The Studio - Robyn D'Arcy School of Dance

My Studio was opposite the Skate Park and it was huge – we got lost in there. It had a revamp and was made smaller a few years later, and we found it suited us far better. Who would think that dancers could have too much space! In realising a need for Pilates training in my Studio, I went up to Cape Town in 2005 to do a Basic Mat Course in Pilates. This has added so much value to not only my own t

hinking and training, but my Ballet Students as well. The Pilates has formed a strong back bone for the Studio and I have worked with many people from different walks of life. I even train an 85 year old gentleman twice a week, and have astounding results. Pilates is for everyone and anyone. The Studio offers Private Sessions as well as more established Group Sessions. The first few years of The Studio was growing the name, getting exposure and finding my feet. And, growing our family! Our son, Carter was born in 2006. In the year of 2007, ‘The Flower Fairies Feast’ was performed at Mentors Venue and was a success. We did two performances in one day. That same year we did ballet exams in Our Studio for the very first time with an external examiner. The following year I had my daughter, Sophie, and a Show was not to be, but Exams continued. In 2009 we performed ‘Fantasia’ in Humansdorp. The Show for the very first time ran over 3 consecutive days doing 4 performances in total. I have a saying in my Studio, ‘Do it properly, or don’t do it at all…’
In 2010 we performed ‘Once Upon an Urban Night,’ in Humansdorp, a play on the theme of the night – it was quite a challenge. The year of 2011 we performed ‘Circus Circus’ and it was loads of fun. And last but not least in 2012 we performed ‘Le Couleur’ or rather in English ‘Colours’ back at Mentors Venue after all these years. I would have to say that to date, ‘Le Couleur’ has got to be my most endearing Show I have ever produced. The one that certainly stands out for me. Maybe because my Little Sophie performed for the first time. In the Studio I have a very open policy on learning, growing and being challenged in all genres of Dance. The basis for all dance training, in my opinion, and others, is Classical Ballet. From there, a world of treasures awaits in all styles and forms of dance experimentation. A formalised year in The Studio starts with Royal Academy of Dance Ballet Examinations in early June. We then move into choreography, dance experimentation. Here we all explore different ways to move, we challenge our Classical training and use it in our group efforts to bring our Show together. The Show falls over 3 days and the students have 4 performances in total. This is in October – after which we take a break to regroup and start working on Classical Syllabus again. Throughout the year we are often asked to perform at Charity Events, Festivals, Matric Dances, Cultural Evenings and Social Events. The students are always keen to perform, so for us as a Studio, it is a privilege to perform. I am a qualified Royal Academy of Dance trained Teacher. I have danced since the age of 3 and been teaching for 13 years. I studied at UCT School of Dance majoring in Classical Ballet and Contemporary Dance. I attained 92% in my Final Teachers Exam under Bonnie Auret in Port Elizabeth. I have worked in the UK under Ysabelle Taylor, one of the facilitators for the RAD. I was trained by Dawn De Wit in Port Elizabeth while I was at school and various others in Cape Town. I would say most of my influences came from Vincent Hantam, a formidable amazingly brilliant technician and teacher, Lindy Raizenberg for her wonderful, soft , gentle approach and incredible choreographic ability, Dudley Tomlinson for the constant encouragement as a young dancer, Elizabeth Triegaardt for her constant pursuits for nothing but excellence, Kim Day for her precise, exact and honest approach to the Classical training, Dianne Cheesman for her ever-challenging, thought provoking technical training and Sharon Friedman for introducing me to Contemporary dance and for nurturing a love for it.