COVID-19 had a massive impact on our business but we were able to survive and rebuild, in part, because of the government grants and student’s willingness to come to classes even if it meant wearing masks and keeping 2m away from anyone else!

Unfortunately, as with most things, we do have to eventually review our pricing as our own costs increase.

These new prices will come into effect from Friday 1st September, but any bookings/purchases before 31st August will still be at the existing prices.

Adult Group Classes

Our adult group classes, which now includes the Friday Sequence & Social at our studio too, will raise to £9pp. We will continue to offer our discounted packages and 5 sessions will now be £40.50, 10 sessions £72.

FitSteps Dance Fitness

Our FitSteps classes will be increasing to £6.50pp with 5 sessions at £29.25 and 10 sessions £52

Private Lessons

Private lessons will be increasing by £2.50 per session, £13.50 on a package of 6 sessions, £20 on a package of 10 sessions.

Lessons will therefore range from £27.50 for 30 minute lessons with Denise or Tom, up to £460 for a package of 10x1hr lessons with Antony.

Wedding Choreography

Our wedding dance lessons will also see the same increase as private lessons. There are a wider variety of packages for wedding couples and these will be updated accordingly.

One Dance Courses

These will increase to £50 per 6 week course.

All other prices will remain as they are currently, but will be reviewed if the need arises.

The post 2023 Price Increases from 1st September appeared first on Learn To Dance.

Our award-winning dance choreography has been in high demand, and we are excited to announce that we have added additional wedding first dance lesson availability to accommodate the phenomenal interest.

At our studio, we understand how important your first dance as a married couple is. We believe that it should be an expression of your unique personalities and love story. That’s why we offer personalised dance lessons and choreography services. Our aim is to help you feel confident and comfortable on the dance floor.

Our experienced instructor will work with you to create a memorable dance routine that is tailored to your preferences and skill level. We cater for all requirements whether you just want some confidence with basic steps or something more involved. We always work on the basis that you should look like you’re dancing, not trying to!

Award Winning

Learn To Dance have received numerous awards and accolades for our wedding dance choreography. This year we were honoured to receive an accolade from popular wedding site Hitched, voted for by recent wedding couples.

You can read testimonials from past couples on our wedding page.

Wedding Dance Choreography

We take great pride in our ability to help couples create a truly magical moment on their special day. Planning a wedding can be stressful, but our team is here to make the dance portion of your wedding planning process as smooth and enjoyable as possible. Many couples comment on how much they enjoyed taking time out from wedding planning, to do something just ‘for themselves’.

Our additional availability is a testament to the quality of our services and the satisfaction of our clients. We are excited to be able to offer even more couples the opportunity to experience the magic of our award-winning dance choreography.

What Wedding Dance Lesson Availability has been added?

You can search our availability over the next 7 days below, or visit our Full Booking System for more options.

So, what are you waiting for? Contact us today if you have any questions.

Let us help you create a moment that you and your guests will never forget!

The post More Wedding Dance Lesson Availability Added appeared first on Learn To Dance.

Next year’s booking system has been updated and you can now book onto our classes, workshops or events throughout 2022.

Both Denise’s and Antony’s private lesson diaries are now live and Tom will be rejoining us in 2022 too. His diary availability is just being confirmed and will be available to book soon. However it will be Mondays during the day, Thursday mornings and Friday lunchtimes.

Whilst the dance studio may be closed for Christmas you are still able to purchase gift vouchers for friends & family. The easiest way to do this is via our the gift card section of our website. Learn to Dance gift vouchers can be sent directly to their email address, or to yourself to print off and put in a card.

However a reminder that to redeem a gift card balance they would need to visit our full booking system or contact us.

Remember that email is the best way to get hold of us whilst the dance studio is closed for Christmas. We will be checking the studio answer machine over the Christmas break, but infrequently.

Friday S.M.I.L.E. classes to return

Our Friday afternoon S.M.I.L.E. (So Much Improvement for Little Effort) classes are finally scheduled to return from Friday 7th January 2022. These will be in the new Braywick Leisure Centre in Maidenhead. The classes will be headed by Tom on a weekly basis.

These are currently planned to run to the same schedule as our other weekly classes. This means they will recommence looking at Quickstep & Cha Cha Cha.

The class will run from 2pm-3.45pm, with a break halfway through, and bookings are made directly with the Leisure Centre. Prices will be £4.50 per person, with an Advantage Card, or £7.20 without.

Is COVID going to keep the dance studio closed past Christmas?

As it currently stands we do not expect the dance studio to need to remain closed past the Christmas break.

Reports we are now seeing suggest that Omicron is proving to be milder and therefore no further restrictions are hopefully required.

