Cambridge Dancers' Club

We're students & residents who like to dance together! Our competitive teams are CUDT & CURnR. We will be trying out the Gibson hall for our regular social dancing on Fridays (while our usual venue, the grad.pad MDH, is closed for roof repairs).

Our next free taster session (ie with tuition) is at 6pm on Wednesday 19th April in the Gibson hall of Downing Place United Reformed Church (Downing Street, Cambridge CB2 3DS).

Coming Up

Easter 2023 holidays

We're continuing with General Dancing on Friday evenings in the Gibson hall from 8:45pm to 10:30pm throughout March and then taking a break in April.

DanceSport practices continue on Sundays & Tuesdays in KK Studio (and some Tuesdays in Parkside school gym) but on a pay per session basis (using BACS to the CDC's account).

Pre-term activities

• Wed.12 April 7pm-9pm = workshop with Kath in Gibson hall
• Wed.19 April 6pm-7pm = beginners free taster session with Kath in Gibson hall
• Wed.19 April 7pm-9pm = workshop with Kath in Gibson hall
• Thu.20 April 6pm-10pm = £5 social dance in Stoneyard Centre upper hall
• Fri.21 April 6pm-8pm = DanceSport practice in KK Studio

Pre-term DanceSport Training

CUDT are running some training sessions on the weekend before term in the University Sports Centre. Each day consists of a mixture of taught workshops and open practice time. Non-team people of a suitable level are welcome to join in. More details to follow later. The overall time slots are:
12:30 - 18:00 on Saturday 22nd April
10:00 - 16:00 on Sunday 23rd April

Easter/exam 2023 term

Normal classes will run from Monday 24th April to Thursday 15th June with some interference from bank holidays, exams, competitions etc. This timetable preview is still in the early planning stages. Varsity will be Saturday 13th May, with Liger (? 17/18 June) and Cuppers (? 19-23 June). We also need to hold the club's AGM to elect the new/ongoing committee of volunteers.

There's a (non-CDC) Ballroom and Latin Dance, with music by Umbrella Big Band, on Saturday 29th April at Hiam Sports & Social Club, Putney Hill Road, Prickwillow, Ely, CB7 4UU. Entry from 7pm for 7:30pm to 10:30pm. Price = £15 in advance (or £17 on door). Email ballroom@forfun.dance or phone Yvonne on 01223-357642 by 27th April.

Classes and Practices

Classes

Most competitive dancers need to attend a matched pair of dancesport classes per week (ballroom & latin specialisms or RnR footwork & acrobatics). Whereas social dancers are more likely to attend just one regular weekly class in their chosen style(s).

You don't need to have your own partner to join our classes; although many people do have one or more preferred dance partners by the time they've left beginners and improvers and reached the intermediates or advanced levels. Similarly, you don't need specialist clothes or shoes when you start learning to dance.

Practices

Practising away from taught classes is the way to get better faster. It's also the end goal of social dancing, whereas dancesport dancers have competitions.

Our regular social dance practice is called General Dancing and is free to attend, even for non-club members. We try to run it on as many Friday evenings as possible. This is the place to bring visiting friends & family, including children. It's not a formal event, like a ball, so there's no need to dress up.

Our dancesport practice sessions are really only suitable for advanced dancers to train and require club membership & termly subscription fees (or per session fee) to attend. If you attend practices at Kelsey Kerridge, you'll also need to pay KK's own day/membership fee.

See the ongoing practice list.

Events

We're still holding occasional tea dances but no big ball dates have been planned yet.

Private Lessons

The CDC as a whole does not arrange private lessons for people. Those teachers who are willing to have their details made public are included on our links page (and if you attend regular CDC classes you may approach the teachers there too). However, if you are already on the DanceSport teams or are hoping to be selected, you may be able to arrange for a private lesson with one of the team coaches. Contact the CUDT Secretary to book a specific time slot. Non-team people should contact the new CDC competitive group to find out if there are any spare private lesson slots available with the coaches.

Promotions and Contacts

CDC T-shirts

The competitive teams have their own "stash" items but we are now able to offer CDC logo T-shirts again. The price is £8 each. The sizes range from adult small to extra-large (with most women being small or medium and most men being medium upwards). The new batch have red print on a black T-shirt and include some which are printed on the back instead for people who want to wear them while partner dancing; but we do also have a few other colour combinations left from the previous batch. See a committee member or email to arrange to purchase one.

CDC : : + (group) :
CUDT : : : :
CURnR : (page) + (private group)
CDC Competes on the open circuit (group)