Haywards Heath dance teacher transforms living room for online classes

Emily King, who founded Dance With Emily, had to move her classes to an online platform at the start of lockdown.

She wanted to enhance the online experience for her students, and over several days she transformed her living room with her husband into a dance studio, complete with new flooring, mirrors, lighting, a ballet barre and advanced filming equipment.

Emily and four of her teachers film up to five new dance classes every day through a mixture of livestreams and pre-recorded classes, which students can work through whenever they want to.

She said: “My classes will continue to run online, in addition to my studio classes in the future.

“I would like all of the credit and huge, huge thanks to go to my loyal students, without whom, this wouldn’t have been possible and also to my husband, Simon King, who has done all of the hard work.

“It’s more than a business, it really is a dancing family,”

Emily also films a free live morning series of videos called Dancers Morning Movement for everyone to access on her Facebook page.

Her dance school specialises in providing adult dance classes, courses and workshops in a variety of styles, including ballet, jazz, street dance and tap from beginner to advanced level.

Many of her students have children, so to keep them entertained and active Emily’s daughter Nellie, 6, has made a series of dance and exercised themed classes to go online as well.

One of Emily’s students said: “Dance is well-known for helping with mental health problems and of course physical health and flexibility, and Emily was very keen to keep people active and upbeat for however long it will be until she can give her ‘proper’ classes again.

“She has also arranged online tutorial sessions with West End musical stars to keep the whole thing fresh and exciting.

“She really stepped up to continue the school for us and has kept us students active and sane throughout lockdown.”

For more information, visit mily’s Facebook page, www.dacebook.com/DanceSussex/, email [email protected], or visit www.dancesussex.co.uk.