However we all know things can change at short notice. We will keep everyone updated should any changes be required.

Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year

Finally let us wish you all a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year and we look forward to seeing you all again in 2022.

Antony, Emma, Denise, Imogen & Oliver

The post Dance Studio Closed for Christmas appeared first on Learn To Dance.

As we type this we currently have a regular corporate group class that includes attendees in Denmark & Japan; wedding couples in Norwich & Scotland; and students taking the odd private lesson online if their schedule means they can’t make their session at the studio!

Plus enquiries for Zoom Dance Lessons are increasing.

Zoom Wedding First Dance Lessons Online

We’re getting a lot of enquiries for our wedding first dance lessons to be provided online at the moment. Thanks to our dedicated Zoom Dance Lessons setup, not living close to our studio is no longer a restriction on your ability to experience our dance lessons.

We are experienced in how to translate our dance moves into easy to follow instructions online. Our First Dance choreography lessons are tailored around your choice of song. We work with you to put together a routine you can enjoy on your wedding day.

Worried about whether you’ll forget the moves in between sessions? We record some of your Zoom First Dance lessons practices. You are then sent a download link and can refer back to the videos to assist your memory when practicing.

The great thing with our Zoom First Dance lessons setup is that we can be available at short notice. A lot of our wedding first dance lessons enquiries are coming in only a few weeks before their wedding. We provide lessons five days a week (including Sundays) but we can be flexible should you struggle to find slots.

With prices starting from £35 we have options to suit all budgets, including a number of First Dance package options. If you’d like to discuss our First Dance lessons get in touch or search our availability now.

Zoom Private Dance Lessons

Not able to make your booked lesson? Maybe you’re still nervous about the Coronavirus levels or live too far away to attend our studio? Don’t worry we can still provide dance lessons online via Zoom.

Whether it’s fun solo dance routines, learning the basics of Ballroom and Latin American, or adapting Sequence dances to your front rooms, we’re experienced in compressing the dances into confined spaces.

Did you know that during the 2021 UK lockdown we even adapted the Waltz as an 18 week online course!

Lessons can be booked as purely Zoom Dance Lessons (just choose the Zoom option when booking). But we are also able to switch an existing in-person session to Zoom if you find yourself unable to make a booked appointment at short notice.

Interested in booking yourself a Zoom Dance Lesson with one of our team? You can search our availability and book online.

Corporate and Team Building Online Events

Whilst we are experienced in providing dance sessions for corporate events and team building days we have seen a rise in enquiries for streamed sessions.

We run weekly sessions for EJEF (a English-Japanese language school in Buckinghamshire) which includes regular attendees from Japan. They also have colleagues that have taken part in the Zoom Dance Lessons from around the globe (including Denmark & Tehran).

Carers Wales enlisted us to provide a fun Saturday Night Fever workshop as part of their ‘Me Time‘ project. The project aims to support un-paid carers with their mental health, especially due to the effects of the pandemic.

The Zoom Dance session was a great hit, with one person even taking part from a houseboat! We loved hearing how well it went:

Just to say a huge thanks from Amber and I – it was the best afternoon at work ever!!…So many smiley faces…Thanks again … it was a real blast !!!

YouTube Dance Lessons

During the first UK lockdown we produced four videos a week to hopefully keep our students busy and entertained. With options for Solo dancers, Partners, Sequence and Kids we tried to make sure there was something for everyone.

Since the reopening of the dance school we have still tried to maintain a weekly online dance lesson on our YouTube channel. In fact our viewership quickly went global and only around 12% of our viewership are actually based in the UK!

You can see some of our most recent uploads below:

Subscribe to my channel

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About Learn To Dance

Learn To Dance is a Ballroom and Latin American Dance School based in Burnham, Buckinghamshire.

Offering regular YouTube videos, as well as Zoom Dance Lessons, subscribe to be kept informed when new videos are going live. Send us your suggestions of what you’d like to see us release and we’ll do our best!

Looking for more personal tuition? We provide both in-person and streamed lessons and classes. Check out learndance.co.uk/online for more information.

You can check out our website, or follow us online, at:

Website: learndance.co.uk
Youtube: youtube.com/learndance
Facebook: facebook.com/learndance
Instagram: instagram.com/learndance
Twitter: twitter.com/learndance

The post Zoom Dance Lessons Online with Learn To Dance appeared first on Learn To Dance.

Antony, Emma & Denise are all fully vaccinated, and carry out twice-weekly COVID testing. With the restrictions on self-isolation being removed from Monday 16th August we feel this is the right time to trial reintroducing full contact with our teachers.

