
29DANSARENA STUDIOS |
BEST PRACTICE REPRESENTATIVE 2019
In 2014, we were fortunate enough
to be chosen for a grant of 80 per
cent of the £100,000 cost from
the Renaissance Fund to carry out
extensive repairs to the roof. This
work was essential to maintain the
integrity of such a unique building
for many years to come, and we
were most grateful to receive this
timelyassistance.
Turning an old church into a viable
business enterprise required a great
deal of hard work and a certain
amount of ingenuity. Although the
venue carried high overheads, we
finally managed to establish a large
enough pupil base to enable us to
cover the running costs and pay off
our bank overdraft. I have always
known that quality and scale are
important, and, to this end, we set
about building a team of teachers
who would nurture and inspire each
and every pupil as anindividual.
How we operate now
Children take dance lessons for a
variety of reasons. Some respond
to music spontaneously at home,
and parents recognise the need to
formalise this ability with a proper
dance technique and class discipline.
Others, however, are seriously
interested in making a career from
dance. To utilise fully and expand our
business, we ensured we were able to
meet both of these needs.
In the way of expansion, we also
created satellite schools in the
neighbouring towns of Troon,
Prestwick and Kilmarnock. These
continue to prove effective as “feeder
schools” where pupils are able to
progress to Dansarena when they
outgrow the smaller connections.
One of the main elements of
Dansarena’s activities is the
preparation of pupils for dance
examinations. The school has an
outstanding record of results in both
the Royal Academy of Dance ballet
and the Imperial Society of Teachers
of Dancing tap and modern theatre
examinations. Both RAD and ISTD
certificates are recognised by the
SQA accreditation on the Scottish
Credit and Qualifications Framework.
Successful candidates gain credits
for each examination, and these can
be used for entry into future study
courses, irrespective of whether or not
the subject is dance related.
It is very important that young
dancers are given the opportunity to Nicole Bryden, former
Dansarena pupil,
Winner of RAD Junior
Award, Classical Ballet,
Edinburgh 2009
Turning an old
church into a
viable business
enterprise
required a great
deal of hard
work and a
certain amount
of ingenuity
“
“