Summer Intensive: Kids Summer School for Dance (8 - 12yrs)

Led by the teachers from Clare Novaes Ballet School, join us for a fun and inspiring summer dance programme for children combining ballet, creative movement, games, and more.

Each morning includes warm-up games, an RAD-inspired ballet class, and imaginative creative dance inspired by Rambert Grades in a supportive and welcoming environment.

The week finishes with a special performance for family and friends where children can share what they have learned and celebrate their creativity and confidence.

Suitable for all abilities, with no previous dance experience required. 

Students may wear something they are comfortable moving in. If they have dance-wear they can use it.

Ballet shoes or bare feet for classes. No trainers.

Warm up layers are good for before and after class.

About the tutors

Clare Novaes enjoys the classical aesthetic values of simplicity, purity and balance in ballet. Owner and ballet teacher at Clare Novaes Ballet School for 25 years she believes teaching ballet it is not about transmitting knowledge, but enabling, challenging and nurturing dancers until they are more fully themselves, and better at what they do-whatever their age or background. She respects individuality and the risk each artist takes in class each day with no judgement. 

Clare’s first job after graduating from the 3 year teacher training at The Royal Academy of Dance in London was at Crystal Palace London, teaching dance to the Olympic high board diving squad a continuous body conditioning ballet barre created by John O’Brien. At RAD Clare worked with Dr Ann Hutchinson Guest, the director of the Language of Dance Centre, London on Laban notation and used this research when teaching dance in Brazil, South America. Returning from Brazil Clare was inspired by John Blacking at QUB to study Anthropology with Ethnomusicology.

Clare worked with the highly skilled multidisciplinary team at Blackstone Physiotherapy and Sports injury clinic to develop a Barre Tone class. She also worked with Clare Guss-West at the RAD developing dance and lifelong wellbeing. She is now director of Ballet Retreats.

Clare was a dancer in Boots.com, real woman 40+, as they unveiled New Global Brand Direction with Alessandra Ferri as headliner.

 “I continue to develop my own relationship with dance and explore movement with the ageing body” Clare Novaes

Rebecca Runchman is a graduate from Trinity Laban Conservatoire of Music and Dance in London. She further developed her practice and received a Masters of Arts in Creative Dance Education. Rebecca has experience teaching different styles of dance to different age groups and loves to encourage creativity and opportunities for performance within her sessions. She is happy to be back home in Belfast performing and facilitating dance and she is really looking forward to delivering these ballet classes!