How I Managed to Dance Across Britain
My husband and I recently traveled to the United Kingdom on a four week 2022 vacation, visiting the Isle of Man, Wales and England. As a passionate dancer, I had to find places to practice as often as possible, ideally twice a day. I was fortunate to find studios in four different locations: on the Isle of Man, in Bath, in Thriplow and in London. In each instance, I walked from where we were staying to the studio itself. I 've included images of what I would see on the way. I ended up using studios 25 different times during this trip.
Isle of Man
The Isle of Man is a small island in the middle of the Irish Sea between Ireland and England. We traveled there for 10 days to watch the amazing motorcycle races of the Manx Grand Prix, a famous race held on city streets each year in August. We stayed in a small apartment suite behind a gorgeous home, away from all the hubbub. The red room below was part of the main house. Our hostess allowed me to use it without charge as much as I wanted. I danced there twice a day, every day. The view from one side of the room was a lovely water garden. On the other side were a string of motorcycles parked in front which were owned by other guests.
The floor was cement covered with a low pile carpet. Over a long period of time this would have caused problems but I experienced none, partly because of a ritual of my own that I perform after every practice. See below.
The floor was cement covered with a low pile carpet. Over a long period of time this would have caused problems but I experienced none, partly because of a ritual of my own that I perform after every practice. See below.
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Bath
Robyn's Yoga Studio was on a very busy street in Bath, on the second floor and in the back of the building. The decorations evoked a lovely calm environment. Nearby was a small shopping mall that boasted 2 figures sculpted of wire sitting on the scaffolding. Hanging baskets of magnificent flowers are seen all over Britain, whether in the country, small cities like Bath or Cambridge or the huge metropolis of London.
The studio itself had a beautiful hard wood floor. It was a wonderful place to dance secludedly although the window shown looked right out to the street to reveal busy shoppers. Each morning I walked past the Circus, a circle of beautifully designed buildings shown below. Structures in Bath are mandated to be all the same color. The result is harmonious architecture and a sense that you are in a place that is sophisticated and deeply rooted in the past.
The studio itself had a beautiful hard wood floor. It was a wonderful place to dance secludedly although the window shown looked right out to the street to reveal busy shoppers. Each morning I walked past the Circus, a circle of beautifully designed buildings shown below. Structures in Bath are mandated to be all the same color. The result is harmonious architecture and a sense that you are in a place that is sophisticated and deeply rooted in the past.
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Thriplow: a country town near Duxford.
The tiny town of Thriplow is located near the American Air Museum in Duxford. My father in law was one of the Americans flying out of England during WWII. Honoring him was an important reason for our visit.
Thriplow is in the country. The homes are lovely as are the gardens. Our hostess amazingly found a place for me to practice nearby. She convinced Julie Bloom, a local expert Pilates instructor, to let me rent this private home studio, located in the middle of a beautiful yard and garden. I believe that I was the first person to use the studio besides Julie herself and I was able to rent the studio every morning we were there. It became a highlight of my time in the UK. I walked down the lovely country road pictured here each morning on my way to the studio.
Thriplow is in the country. The homes are lovely as are the gardens. Our hostess amazingly found a place for me to practice nearby. She convinced Julie Bloom, a local expert Pilates instructor, to let me rent this private home studio, located in the middle of a beautiful yard and garden. I believe that I was the first person to use the studio besides Julie herself and I was able to rent the studio every morning we were there. It became a highlight of my time in the UK. I walked down the lovely country road pictured here each morning on my way to the studio.
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Video of the garden surroundings:
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London: near Hyde Park in Mayfair.
Coming from the British countryside to the huge metropolis of London was truly culture shock. 13 million people live in London, people from all over the world. The news that the Queen had died came on our first day there, while we were having a lovely dinner. Shocking and so sad.
I managed to rent a studio at DanceWorks Mayfair, a professional dance school that had many studios available. The colorful stairs lead to the studios above. I started out in the cheapest and smallest studio...very small indeed and graduated the next day to the beautifully lit studio pictured below.
Mayfair is a section of London where many foreign consulates are located. It is residential and serene in the middle of the mammoth activity of London. The first photo is of Hyde Park, a view on the miles long walk from our accommodations in Kennsington to the dance studio. London is full of greenery, in spite of its size. Many parks and many flowers. It is quite beautiful, especially in the morning when few people are out.
I managed to rent a studio at DanceWorks Mayfair, a professional dance school that had many studios available. The colorful stairs lead to the studios above. I started out in the cheapest and smallest studio...very small indeed and graduated the next day to the beautifully lit studio pictured below.
Mayfair is a section of London where many foreign consulates are located. It is residential and serene in the middle of the mammoth activity of London. The first photo is of Hyde Park, a view on the miles long walk from our accommodations in Kennsington to the dance studio. London is full of greenery, in spite of its size. Many parks and many flowers. It is quite beautiful, especially in the morning when few people are out.
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The tiniest studio of all time:
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Sebastopol, California: Sirens Studio
When I am at home, I rent a local studio known as Sirens in a town nearby to our home in Northern California. It is a large and wonderful studio that allows me to explore space and use it liberally in choreography. I have rented this studio for over three years now, usually renting it three times a week.
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Home
Why I rent dance studios, even when at home: I have practiced in my home studio pictured above for many, many years. It is a lovely room but rather small with a high pile carpet. It meets many needs but to fully experience dancing I find renting public spaces most valuable.
Practicing primarily in carpeted studios, I experience a bit of shock when performing because most performances are held on hardwood floors. The sensations for the feet as well as balance ability is quite different. Beginning prior to the pandemic I decided to practice regularly at Sirens Studio to train my feet to feel comfortable on hard surfaces. In the process I found that using a studio that was large with full length mirrors was extraordinary for developing more interesting staging. Now, four years later, my feet are sublimely happy and my choreographic vision has expanded.
There is one other reason that makes studio rental valuable for me: One of my formative dance experiences almost 50 years ago was when I rented a studio to dance in by myself for the first time. The validation I found in being that purposeful was worth its weight in gold. I continue to find artistic validation from this. My dancing is worth the monetary investment.
Practicing primarily in carpeted studios, I experience a bit of shock when performing because most performances are held on hardwood floors. The sensations for the feet as well as balance ability is quite different. Beginning prior to the pandemic I decided to practice regularly at Sirens Studio to train my feet to feel comfortable on hard surfaces. In the process I found that using a studio that was large with full length mirrors was extraordinary for developing more interesting staging. Now, four years later, my feet are sublimely happy and my choreographic vision has expanded.
There is one other reason that makes studio rental valuable for me: One of my formative dance experiences almost 50 years ago was when I rented a studio to dance in by myself for the first time. The validation I found in being that purposeful was worth its weight in gold. I continue to find artistic validation from this. My dancing is worth the monetary investment.
A process that protects my 79 year old feet from the dangers of the mammoth hikes involved in traveling, while intensely using dance surfaces of all kinds: Every single time I practice, at home or away, when I am finished, I nourish my feet and balance the energy through my legs and feet. Holding one hand on the underside of the ball of my foot and the other first on my knee and then on the back of the hip, I stimulate smooth energetic flow and healing from the foot to the knee and the foot to the hip. My feet are quite contented, even after 3 mile walks and long dance sessions on difficult surfaces.
This trip was the adventure of our lifetimes. For me made so much more special because of experiencing these dance studios. I am so grateful to have been able to be my most private self in these varying and beautiful surroundings.
Thank you Britain. RIP Queen Elizabeth II.
Published September 19, 2022.