A Moving Summer

Now more than ever dance has an important role to play in our lives, proven to benefit body, mind and soul. This Works & Royal Academy of Dance have collaborated on an eight-week online dance programme, launched Wednesday 1 July, to encourage reconnection with our bodies (and each other), through movement, creativity and self-expression in this ongoing period of uncertainty.

‘A Moving Summer’ aims to encourage you to take some time for yourselves and your families, slow down, be thankful and unleash your inner dancer. The free eight-week programme of curated ballet-inspired exercises is delivered via fifteen-minute classes via Instagram, @royalacademyofdance and @thisworks and can be done alone or together in support bubbles, as a family, or even online together – creating a new ‘dance family’.

The series has been developed by Royal Academy of Dance teachers Imogen Knight and Joshua Tuifua, who have selected a different weekly focus for the series. Each fifteen-minute class has been designed to be suitable for home practice, and for a range of different ages and abilities. At the end of 8 weeks, you will have enough to have a ‘pick’n’ mix’ dance class with progression and build-up exercises.

But don’t worry, once your passion for dance has been ignited you can find an RAD teacher in your local area to carry on dancing whether at home or in the studio, once dance school start to re-open. Find dance classes near me.

Themes explored will include:

  • Balancés to put a spring in your step: get energised through purposeful movement introducing a range of steps that can be built up over time.
  • Superhero moments: In recent weeks, we have all had to draw on inner strength and these power positions will help to keep your energy up through the day.
  • Movement mirror: mirroring is a great way to connect with one another, this chair-based exercise focuses on arms, Port de Bras (also known to help boost mental alertness and focus).

RAD Registered Teachers, Imogen Knight, ARAD and Reena Bhattacharjee are leading the series.

On the blog

This Works speaks with Imogen Knight, one of the creators of the series.
Read the interview

Meet the creators of the series

Imogen Knight

Imogen Knight is a classical ballet & modern dance teacher. Trained at Northern Ballet School in Manchester UK, she holds Diplomas in the Teaching of Dance, is a registered teacher with the Royal Academy of Dance and is an Associate of the Imperial Society of Teachers of Dance.
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Joshua Tuifua

Joshua Tuifua is a Londoner from Tongan heritage. His training, from an early age, was provided by the Royal Ballet School. First as a Junior Associate, then at the Royal Ballet Lower School at White Lodge in Richmond Park, continuing on at the Upper School before being offered a contract with the Royal Ballet Company.
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Guest teachers

Reena Bhattacharjee

Week 2 guest teacher Reena Reena trained at the Royal Academy of Dance, graduating with a BA (Hons) Ballet Education.
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