Thursday Dancing Beginners +

Come and learn the basic steps for a range of British and American social dances accompanied by a live band!

Whatever style of dancing you want to pursue, Beginners + can help you to master it. We focus on a wide range of dances from diverse folk traditions, so you can be confident when you go to the dance of your choice!

Course details

Classes run on Thursday evenings from 7.30 - 10pm. Just turn up at the beginning of the class - no booking required! We close over Christmas, usually for two weeks at Easter and the whole of August.

Following the Easter break, classes will start again on 19 April.   Find out details of dates and times.

The cost per evening is £4.50 (£3.50 for concessions).

Who is it for?

Our dancers are as diverse as our dances - ages have ranged from 20+ to 80+ and we tend to have about equal numbers of men and women. No need to bring a partner.

Class content

We focus on the figures used in Ceilidh Dances, Barn Dances, American Contra Dances and English Country Dances; the differences between these dances and, most importantly, the music!

If you wish to try out calling dances then this is also the ideal environment to do so. We regularly have aspiring callers who gain the confidence to move on to calling for clubs, ceilidhs etc.

More information about summer term dates

Tutors and band

The figures and dances are taught by Dave Kerridge and Brenda Godrich. We have a live band including resident musicians Graham Beebee on piano, Ian Cutts, Vic Godrich and Ruth Rose on violin. The band numbers around 10 musicians and is open to newcomers who want to experience the art of playing for dancing! Sheet music is provided.

Biographies

Tutors

Brenda Godrich

Having started dancing at the Thursday Beginners class years ago, Brenda is now taking the class. Over her dancing years, she has enjoyed the various styles of dance and is pleased to be passing on the joys of English Social Country Dance. As well as teaching dance,Brenda calls for dances and clubs.

Dave Kerridge

Dave Kerridge has worked for BBC Television for 33 years in both the film and videotape departments. Over the years, Dave has enjoyed teaching and helping others to learn and improve in many subjects; he has been a Karate instructor’s assistant, a lecturer in electronics and television repairs, a Badminton coach, and a dance caller for clubs and social dances. When not teaching and calling dances, Dave writes TV scripts and novels, and composes dances and the dance music to accompany them.

Band Members

Vic Godrich

Vic has been a fiddle player since 1958, taught by Nan Fleming Williams and Douglas and Helen Kennedy. He was an early member of the Ranchers band and ran his own band, the Troubadours. Vic currently teaches at Monday Musicians and Thursday Dancing Beginners + and is a member of Sunbury Baroque, playing for English Country Dance. He also plays for Greensleeves Morris Men, and leads the musicians for the EFDSS Carol Concert.

Ian Cutts

Ian Cutts has been playing for dancing for over 30 years, in many different settings and line-ups, as well as being an active dancer himself. At Beginners+ he either leads on fiddle or accompanies on piano, as the need arises. A long-term supporter of Beginners+, he has helped to compile the repertoire used by the band.

Graham Beebee

Graham first played piano for country dancing when a college student. In the 1960s he played with Vic Godrich for children’s dances at Cecil Sharp House, then for twenty-five years with Sheila Mason and Vi LeMaistre in “The Kenton Ramblers”. He then played for the Wednesday Workshops at CSH. With baroque-music playing friends Graham formed “Sunbury Baroque” which now plays for occasional country dances.