We do ask any students that wish to dance with our teachers to please wear a mask, as will we, and would recommend you also partake in regular free COVID testing.

Personal Tuition Sessions

Since Monday 19th July we have been trialling limited contact in personal tuition ‘private lessons’. During this time we have been gaining student feedback as well as discussing with medical professionals.

We are now happy to begin reintroducing full dance teacher partnering if students wish to; though you may continue to have solo dance lessons if you prefer. Our teachers will still wear masks and sanitise before and after and we ask that you also do the same.

There will still be 15 minute gaps between sessions to allow us to continue to sanitise the studio. This also allows us time to check COVID-pass or test results as part of our entry procedures.

You can search our availability and book online using the below options:

Dance Teacher Partnering in Group Classes

Initially we only reintroduced partnering in group classes between students when the lockdown restrictions were [mainly] lifted on 19th July.

However we are now happy to begin partnering again in group classes once the self-isolation rule changes are introduced.

Any students wishing to take advantage of dance teacher partnering may be asked to do so whilst wearing a mask. This is for the continued safety of both our staff and students.

There will still be a limit on numbers for our classes so we recommend booking in advance! You can book into our classes below:

Don’t forget we won’t be permitting contact with our teachers before Monday 16th August at the earliest; and dependant on the changes to self-isolation being confirmed. Also you are still required to bring proof of vaccination status or a negative COVID test result with you.

Dance Breaks and Social Events

We hope to begin reintroducing social events and dance breaks from September, including dance teacher partnering.

With the virus still prevalent we are considering asking for negative COVID tests to be produced, to attend social events.

Our consultation with students booked into our Bournemouth Dance Break in October has so far been agreeable to testing. All attendees would be asked to produce a negative COVID test taken within the 48hrs before attending the weekend.

Over the next few weeks feedback from students will be requested on testing before, for example, a Friday night social. We currently plan to reintroduce our Friday socials from September 24th and they are available to book now.

We welcome all feedback on these changes and remind you to respect an individual’s choice on partnering.

Our COVID policies are constantly evolving and we recommend you check our Procedures and Policies page before each visit.

We are currently in the process of updating our website and booking confirmations. We please ask you to bear with us if out-of-date information is still showing.

The post Dance Teacher Partnering to resume from Monday 16th August appeared first on Learn To Dance.

UPDATE 16/07/2021: FOLLOWING DISCUSSIONS WITH STAFF AND STUDENTS WE HAVE MADE SOME CHANGES TO THESE PLANS. CHECK OUR COVID POLICIES PAGE FOR THE MOST UP-TO-DATE PROCEDURES.

Dance School Restrictions Easing Step 4 (delayed from 21st June)

So the government have now confirmed that Step 4 of lockdown easing will finally go ahead from Monday 19th July. Whilst not all of the guidelines have currently been updated the main document is available and we have been reviewing it today.

Although most legal restrictions are being lifted at step 4, and lots of people have been vaccinated, we are told it is still possible to catch and spread COVID-19. This can happen even if you are fully vaccinated, and we are currently in the third wave of the pandemic in the UK.

The government have confirmed that COVID-19 will be a feature of our lives for the foreseeable future. Therefore we need to learn to live with it and manage the risk to ourselves and others.

Some of the features of the last year that we can expect to see being encouraged/required as dance school restrictions easing starts are:

• Being tested if you develop symptoms
• Self-isolating if you test positive, or are asked to isolate by Test & Trace. The requirement to isolate by Test & Trace will be removed for Under 18s and those fully vaccinated after 16th August if a negative test result is received.
• Masks in busy confined spaces such as public transport
• Good ventilation should be maintained
• Social contact should still be minimised
• COVID passes recommended to enter some venues

So what restrictions are being lifted?

The 2m social distancing requirement is going to be removed and there will be no limit now on the numbers that you can meet up with.

All businesses are now allowed to be fully open with all capacity limits removed.

However there are still some things they recommend to help mitigate or minimise the risk of transmission as the dance school restrictions begin easing:

Individuals

• You should limit close contact with those you don’t normally live with
• Close contact should be gradually increased over time
• Minimise the number, proximity and duration of social contacts
• Meet outdoors where possible
• Whilst working from home will no longer be encouraged, there should be a phased return over the summer where possible
• Face covering requirements will be removed from law, however are recommended to be maintained in crowded areas
• Limits on weddings and other similar events will be removed although there will be additional guidance on this (not yet updated as at 13/07/2021).

