Classes

Open Saturday class at URC 1st December 2012 – sketch by Peter Street

Susie Crow currently teaches non-syllabus ballet classes at a range of levels in Oxford.  All classes are held at the United Reformed Church Hall, 294A Banbury Road, Summertown (opposite South Parade and Radio Oxford), Oxford OX2 7ED.  This was refurbished in 2011 and has a sprung Harlequin dance floor.

Since summer 2021 ballet classes have resumed at URC; all classes except pointework are hybrid, and can be attended either in person in the Hall or online via Zoom.   Please check blogposts for updates on the schedule, or email Susie at susiecrow@gmail.com with any queries and to request online class invitations.  If you wish to attend class in person, please contact Susie in advance to register, so that class numbers can be controlled, and that you can be contacted directly in the event of cancellation or any last minute schedule change.  If you are unable to attend a class you have booked for, please let Susie know.

As of the beginning of January 2023, and in line with other classes in the area, the price of attending class in person has gone up to £11, and of attending online to £8, and the loyalty card scheme whereby your 10th in person class is free remains in place.  Any classes already paid for in advance will of course be honoured.  Payment can still be made in person in cash or online; please contact susiecrow@gmail.com for online payment details.

Thursdays

10.00-11.30am   Advanced class for dance professionals, senior students and adults with experience.  £11 per class, 10^th class free for regular attenders; £8 for online attendance.

Drawing Dance: Artists are welcome to come and sketch dance classes on Thursdays for a contribution of £10. Those interested should contact Susie as space is limited.

Fridays

6.30-8.00pm  The meticulous and inspiring Ségolène Tarte teaches an Adult Beginners/Improvers’ class, a great way to bridge that sometimes daunting gap between Beginner and Intermediate levels.  Find further information and details of how to preregister and book here

Saturdays

10.00-11.15am   Adult Beginners’ ballet class for complete beginners or those with some experience returning to class after absence.  £11 per class, 10^th class free for regular attenders; £8 for online attendance.

11.45am-1.15pm  Intermediate/Advanced ballet class with the emphasis on enjoyable dancing to end the week.  £11 per class, 10^th class free for regular attenders; £8 for online attendance.

1.30-2.15pm  Optional pointe work for those who have attended the preceding class, and who dance regularly.  £5 extra.

Mondays

5.45-7.15pm  Intermediate ballet class.  This provides opportunities to study particular steps in simple enchainements, with a chance for technical analysis.  Options for elaboration are provided for more advanced dancers.  £11 per class, 10^th class free for regular attenders; £8 for online attendance.

Tuesdays

6.15-7.45pm  Ségolène Tarte teaches an Adult Intermediate/Advanced ballet class drawing on the elegance and clarity of her French training, which can be attended either in person or online.  Find further information and details of how to preregister and book here

Private classes can sometimes be arranged.

Online alternatives

During the COVID lockdown Susie provided class material in alternative online formats for those finding Zooming a challenge.  These include a Complete Beginners Class film with Susie explaining and demonstrating for you to dance along with; the class is divided into three parts with private Vimeo links, for warm-up, barre, and centre.  The cost is £25 for all 3; or £5 for warm-up, £10 for barre, £10 for centre.  Once you have the links you can use them as much as you want indefinitely, but please don’t pass the links on to anyone else.  To purchase this online class please email Susie at susiecrow@gmail.com

Susie also posted a series of 51 enchainments on YouTube, as ‘Enchainement of the Day’; these are free to access. While some are accessible to beginners, in general they are intended for more experienced dancers. You can find them here:

https://www.youtube.com/@balletinsmallspaces3051

Dress code:  There is no uniform for these classes.  If you are attending as a complete beginner and wondering what you should wear, find something comfortable but not too baggy that you can move freely in; leggings with a fitted T shirt or tunic would be fine.  It helps if the teacher can see your ankles, so preferably not wide-bottomed yoga pants.  You can buy canvas ballet slippers from local dancewear store Dance Evolution in Kidlington; but a pair of snug fitting pair of thick cotton sports socks would do fine to begin with.  Bare feet are not advisable.

Term dates and any schedule changes are posted on this blog.  For further details and to receive schedule updates and information about related dance activities by email please contact susiecrow@gmail.com or call 01865 557098

 

For some years Monday morning Contemporary dance classes were taught at URC by established Oxford based teachers, in a range of styles and aimed at dance professionals and students and adults with experience.  These classes were programmed by Rachel Gildea and Susie as Collective Contemporary Class; they were professional level class for experienced dancers in Oxford, aimed at sustaining the local dance community and sharing practice.  Teachers included Joëlle Pappas, Lizie Gireaudau, John Darvell, Ana Barbour, Lucia Walker, Miranda Tufnell, Flavia Coube, Marina Collard, Lizzy Le Quesne, Cecilia Macfarlane and Fiona Millward.   These classes are no longer running; for alternatives check out the Oxford Dance Forum Facebook page which provides regular updates on classes being offered in the area.