Hello, Caroline here...
It's lovely to meet you! I thought it might be good to take the chance to tell you a bit about myself and how I ended up here...
Rewind to June 2017, and I was sitting in one of my favourite vintage American diners, and couldn't help thinking there was something missing. I'd been teaching since graduating in 2000 (we'll skip over the bit where I did a drama degree with Benedict Cumberbatch, no, really!), and I had spent over a decade choreographing and teaching theatre and dance in and around Sheffield.
All my life I'd had a passion for all things 'vintage'- showgirls, fashion, music, film. I am also a total retro dance geek. I've lost hours teaching myself dances from fuzzy old video tapes, and spending a fortune on original 60's dance instruction manuals. I'm the woman who not only had an Elvis wedding, but actually sat through every single Elvis film before I jetted off to Vegas (33 FILMS, varying quality!) Between us, I sometimes feel like I know Bob Fosse better than some members of my own family.
As a (cough) 'natural leader' I'd never really enjoyed partner dancing, and I struggled to find a dance class where I could dance to the music that I love, in the dance styles that I'm so passionate about.
It started me wondering.... this can't just be me, right?!
In the wonderful words of Joe Lycett, I realised that sometimes if you want something to exist, you have to make it yourself. The seed for Charleston a Go-Go was sown!
Charleston a Go-Go was born from the belief that dance is for everyone. It doesn't matter how old you are, what your body looks like, how fit you are, or even whether you know your left from your right. All you actually need to dance is enthusiasm, because what really matters is how dancing can make you feel.
I believe that everyone deserves to feel confident in who they are, to have the chance to escape life's responsibilities for a little while, to surround themselves with people who lift them up, and to move purely for the joy of moving. I'm also a big fan of progress over perfection, and the life-affirming joy of 'wrong but strong!'
When I'm not dancing I work as a mental health practitioner in the NHS. I am also mum to two boys and two kittens, Clara and Emmett (who share my love of time travelling!!) Trust me when I say I truly appreciate the need for a little escapism and silliness in life - dance is my therapy!
When you come to a Charleston a Go-Go class you really are supporting the tiniest of tiny businesses, and I am beyond grateful for how this tiny seed has grown. I'd absolutely love you to join me on my one-woman mission to put the joy and sparkle back into life...
Caroline x
Still not sure we're a good match? The best way to find out what I'm all about is to come along, meet me and try a class for yourself. Why not sign up for our next FREE taster session to find out more?