Businesses

• All businesses are now allowed to reopen
• Capacity limits will be removed
• No social distancing rules
• Still have to follow relevant working safely guidance (not yet updated as at 13/07/2021
• Certain mitigations should still be followed:
  • Regular cleaning of frequently touched surfaces
  • Ensure sufficient air flow around the venue
  • If staff or customers are unwell they shouldn’t enter the building
  • Consider implementation of the COVID pass for entry. The NHS COVID Pass will be made available through the NHS App, NHS.UK, or as a letter that can be requested by ringing NHS 119. Visitors will also be able to show text or email confirmation of test results.
  • QR code for Trace and Test should still be displayed
  • Twice weekly testing for staff should be encouraged

Some of the guidelines are still in the process of being updated but there shouldn’t be too many material differences hopefully. We will however review the various documents as they are updated.

If you are worried about going back to a more ‘normal’ life, there is information from the NHS on how to cope with anxiety about lockdown lifting.

Understanding the risks of COVID-19

The risk of catching or passing on COVID-19 can be higher in certain places and when doing certain activities.

The main way of spreading COVID-19 is through close contact with an infected person. When someone with COVID-19 breathes, speaks, coughs or sneezes, they release particles (droplets and aerosols) containing the virus that causes COVID-19. These particles can be breathed in by another person. The particles can also land on surfaces and be passed from person to person via touch.

Generally the risk of catching or passing on COVID-19 is higher:

• within crowded spaces, where there are more people who might be infectious
• in enclosed indoor spaces where there is limited fresh air

Some activities can also increase the risk of catching or passing on COVID-19. This happens where people are doing activities which generate more particles as they breathe heavily, such as singing, dancing, exercising or raising their voices.

The risk is greatest where these factors overlap, for example in crowded indoor spaces where people are raising their voices.

In situations where there is a higher risk of catching or passing on COVID-19, you should be particularly careful to follow the guidance on keeping yourself and others safe as we return to normality. Every little action helps to keep us all safer.

How close contact advice affects the dance school restrictions easing

The main way of spreading COVID-19 is through close contact with an infected person. When someone with COVID-19 breathes, speaks, coughs or sneezes, they release particles (droplets and aerosols) containing the virus that causes COVID-19. These particles can be breathed in by another person.

The government is therefore recommending that you may choose to limit the close contact you have with people you do not usually live with. They also recommend being tested before taking part in activities that will require close contact for prolonged periods. All our teachers voluntarily take part in twice-weekly testing.

So what will Learn To Dance be implementing as the dance school restrictions easing starts?

We have discussed this as a school and agreed how we are going to start implementing the changes as dance school restrictions easing begins.

There will be some of our current restrictions/procedures that we will be maintaining, some that we will be removing, and some that we will relax but not entirely remove yet.

What are we taking away?

• TEMPERATURE CHECKS ON ARRIVAL
  • But please note this will be replaced by COVID pass or negative test proofs – more on that later
• REQUIREMENT TO WEAR A MASK ON ARRIVAL OR LEAVING
  • You will no longer be required to wear a mask on arrival, or when leaving the studio. However we would recommend wearing one when you head down the corridor to the toilets.
• SOCIAL DISTANCING ‘DOTS’ REMOVED
  • We will no longer have the floor spacings and we won’t be enforcing social distancing. However please bear in mind that not everyone will be fully comfortable with returning to ‘normal’ as we move out of lockdown restrictions. Therefore we ask that you respect others space in classes and try to avoid getting too close.
• PRE-BOOKING NOT REQUIRED
  • You will no longer be required to pre-book for our classes, details on new temporary capacity limits follow later. Please note however that those not pre-booked may be refused entry if our new limits are hit.

What’s staying the same?

• ONE-WAY SYSTEM
  • For the moment we will be retaining the one-way system at the studio. You will still be required to enter from the pitch side of the studio, and leave on the opposite side. This will allow us to continue to implement some of our policies, including new ones you can read more on later.
• NON-CONTACT WITH OUR TEACHERS (in group classes)
  • We are required to phase contact back in and so will be trialling limited contact during private lessons only initially
• FOGGING/CLEANING OF THE STUDIO
  • Our cleaning regime of the studio will remain in place which means we will still ask you to leave promptly at the end of classes to allow us to fog areas. You may not be admitted to the studio if you arrive too early for a session, if sufficient time hasn’t passed to allow the process to take effect.
• HAND SANITISER STATIONS
  • Our hand sanitiser stations will remain and we recommend using on arrival and before leaving, or when visiting the toilets.
• FEELING ILL? STAY AWAY
  • If you are displaying any COVID-like symptoms please do not come to the studio
• REGULAR TESTING
  • Our teachers are undergoing voluntary twice-weekly testing and will continue to do so

What changes/new procedures are we bringing in?

Though dance school restrictions easing on 19th July is a long-awaited date we feel there are some procedures we need to introduce of change.

• COVID-pass OR NEGATIVE TESTS FOR ENTRY
  • The government have introduced a COVID-pass using the NHS app (not the Test & Trace app). This is the easiest way for us to lower the risk to ALL our staff and students.
  • Your COVID-pass shows instantly if you are fully vaccinated, or have received a negative Covid test in the previous 48hrs.
  • the NHS COVID Pass will be made available through the NHS App, NHS.UK, or as a letter that can be requested by ringing NHS 119.
  • if you have a negative lateral flow test result you can also show us the email or text message, so long as it was within 48hrs of your visit.
  • If you do not have a smartphone you can bring a printout, or the letter if you have requested this from NHS 119.
  • At this stage you will not be permitted entry if you do not bring the required proof. We will be updating our booking confirmation and reminders to reflect this change. This applies to both private lessons and group classes, regardless of whether you will be partnering anyone.
• INCREASED CAPACITY FOR CLASSES
  • Although the government have removed all capacity limits for businesses we are still going to limit our class sizes initially.
  • We have increased our class capacity to 24 people as a trial.
  • You will no longer have to pre-book for our classes, but it is still recommended as we will stop admitting people if our pre-booked and walk-in numbers hit 24.
  • If you are running late for a class please ring the studio and let us know, as no-show places will be offered to any walk-ins who may have waited.
• CONTACT BETWEEN STUDENTS IN GROUP CLASSES
  • We will no longer restrict solo dancers to dancing on their own if they wish to rotate amongst other solo dancers.
  • At present our teachers will still not be partnering solo dancers in group classes. Initially we are going to trial partnering during private lessons only.
  • To avoid confusion we will be implementing a traffic light system for our solo dancers. On arrival you will be asked whether you would be happy to dance with another student, either with or without a mask, or whether you want to dance only on your own. You will then be issued with a coloured sticker.
    • Green – I’m happy to dance with someone ‘as normal’
    • Yellow – If we both wear masks I’m happy to dance with someone
    • Red – I’m not comfortable dancing with anyone yet
  • We ask that you respect each student’s choice and be prepared to wear a mask, or not dance with someone, depending on their sticker.
• PRIVATE LESSONS REINTRODUCING LIMITED CONTACT
  • In line with the government’s guidelines we will be reintroducing contact with our teachers during private lessons only
  • However the guidelines also state that individuals should limit close contact with those that they don’t live with. Whilst our teachers may be one extra person that you are partnering we have to consider the number of people they could end up partnering in a week.
  • With this in mind we will only be partnering for a maximum of 50% of a private lesson, and in no more than 15 minute intervals initially.
• SOCIAL EVENTS TESTING
  • We will not be reintroducing most of our social events initially, but will start running a trial with our Tuesday Over 50s returning to 90 minutes.
  • The session will be 45-60 minutes of tuition and the remaining time for tea/coffee, practice and socialising.
  • Our traffic light system will still be in effect so please respect other student’s choices during this time
  • For tea & coffee please bring your own mugs and limit the time spent in the kitchen area (please chat in the main studio. We ask that you wear masks when entering the kitchen.

We hope you can appreciate our cautious approach to reopening. Whilst it would be a lot better for us financially to return to ‘normality’ as soon as possible we would rather ensure a safe environment for all of you and us.

However we will be constantly monitoring both government & industry advice, as well as feedback from our students, so please let us know if you have any questions or comments.

We can’t wait to welcome more of you back and hope that the dance school restrictions easing can continue over the next few months.

The post Dance School Restrictions Easing 19th July appeared first on Learn To Dance.

This means we can finally reopen our studio doors to all of our dance students again! We will have to limit the numbers in our classes, to about a third of normal capacity. However this does mean we’ll be able to give each student a bit more of our time (whether they want the extra attention or not ).

The Prime Minister has also said the, subject to the impact this next stage has, we are on track to move to Step 4 on 21st June. This could mean that we can begin planning to return to contact lessons, but further details will be released as the information is made available to us.

We’re COVID-Secure!

Our dance studio follows COVID-secure guidelines and has been awarded a ‘We’re Good To Go‘ certification. This is the official UK mark to signal that a hospitality business follows Government and industry COVID-19 guidelines; and has a process in place to maintain cleanliness and aid social distancing.

You can read up on our COVID-secure policies & procedures if you have any questions before coming back to visit us. Alternatively you can contact us with any questions.

What Changes Affect The Dance School Reopening in May?

