Dansarena Studios)
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Dansarena
operates an equal opportunities policy.
Our staff will never
discriminate against any customer on grounds of race,
creed or religion.
NEWS FROM DANSARENA AND BRANCH SCHOOLS
Both Dansarena and Branch School teachers are very proud to report excellent exam results from their pupils throughout the year.
Katie Wiseman's introduction of Pre School Dance Classes ( age 2 and 1/2 to 5 years ) has been very popular and all classes have been "wait listed".
Kerry Bolland's R.A.D. Vocational Ballet Classes have also been very productive and many students have successfully taken their professional examinations.
Sharon Hollywood has made a magnificent contribution with her choreography in the Vocational Jazz classes. Sharon has also prepared audition pieces for the Dansarena candidates applying for places in Vocational Dance Colleges.
Heather Rennie's I.S.T.D. Tap and Nicola Charlesworth's Modern candidates did wonderfully well in their recent exams with all pupils gaining "A" or "B" results.
Kristen Mason's R.A.D. Ballet Grade results were also splendid with all students awarded either Distinction or Merit certificates.
Jacquii Gavigan's Musical Theatre Classes have broadened Dansarena's curriculum and have given the students the opportunity to sing and act as well as dance. Jacquii also coached the Audition Monologues for the Vocation College entrants.
Rachael Bradbury, Laura Ferguson and Alison Reid were joint winners of the James Mitchell Scholarship for Dansarena Students with a total of £2,250.00 divided equally among them. The three were all successful in gaining coveted places in Vocational Colleges to study dance to Diploma level.
Dansarena pupils again achieved several first places at the Regional Festival4Stars competition in Glasgow.
Ashton McTear won the 2007 Grade 4/5 trophy for Ballet at the R.A.D. Scottish Region's Junior Awards Competition.
Nicole Bryden, Charlie Fisher, Niamh Gormley, Joanna Hart, Lauren Kerr, Lauren Rennie and Erin Telford recently gained places in Scottish Ballet's Junior Associates scheme.
Thanks and best wishes,
Karen
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