The Lyric Theatre in Hammersmith has announced a whole new timetable of activities and classes in a wide range of art forms including theatre, dance, music, film, TV and digital for children and young people of all ages.
The classes will take place in the Reuben Foundation Wing, a new extension opened in April as part of the theatre's £20m re-development.
Prices range from company to company; but due to The Lyric Theatre's commitment to affordable classes, no class is more than £10 per session.
In order to take the classes, all you have to do is sign up to become a member of the Lyric Young Company.
Getwestlondon's Emily Chudy talked to ZooNation and DanceWest to find out more about The Lyric's dance workshops ahead of the classes beginning.
ZooNation managing director and producer, Chantal Spiteri, said: "We're a hip hop company... We had the conversation about the classes with the Lyric just over a year ago. I think they're a fantastic company.
"It's [the classes] streamed by ability not age, kids can have a free trial where we assess them, and we then take it on an individual case-by-case basis. Maybe a nine-year-old is brilliant and would be suited in a more advanced class, maybe an 18-year-old has never danced before in their life. The only age group we have is the under eights. Otherwise we have beginners, intermediate and advanced.
"We're about giving them a safe, fun environment. They warm up, get their bodies ready and prepared, then learn a section of choreography. For the under eights' classes, they come in, warm up and play a few games, learning rhythms, it's more basic but for their age group it's still a challenge."
ZooNation's under eights and beginners' classes are one hour long, which is £90 for the whole term (12 weeks); their intermediate and advanced classes are an hour and a half long and cost £117 for the whole term.
Spiteri said: "Hip hop, allows you to have the freedom to express yourself. You often see in under-eights that they love freestyle and have no inhibitions; as they get older maybe they get more self-conscious about their bodies, but we want to keep that confidence going. There is no right or wrong when it comes to freestyle.
"First and foremost, it's about having fun, it's confidence building. We've seen kids who have been so shy and timid, seeing the progression of them coming outside of their shell and making friends. We always want to offer support if they want to craft a career out of that. If they want to develop that, they absolutely can do.
"It's brilliant to have fun, but if the students want to take it seriously they can. It leads into the adult company, and starts as early as four-years-old!"
ZooNation's classes for the Autumn term begin on Friday September 18 and finish on Friday December 11, and take place every Friday.
Spiteri said: "It's [The Lyric Theatre] a fantastic venue, particularly with the new redevelopment. We were given some input when they were designing the dance studios; we've been very, very lucky. It's a great hub."
Classes and activities are delivered by Lyric partners, including DanceWest, Lyric Hammersmith, Musiko Musika, New English Ballet Theatre, Tri-Borough Music Hub, Youth Music Theatre UK, and ZooNation Academy of Dance, West (ZAD West).
Choreographer, producer and founder of DanceWest, Rose Whitney-Fish, said: "We're open to everyone, from seven to 24 years.
"Contemporary is a fun, expressive form of dance.
"Dance is amazing for building people's confidence. We keep it very fun and energetic.
"We're the only people in west London to offer contemporary dance at this level and with these teachers... We have really amazing, high-calibre teachers."
DanceWest's 90-minute classes take place every Thursday; Autumn term begins on Thursday September 17 and finishes on Thursday December 10. The classes cost £80 per term or £8 for a drop-in class.
Bryony Williams, a West London-based dance artist, said: "I believe dance can bring huge benefits in terms of well being and vitality.
"It's a great way to explore your creativity, as it is experiential and has immediate, positive results."
To book your classes, please visit The Lyric Theatre website.