Whilst the indoor limits for social gatherings are 6 people this limit doesn’t apply to our dance classes. Following government restrictions we have limited our class sizes to 12 people.

However no group ‘socialising’ inside the studio can be bigger than 6 people so social distancing should still be maintained. This includes those who have been vaccinated.

With Hugging Allowed, Is Contact for Dancing too?

The government have announced that hugging will be permitted again from Monday 17th May. This is aimed at family members and close friends and does not stretch to close-contact businesses.

Answering a number of queries from students you will still not be able to partner our teachers, or other students. At present, and until at least 21st June, there will still be no contact permitted outside of same household/bubbles.

We would love to be able to welcome you all back to our studio with a hug; but the last thing we want is the next variant to be called the Learn To Dance variant!!!

Revised Timetable for our Dance School Reopening in May

If you haven’t been back to see us recently, or taken part in our online offerings, we have revised our class schedule.

Classes now take place from Sunday to Thursday and generally get progressively higher in level as the week progresses.

All classes are currently pre-book only under current government guidance. You can choose to book for individual sessions, or we can reserve a set number of weeks for you. We have already been taking bookings in anticipation of the dance school reopening in May. Some classes are therefore at or nearing our current capacity and we recommend booking sooner rather than later.

See the Schedule

Our revised schedule for our Dance School Reopening in May is as follows:

[Beginner – Improver/Improver 2 – Intermediate/Advanced – Solo – Kids – Over 50s]

• Sundays (from 23rd May)
  • 7pm Beginner
  • 8pm Improver
• Mondays (from 17th May)
  • 7pm Refresher Classes (starts with Waltz and then follows our regular cycle of dances).
  • 8pm Beginner (almost fully subscribed)
  • 9pm Improver
• Tuesdays
  • 1pm Over 50s Mixed Ability (currently 45 minutes but will return to 90 minutes once socialising is permitted again)
  • 7.30pm Solo Routines (almost fully subscribed)
• Wednesdays
  • 10am Solo Routines
  • 12.30pm Beginner
  • 1.30pm Improver
  • 4.15pm Kids 4-8yrs (term-time only)
  • 5pm Kids Over 9s (term-time only)
  • 6pm Refresher Classes (starts with Waltz and then follows our regular cycle of dances). Some weeks fully subscribed.
  • 7pm Argentine Tango Course starts (initially 6 weeks, extends in 6 week cycles)
  • 8pm Improver (fully subscribed from 26th May, waiting list in operation)
  • 9pm Improver 2
• Thursdays
  • 1pm Improver 2
  • 2pm Intermediate
  • 7pm Improver 2
  • 8pm Intermediate
  • 9pm Advanced (currently postponed until contact can resume)

To book onto any of our classes or courses visit our Class Timetable. Use the Full Booking System to reserve a space for someone else, use account credit or redeem a gift card.

We look forward to welcoming you back to the studio next week.

About Learn To Dance

Learn To Dance is a Ballroom and Latin American Dance School based in Burnham, Buckinghamshire. We have been closed due to the Coronavirus Pandemic but look forward to the dance school reopening in May.

During our closed period we offered a number of different ways to dance with us from your front rooms. Offering regular live-stream classes, as well as useful dance uploads, subscribe to be kept informed when new videos are going live. Send us your suggestions of what you’d like to see us release and we’ll do our best!

Looking for more personal tuition? We provide both in-person and streamed lessons and classes. Check out learndance.co.uk/online for more information.

You can check out our website, or follow us online, at:

Website: learndance.co.uk
Youtube: youtube.com/learndance
Facebook: facebook.com/learndance
Instagram: instagram.com/learndance
Twitter: twitter.com/learndance

The post Dance School Reopening May 17th appeared first on Learn To Dance.

Social distancing from other students, and our teachers, will continue to apply during the Dance Studio reopening in April. At present we hope that social distancing rules may start to be relaxed towards the end of June. We will update nearer the time as information becomes available.

To read our analysis of the Lockdown Easing Roadmap check out our original blog post.

Will Adult Group Classes be indoors following the Dance Studio reopening in April?

Our adult group classes will continue to be streamed via Zoom or select sessions outdoors. Private Lessons can choose to be taken outdoors or via Zoom if they wish too.

Hopefully adult group classes can resume indoors from Monday 17th May. More details will be released as they are confirmed.

Private Lesson Bookings for Dance Studio Reopening from 12th April

Bookings for private lessons have already been coming in, in preparation for the dance studio reopening in April. We do still have good availability at present but enquiries are increasing.

You can search and book online via our Private Lessons page, or using the booking options below:

Kid’s Ballroom and Latin American Dance Classes

Our kid’s classes can also return in-person when the dance school reopens from 12th April. The classes will resume following the end of the Easter Break, from 21st April.

