Time for dancing as studio opens following lockdown

A dance company has been celebrating after opening a brand new studio for its students.

Principal and owner Danni Grove is pictured with students Amara Shepherd, 10, and Owen Shepherd,15, from Norton Canes

Danni Dance Fitness (DDF) Dance Company has opened its new dance studio in Cannock, following months of preparation during the coronavirus lockdown.

Owner Danni Grove was present to welcome new and old students to the centre and show them around the studio.

The 22-year-old said the work to get the new studio up and running had been worth it for the reaction from the students.

She said: “The day has been amazing and all the children really enjoyed being there today.

“We didn’t do any teaching, but gave them a tour of the studio and did a grand opening of the building, as well as telling them that we’d got the chance to dance at Disneyland Paris.

“That was exciting news for them as we had auditioned for it months ago and even though we’re not able to go at the moment due to coronavirus, it was great to let them know we are going to be dancing there at some point.”

DDF Dance Company was founded in May 2019 and offers both contemporary and lyrical style classes with a range of techniques and discipline.

The new dance school will give Danni Grove and her students a bigger place to learn and develop

Lessons will be taught by Danni, who studied performing arts dance at Birmingham Ormiston Academy and dance at Edge Hill University, and Alice Kent, a professional dancer trained in ballet, jazz, freestyle and contemporary.

The new studio has been set up to ensure social distancing is in place, with a one-way system and children assigned to bubbles that they must stay in and smaller class numbers for the time being.

Danni, who has been dancing since she was three, said the last few months had been very difficult because of coronavirus, so it was a real thrill to finally open the new studio.

She said: “It means everything to me to be able to do this as it’s something I’ve been dreaming of since I was a little girl.

“I’ve finally done it and I just feel on cloud nine and the plan now is to build it and make it bigger and better for all the children who want to learn to dance.

“Dance to me has so many benefits and can help your mental health, physical health and general wellbeing and there are so many skills the children can learn from performing.”