It’s that time of year. For some, it’s the lead up to Christmas. For others, the winter weather is enough to get them in a celebratory mood. But, across the world, whatever the reason, the coming months are loved by many. For SOEL Dance Academy, based in and around Esher, Surrey, this jolly season is special for another reason entirely.
Biannually, the popular dance school puts on a show, for the friends and family of students at the Academy. The Christmas Show is one of the two occasions per year when the talented dancers get to put on dazzling costumes and big smiles and dance their hearts out in front of a supportive and engaged audience. The show is the culmination of months of hard work and is the pride and joy of the students and teachers.
SOEL Dance Academy was founded by two friends, Sophie Webb and Elisa Roberts, in September 2005, and it offers classes in dance styles ranging from, to name a few, Troupe, Hiphop and Musical Theatre, to Ballet, Jazz and Contemporary. The classes are run by a range of hardworking and dedicated teachers, who choreograph dances that the students really enjoy performing. But the Academy is about more than just talent and devotion of its staff and students; there’s a real sense of community. The classes take place after school and on weekends, but the friendships made through dance reach a lot further.
When asked what was their favourite part about teaching at the Academy, founder Elisa Roberts replied “friendship and being a family, and watching children grow and improve”, while her co-founder Sophie Webb added that her favourite part was “watching the people progress and watching people’s confidence come through.”
Elisa also mentioned that she found starting a dance studio with her friend Sophie, back in 2005, to be “nerve-wracking, terrifying, fun, exciting.”
There’s no doubt that many are looking forward to Christmas, but for the members of SOEL Dance Academy, the Christmas Show will be one of the highlights.