We have two kid’s classes that we run, for the Under 9’s and Under 13’s. Classes are scheduled on Wednesdays at 4.15pm for the Under 9’s and 5pm for the Under 13’s.

Our classes are charged on a half-term basis. The half-terms cost £18 for the Under 9’s or £25 for the Under 13’s.

You can book online, or contact us for more information.

About Learn To Dance

Learn To Dance is a Ballroom and Latin American Dance School based in Burnham, Buckinghamshire.

We can now offer in-person Private Lessons and Kid’s Classes from 12th April, with the dance school reopening. However our group adult classes will have to remain online, or outdoors, until at least 17th May.

You can check out our website, or follow us online, at:

Website: learndance.co.uk
Youtube: youtube.com/learndance
Facebook: facebook.com/learndance
Instagram: instagram.com/learndance
Twitter: twitter.com/learndance

The post Dance Studio Reopening April 12th appeared first on Learn To Dance.

Hopefully from April 12th lockdown easing will be on track, allowing our ballroom dance lessons to resume in the studio. However the dates are not set in stone! So we have no guarantees at the moment that we will be able to welcome you back next month.

The guidance does however currently allow personal trainers to provide individuals, and same-household, with 1-to-1 sessions. That is so long as it is outdoors, and social distancing measures are applied.

This got us to thinking, as to whether this was something we could potentially provide as an option now the weather is improving. We are going to therefore trial some outdoor private lessons at the Cherry Orchard during the week.

Where will these outdoor lockdown ballroom dance lessons be held?

There is an overflow car park onsite that is only used during the football season at weekends. The gate is locked at all other times and we are confident that this should work for our purposes.

The car park is a short walk from the main entrance (less than a minute). You can park closer than that in the main car park.

The logistics of erecting a dance floor, that would need to be put away after every session, means we will not be using any type of outdoor dance floor. Instead we are going to rely on the fine gravel-type surface of the car park to allow flowing movement.

It goes without saying that we wouldn’t recommend wearing your dance shoes for these outdoor lockdown ballroom dance lessons!

You should also be aware that there is also the chance of members of the public walking past!

I’m up for trying it, how do I book?

At present only Antony is offering these outdoor dance lessons during our trial. When booking please select ‘outdoor’ and the lesson length required. Existing packages and sessions can be used.

Use the appointment search below to book. You can also choose Zoom lessons if you’d like to have us stream a lesson instead.

Please only book a weekday slot. We may be able to offer weekend slots on the next two Sundays but football resumes after that. Contact us first if you have any questions about potential sessions.

What about bad weather?

Obviously we cannot forecast for short-term changes in weather! But we will have a more flexible cancellation/reschedule policy should the weather take a turn for the worst.

We are happy to teach in all weathers, taking appropriate clothing precautions. However if we feel the surface of the car park would be dangerous we may have to cancel sessions.

Initially we are only thinking of offering these sessions during daylit hours (currently sunset is around 6.15pm). If there is interest in later sessions we can look into lighting options.

With that, you also accept that these outdoor lockdown ballroom dance lessons are taken at your own risk. We will do our best to select an area of the car park that is flat. We cannot however guarantee there won’t be unexpected changes in the surface. Extra care should be taken as the surface conditions may change as you move across the car park.

Why are you providing outdoor lockdown Ballroom Dance lessons?

There is a lot of uncertainty around when we will be permitted to reopen. We’re also still waiting on the detailed guidance to be released.

We feel that this is an option that may appeal to some of our students who are unable to Zoom!

This will also serve as a trial to potentially offering some outdoor group classes. The current roadmap may actually permit these from the end of this month!

We are already receiving bookings for this option and we hope more of you will be able to join us. Otherwise we look forward to welcoming you back to the studio as soon as it is permitted.

About Learn To Dance

Learn To Dance is a Ballroom and Latin American Dance School based in Burnham, Buckinghamshire.

Our dance studio is currently closed due to the Coronavirus pandemic. However we are still looking at innovative ways to keep you dancing. From online streamed classes and private lessons, live free classes on YouTube, and now lockdown ballroom dance lessons outdoors.

You can check out our website, or follow us online, at:

Website: learndance.co.uk
Youtube: youtube.com/learndance
Facebook: facebook.com/learndance
Instagram: instagram.com/learndance
Twitter: twitter.com/learndance

The post Lockdown Ballroom Dance Lessons Outdoors appeared first on Learn To Dance.

I’m sure by now everyone has seen the draft plan released by the UK Government and announced on Monday 22nd February.

