In the heart of Hove, tucked away down a cobbled mews, Smikle Dance Studio offers dance for everyone. Founded by professional dancer and teacher Lee Smikle (Matthew Bourne’s New Adventures, Rambert School) and powered by his infectious creative energy and nurturing outlook on dance training, Smikle Dance Studio provides a nurturing and welcoming home for all dance students and local community dancers alike.
At the creative heart of the Studio is Smikle Youth Dance: Brighton (SYD:B) – the second iteration of SYD, following on from the pioneering and immensely successful Shoreditch Youth Dance, founded in 2010 in London. Formed of two Academies and two Performance Companies, SYD:B provides professional quality technique and creative classes for young people aged 12 – 18, and the chance to work with top choreographers. Already in 2022, among other things, each of these groups have created pieces to perform at ORIGINS Dance Festival (The Old Market), the Junior Performance Company & Boys Movement Company also performed at Dance Active (The Brighton Centre), and our Senior Performance Company curated a piece in collaboration with the University of Arts, London, Costume for Theatre and Screen at Wimbledon College.
BATCH, now entering its third year, is Smikle Dance Studio’s pre-vocational training program for students aged 16-18. Designed to accompany their further education, BATCH brings young people and top dance teachers together to provide advanced training in both Ballet, Contemporary to prepare future dancers for higher education at dance conservatoires.
At Smikle Kids, the creative classes give children aged 4-11 a space to move, create, and explore in a safe and fun environment. There are no ‘good toes/naughty toes’ in dance at Smikle Kids, where the children are encouraged to harness their natural movement to create beautiful pieces, the likes of which have been performed at ORIGINS Dance Festival, as well as at intimate studio sharings for parents & families.
Smikle Dance Studio isn’t just for young people, their adult classes run throughout the week, with Contemporary and Ballet classes available for all ability levels, the classes always have a focus on being friendly and enjoyable, and there’s no pressure to practice at home or have to take it too seriously, just come along, and have fun by adding a little dance into your life.
You can find the Studio on Kings Mews, just off Third Avenue in Hove. Get in touch to join their dance community today:
