The Nottingham University Dance Society has had a year packed with successes in terms of the number of participants, raising revenue, building links with the local community and winning dance competitions.
The Dance Society has had more than 300 students attending its weekly sessions in tap, ballet, street, jazz and lyrical at both beginner and advanced levels.
The Society has offered of termly master classes from professional London-based dance instructors. This was made possible from the revenue raised from sponsorship and selling a clothing range to Society members.
The Dance Society’s competition teams, selected from the society’s advanced classes, have had a very successful year. The Society picked a several awards at the UK’s largest inter-university dance competition in Loughborough. It won first place in both hip-hop and jazz and was runner-up in tap. The winning hip-hop routine, Rubix, has been performed by the team at night clubs, balls and sports matches.
Another huge success for the dance society this year was its annual show, A Night at the Movies. The show was performed by a cast of more than 100 students in a local community theatre for three nights to sell-out audiences.
The dance society has also shared its passion for dance with the community by working in conjunction with two local primary schools. By teaching weekly dance classes, the society has introduced school children to unique extra-curricular opportunities and physical activity that they might not otherwise have had. The classes were run entirely by Dance Society members who coached groups of 30 children for an hour a week throughout the academic year.
In addition to attending competitions, hosting events and shows, running five weekly dance classes, teaching at primary schools and performing around Nottingham, the Dance Society has fought for the installation of mirrors in a performance room on campus, something that would benefit every student in a performance society. Thanks to the Society’s lobbying, mirrors will be installed in the performing arts workspace over the summer.
Nottingham University Students’ Union Activities Officer Claire Game said: “Possibly the most impressive quality of the Dance Society this year has been their determination to expand upon what this already exceptionally active society offers its members. The committee work tirelessly to offer an incredible service and the Society’s members are some of the most active and involved in the union.”