Hurst Morris People

Come and join Hurst Morris People, a fun, mixed Morris Dancing side. We meet over the autumn/winter time on Thursday nights (8 – 10pm) in Hurst Village Hall, School Road, Hurst nr Reading. From St George’s Day onwards, we’re usually out performing at pubs in Berkshire and at major folk festivals as well as at private functions.

We’re very much a community-based group and also do a
fair bit of teaching to local school and cub/guide, Round
Table, W.I. groups. Well, we’ll do anything really as long as we’re free!!

Give us a call or try us out at our Open Workshops in September. It’ll change your life for the better!!

Contact:
Mary Esselmont (Squire)
squire@hump.org.uk
Telephone: 0118 987 4346
www.hump.org.uk

Linden Ellicott School of Dancing

Qualified Dance teacher registered with the British Ballet Organisation. I hold weekly ballet, tap, jazz and modern classes in the centre of Thatcham for adults and children from 3 years.

Contact:
Mrs Linden Ellicott
1 Edwin Close
Thatcham
Telephone: 01635 292546

Newbury & District Caledonian Society

Scottish Country Dancing is the perfect way to leave the stresses of the working week behind so why not come and spend Friday evenings dancing with us? It is recognised as an excellent form of exercise for both mind and body, and is much more enjoyable than going to the gym. It is also a very social form of dancing so it is a good opportunity to meet lots of new people.

Newbury and District Caledonian Society is an amateur group affiliated to the Royal Scottish Country Dance Society, www.rscds.org, whose primary objective is Scottish Country Dancing. We meet at Highclere Village Hall on Friday nights between September and May to dance to recorded music from 8pm - 10pm. There are regular party nights throughout the season when there is a more formal evening's dancing combined with a meal. There is also an Annual Ball with dancing to a live band at St George's Wash Common, to which members of other clubs are invited.

The Society welcomes prospective new members at any time, whether experienced or beginner, and at a cost of around £35 for a year it is very good value for money. All you need is a pair of soft flat shoes – you don’t need to bring a partner.

There are clubs all over the country and overseas, including several within easy reach of Newbury, so if you have the energy and inclination it is possible to dance most nights of the week. Every group organises regular parties or balls, giving the men a chance to don their kilts and ladies their fine frocks and put into practice what has been learned in class.

Contact:
Gordon Scott (President)
newburycaledonian@btinternet.com
01635 861249
http://www.wessex-scd.org.uk/Newbury

The Company was founded by Edwina Anthony and Debbie Camp in April 1999, the Company is an ensemble of five excellent dancers all of which live, work or originate from the area giving the Company a strong commitment to West Berkshire and the surrounding counties.

It is the Company's aim to possess the rare skill of being accessible to a wide audience and appeal to children and adults alike. Through performance, education and outreach work they will enrich communities and in the local community be a cultural and civic resource to benefit all.

The work is highly accessible with something for everyone. Based on classical contemporary dance it retains the beauty of line yet allows for the movement to be expressive and organic. The work also draws on many other popular dance styles and uses a broad spectrum of music including Classical and Contemporary composers, all of which help to create a diverse repertoire.

"Aged 8 to 80 (or somewhere in-between) you will delight in the appealing style of this new Company. Beautifully trained dancers fill the space with movement & line, stillness, emotion, energy & imagery." Thatcham News, Nov 99.

To date the Company has six works in its repertoire including a commissioned piece choreographed by guest artist Heidi Selz from Fort Lauderdale, Florida. Heidi's previous experience with such choreographers as Doug Elkins, David Dorfman and Neta Pulvermacher has further enriched the Company's repertoire.

Their work has been financially supported by The Corn Exchange Newbury, Vodafone, Newbury Building Society, Theale Green Community School, West Berkshire Council, Newbury Town Council, The Greenham Common Trust & The Working Arts Trust, Newbury.

Contact:
Debbie Camp
4 Harwood Rise
Woolton Hill
Newbury
Berkshire
RG20 9XW

Telephone: 01635 255159
dance.newbury@bigfoot.com

Thatcham Folk Dance Club

To learn and enjoy traditional English dances, also some from Scotland, Wales and America.

Contact:
Mrs M D Vousden
Leader
Homemead
Curridge
Thatcham
Berkshire

Telephone: 01635 200279