The roadmap out of lockdown is going to run on a minimum 5 week cycle between restrictions being lifted. This will allow the results of each lockdown easing stage to be reviewed, before deciding if the next step can be safely implemented.

There will be 4 tests evaluated by the government at each stage of the lockdown easing:

• the vaccine deployment programme continues successfully
• evidence shows vaccines are sufficiently effective in reducing hospitalisations and deaths in those vaccinated
• infection rates do not risk a surge in hospitalisations which would put unsustainable pressure on the NHS
• assessment of the risks is not fundamentally changed by new Variants of Concern

Assuming these tests can all be passed satisfactorily, in the 4 weeks following a change in step, then a week’s notice is given to confirm the next stage being implemented.

Read on to find out a summary of each stage, but especially how the lockdown easing affects the Learn To Dance school.

Step 1 (8th & 29th March)

8th March

Schools are reopening for all children and Higher Education students doing practical courses also return.

Whilst this doesn’t change anything for Learn To Dance it does mean that Creative Academy are able to hire studio space from us again. This will provide us with a bit more stability financially and so will be most welcome.

You will also be able to meet with one person, for recreation or exercise, who is not in your household or support bubble.

29th March

From 29th March we should then be able to meet up with another household, or as the ‘Rule of 6’, outdoors (including gardens).

Outdoor sports, including football at the Cherry Orchard, are permitted to resume from 29th March.

The ‘Stay at Home’ rule will cease to be in law but they still recommend staying local and working from home where possible.

At this stage holidays abroad will still not be allowed.

Therefore Step 1 unfortunately does not result in any lockdown easing for the dance school. However we will continue to provide our online streamed lessons and dance classes.

Step 2 (12th April) – Start of dance school lockdown easing

In Step 2 is when we start to see some of the lockdown easing measures for the dance school. The earliest this will take place is from 12th April and its implementation will be confirmed a week before.

Boris has confirmed that the plan for step 2 is to allow the opening of a variety of businesses:

• non-essential retail
• personal care such as hairdressers and nail salons
• libraries and community centres
• indoor gyms and leisure facilities (but only for individuals or same household)
• outdoor attractions
• campsites and holiday lets (without shared facilities)

Pubs and restaurants will be able to serve outdoors with table service. Weddings and similar can take place with up to 15 people.

Whilst we haven’t received any detailed guidance at present the signs point to us being able to offer private lessons again in Step 2. These will continue to be for individuals or same-household and will be non-contact with our instructors.

We are taking provisional private lesson bookings at this stage, but flexibility will be maintained as the situation develops.

Step 3 (17th May) – more Lockdown Easing for Dance Schools

Should things go well than by 17th May (at the earliest) the country will enter Step 3 of the lockdown easing roadmap.

At this stage there is hope that limits on socialising with friends and family can start to be relaxed. Although gatherings outdoors in excess of 30 people will still be illegal.

Indoors the limits will be rule of 6 or 2 households at this stage. We anticipate this will be in line with the previous rule of 6.

Further business openings will be permitted at this point, including:

• Indoor pubs and restaurants
• Cinemas and children’s play areas
• The rest of accommodation
• indoor adult group sports and exercise classes
• indoor performances and sporting events (subject to capacity limits)

Weddings and other social events will be able to host up to 30 people.

At this point the government will begin looking into social distancing and other Covid guidance that could be reduced in Step 4.

Therefore in Step 3 we expect to be able to reopen for group classes. It is likely that this will still be with the capacity limits in place from last year.

Step 4 (21st June) – return to life as we know it???

By Step 4, which will happen no earlier than 21st June, lockdown easing for the dance school could see all social contact limits removed.

Subject to the rules at the time this may mean that we can resume contact lessons and solo dancer rotating. However this would be reliant on all of our teachers having had both their jabs!

At the moment we hope that by the autumn things will start to feel a bit more normal. In fact hopefully our Bournemouth Dance Break will be able to go ahead as scheduled.

All the dates quoted by the government do come with the caveat that these are the earliest they could happen. Any failure of the tests at a particular stage could see a slowdown of the lockdown easing. There will always be at least 5 weeks between Steps.

As much as we are hoping that lockdown easing will allow us to open up the dance school, sooner rather than later, we will always take into consideration the health and safety of our staff and students.

Therefore we may elect to keep certain sessions virtual until such time as we deem it possible to welcome students back safely.

Whilst Coronavirus is likely to be always with us let us hope that this is the start of the end of restrictions. With lockdown now easing we hope to open the doors of the dance school to you all again.

Stay safe and well and we look forward to welcoming you all back again soon!

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