Interview with Lizzy: Dorset Creative Dance
Lizzy at Dorset Creative Dance specialises in multisensory classes for toddlers and babies from birth. Her friendly, relaxed sessions in the Gullivers Wellness Yurt help to create a community for the parents and carers that attend.
We chat with her to find out more about her and the way she works.
What inspired you to create Dorset Creative Dance?
I have always loved dance. It’s all I’ve ever known. But it was actually my little boy who inspired me to start Dorset Creative Dance. He was moving, dancing and enjoying music from such a young age it absolutely fascinated me.
Having my son gave me the confidence to go for it and bring dance, movement and music to babies and children.
What can people expect when they come to one of your classes? Is there anything they should keep in mind?
You can expect to come to a friendly, relaxed class where you are free to feed, change and do whatever your baby or toddler needs. Although we pack a lot of content into our sessions, we also give you space to interact with other parents or carers and 1:1 time with your baby or child.
Meanwhile, our toddler classes are fun-filled, movement-packed classes that use nursery rhymes and well-known songs to dance to. We use ribbons, hula hoops, pom poms, instruments and much more!
How might your classes help the people that attend them?
We use an abundance of props and resources to aid your baby or child’s development. Each week we focus on different skills to further their learning and we have tailored this according to age or developmental milestones. We concentrate on physical and visual development, language skills, confidence and self-awareness.
Can the classes impact have a wider reach? Perhaps in terms of the parents and carers that attend too? If so, how?
We create an environment where parents and carers can build relationships with each other and gain support in those early years from others in the same position, which is vital. As class leaders we want you to feel part of our community and valued. You are not just a booking number to us.
What do you enjoy about teaching at Gullivers?
Teaching at Gullivers is an absolute joy! What an amazing setting to lead our sessions in. The Wellness Yurt is gorgeous and creates a beautiful environment for our multisensory classes.
The participants then have the opportunity to sit and have a coffee and cake or lunch with each other and let the toddlers play in the orchard. The fact there are diggers to ride on, a kitchen to role play in and other toys in the orchard is fantastic.
Gullivers is a place where people and community really matter. Could you talk a little more about what community means to you?
People and the community is at the forefront of our aims and values as a business. We want our parents and carers and their children to feel they are part of our community. To be heard and appreciated when they attend our sessions. We have babies that start with us from just a few weeks’ old, and move up our classes, which is wonderful to see. Watching their development is a privilege and a joy!
Lizzy’s Creative Dance Classes are 45-minute sessions held in the Gullivers Wellness Yurt on Thursdays at 9.30am, 10.30am and 11.30am. Sessions are priced at £8 per class, pay as you go, or £7.20 when booked as a block.