More dancers welcomed as classical ballet school The Studio at Averham expands into YMCA Community and Activity Village, Newark

A classical ballet school has expanded into a new venue to welcome more students to dance classes.

The Studio at Averham, a classic ballet school run by Christina Phillips-Kelly, has recently moved it’s classes to the YMCA Community and Activity Village, on Lord Hawke Way, Newark.

Christina has been teaching ballet since 1998, having qualified as a teacher after her own training as a professional dancer, and set up her Averham studio six years ago when she settled in the area.

Now, her ‘leap of faith’ into a bigger teaching space has allowed her to open up her classes to more budding dancers.

She said: “We moved in September when the children went back to school and we’ve only been there about eight weeks.

“I have my own studio in Averham which has been open for six years, but it is not very big and we had reached capacity. Now I can take more children into the classes.

“I went and looked around and decided it was now or never, and it’s gone really well so far.”

Despite the challenge of filling a bigger space, Christina has found the classes have been ‘growing organically’, having welcomed four new starters recently and had further interest at her stall at the recent Nottinghamshire Police-led Activity Showcase held at the YMCA.

You can find out more at www.thestudioataverham.co.uk.

The new venue and collaboration with the YMCA will also see the dance teacher introduce two new classes, which are currently being developed.

These are adult ballet and a fitness class, and Christina also already runs an adult tap dance class on Wednesday evenings at the venue.

She said: “It’s more for fitness and a bit of fun, though we do follow the ISTD syllabus.

“I have ladies attend from 19 to 72, so there’s a range of ages and abilities. You’re learning a new skill, making noise with your feet and getting some cardio — which can be more fun than strict cardio at the gym.”

Christina is a Royal Academy of Dance qualified teacher, and currently a trainee associate with the Royal Ballet School.

Her classes follow a mix of both the exam-based RAD syllabus, and the more hollistic RBS syllabus to help dancers progress at their pace while also allowing them to progress through classical ballet grades.