Photo edit courtesy of Sophie Bowers Photography

The event was split into adult showcase and a youth showcase and overall the weekend raised over £300! To help raise funds the studio also organised a handbag raffle!
 
The adults showcase saw a group instructor/student  pole/hoop combo performance open the show dressed in a lovely bright orange… We then had individual pole and hoop performances from Solent Fitness and Aerial Arts as well as a star performance by the studio’s resident adult street team! The show closed with a Beyonce extravaganza from the girls of SFAA and their feather boas!
 
The youth show included a fab opener from the circus arts kids, showing us a variety of cool tricks and circus performances! We were then treated to a variety of hoop performances, group and solo before the show closed with a contemporary dance from our studio teens!
 
The performances were amazing from all involved, both adults and children! Another successful event at Julie’s Dance Studio! Can’t wait for the next! ​

Good Friday was spent washing teddies, scarves and pompoms (Hmmm...Sounds like studio work to me!)  as well as some housework... I picked up my new glasses and managed to fit in a pub lunch with family as well as a quick new-glasses-selfie! 

​Tuesday/Wednesday
A short break away in Glastonbury where my partner and I went Glamping in a pod, we walked for miles... we visited quaint villages and even the beach. In the evenings we sat outside our pod with a fire burning. A very relaxed few days away :)
Thursday 
We travelled back slowly very slowly ( we got lost) but we had an adventure and that night I met up with some friends for good ole catch up and tapas.

Friday was back to work!  All in all, balance is how I would explain my week off!

The organisers of the competition, Belinda and Carrie-Ann, have so many behind-the-scenes jobs to do to ensure that the competition runs smoothly, from ordering the trophie to sorting out the judges. These competitions give the children something great to work towards and I have a lot of respect for anyone that chooses to organise them! 
As a teacher it is up to me to ensure each child dances in the right category, they all have their numbers displayed correctly, they have the right attire on and that they are smiling and happy on the day! 
I didn’t really have any issues with this competition and everything ran smoothly! I have been attending competitions now for over 16 years so I feel like I’m quite clued up on the rules and all the drama that goes along with competing, but that still doesn't stop me getting butterflies every time a child I teach is on... so competition days usually consist of me experiencing every emotion going and yes this usually includes tears!
We had qualifiers in each category from solos, pairs, groups and teams to electric boogie. The children have been practising for this day since we came back from the Christmas break and all the dancers achieved a personal best (even if they didn’t qualify, they were all amazing) Some children even fought in rounds that had over 30 competitors dancing against them and were still not phased at all! They are all so brave! 
We have been busy fundraising for the finals day and are hoping to pay for each of the children’s competition ticket... This is a staggering £720.00 and we are achieving this goal with the support of local businesses, which makes us feel like such a part of a community and is a lovely opportunity for the children! 
I have enjoyed being tagged in so many photos from proud parents and happy children! It's days like that which make my job so worthwhile! 

~Julie  xx

Aerial Yoga Taster Session - April 9th

This event is now full, but regular classes will soon be coming to the studio with Elevate to Fitness!

The innovative and unique Anti Gravity® fitness technique was invented by the visionary Christopher Harrison. It is designed to increase core and upper body strength, increase flexibility and improve muscle tone. The Christopher Harrison hammock was invented and designed to assist in the movements and poses used in the variety of Anti Gravity techniques. Beginners Anti Gravity is an ideal level to introduce the novice to this wonderful technique, starting with the absolute basics to get you confident and comfortable in using the hammock. Kerry, your instructor, is an Anti Gravity® certified professional. Opening the first Anti Gravity® Classes in Southampton.

Salsa Workshop with Tracie's Latin Club - April 21st

A fun exciting evening for all adults to be able attend.
This will be great social night and it dosen't matter if you have 2 left feet!!!
The session is priced at £8.00 per person - Partners are not obigatory, just come along and join in.
For more information on Salsa please use the following link wwww.tracieslatinclub.vco.uk

Ballroom & Latin 6 week course - April 30th

A 6 week workshop for you to to learn new dances including the Waltz, Rumba, Cha Cha & Jive!
The course will cost £42.00 per person. 
A great social dance setting and the bar will be open for refreshments.

SFAA hosting Kate Edwards for Workshops - April 30th

Check out the full blog post on the SFAA website here. 

The 30th of April 2017 will see Solent Fitness & Aerial Arts hosting the amazing Kate Edwards of Spin City fame, for a day of workshops! 

Kate Edwards is the owner and director of Spin City Aerial Fitness, one of the largest aerial fitness schools in the UK. A fully qualified fitness instructor, group exercise instructor and personal trainer for over 10 years, Kate specialises in the fitness aspect of aerial training, teaching at her dedicated studios in Bristol, Exeter, Hungerford, Brimpton and Newbury. 

Can you tell us a funny story that happened at the studio?
Oh gosh............ There have been a fair few to be honest!!!

I've taken a few kicks to the head/face, spotting students - including one from fellow instructor Lauren just last night!

I've had to go rewind the CCTV before now to watch myself falling over before now - more than once! Usually straight after I've told someone a move is "really easy"

Emily has run across the studio to give me a high five during class before, only to slide and trip over before reaching me and skidding across the floor.

An adult class warmed up once with Julie's new party game of hungry hippos...

I was teaching hoop rolls in baggy trousers once, they became rolled up around the hoop and I was completely stuck there hanging onto the hoop by just my trouser rolls! We've also had multiple leggings split - and even a couple of pairs of underwear breaking!

We frequently attempt some of those really unachievable viral videos/photos you see on Facebook and they very often go completely wrong, resulting in hilarious fails, our favourite one so far being "the floor is lava chair trick"

The last one that comes to mind is all the silly, often completely unintentional photo bombs - usually involving me trying to get out of the photo, only for it to be a video of my jumping out of my skin and running away!  

​