Now more than ever dance has an important role to play in our lives, proven to benefit body, mind and soul. This Works & Royal Academy of Dance have collaborated on an eight-week online dance programme, launched Wednesday 1 July, to encourage reconnection with our bodies (and each other), through movement, creativity and self-expression in this ongoing period of uncertainty.
‘A Moving Summer’ aims to encourage you to take some time for yourselves and your families, slow down, be thankful and unleash your inner dancer. The free eight-week programme of curated ballet-inspired exercises is delivered via fifteen-minute classes via Instagram, @royalacademyofdance and @thisworks and can be done alone or together in support bubbles, as a family, or even online together – creating a new ‘dance family’.
The series has been developed by Royal Academy of Dance teachers Imogen Knight and Joshua Tuifua, who have selected a different weekly focus for the series. Each fifteen-minute class has been designed to be suitable for home practice, and for a range of different ages and abilities. At the end of 8 weeks, you will have enough to have a ‘pick’n’ mix’ dance class with progression and build-up exercises.
Themes explored will include:
- Balancés to put a spring in your step: get energised through purposeful movement introducing a range of steps that can be built up over time.
- Superhero moments: In recent weeks, we have all had to draw on inner strength and these power positions will help to keep your energy up through the day.
- Movement mirror: mirroring is a great way to connect with one another, this chair-based exercise focuses on arms, Port de Bras (also known to help boost mental alertness and focus).
RAD Registered Teachers, Imogen Knight, ARAD and Reena Bhattacharjee are leading the series.