A new boys-only class encouraging boys to be involved in dance is starting in Portsmouth with the TADAA Performing Arts School. TADAA’s Principal Bryony Rode de Vries and teacher Helen Wallis report.
TADAA Performing Arts School are excited to announce the arrival of a boys-only dance class, starting on Saturday 2nd November at The Movement Initiative studios in Portsmouth.
The academy has been running for eleven years, and is popular with both boys and girls, with class sizes of thirty teenagers in drama classes on a Friday night, and growing numbers in musical theatre classes on Tuesdays.
The tots classes – brainchild of Lead Teacher Helen Wallis – have a unique blend of musical theatre routines and microphone singing, which has proved a hit for both parents and preschoolers, leading to expansion and a party business.
However, Principal Bryony Rose de Vries, a mother of four boys, has always felt there was a gap in the market for a boys-only dance class, as it is a discipline which is often outnumbered by girls, and boys can often feel out of place when expressing themselves in this way.
Bryony said, ‘We want to provide a safe space for boys to dance with other boys, where they might have felt more self-conscious in a mixed class. This hopefully will promote self-confidence, and work towards breaking outdated stigmas about boys and dance’.
The class was inspired by the ‘MyBoyCan’ campaign, which aims to challenge ‘the confining stereotypes of male gender’ and promote positive perceptions about boys’ expression through dance.
Alongside the boys-only class, TADAA are also introducing a junior version of another unique class – ‘Steps to Broadway’, which currently runs with participants who are over-50 years old. The class works with teacher Helen Wallis to produce a fully choreographed musical number in an hour. The junior class will follow the same format, and improves memory for participants of all ages, as well as physical fitness.
You can find more information on the TADAA website, and follow them on Facebook and Instagram.
Both classes start on Saturday 2nd November at TMI studios, Unit 1 George House, Somers Road PO5 4NS, with the first class being offered half price at £3 per person.
Boys Dance Too – Ages 7 – 12 Beginners welcome. Time: 9.30 a.m – 10.30 a.m. Wear comfy clothes – tracksuit bottoms or dance wear, trainers or jazz shoes.
Steps to Broadway Juniors – Ages 7 – 14. Beginners welcome. 10.30 a.m – 11.30 a.m. Wear comfy clothes – tracksuit bottoms or dance wear, trainers or jazz shoes.
Contact 07528 875738 or email enquiries@tadaa.info for more information.
