MAD (Marlborough Academy of Dance and Drama) face-to-face classes have started again in the last two weeks at various venues in and around Marlborough. During the lockdowns, a slightly reduced ‘zoom timetable’ for MAD meant that 31 classes still went ahead every week, in living rooms throughout Marlborough and the surrounding district.
Cheryl Heuston, who owns and runs MAD and teaches the majority of the dance classes, said, “I could not be happier to see the students again. Zoom wasn’t for everyone, but it was wonderful to see so many students persevere and keep dancing in their lounges/dining rooms/studies/gardens – I am so proud of them all, keeping going with smiles on their faces despite festivals and shows being cancelled, and it certainly kept me going in such a weird and difficult time. But nothing beats being in the same room… and there are less interruptions from my dogs!!”
Georgia, age 9, who does 4 classes a week with MAD said, “Zoom was good because it encouraged me to practise, but it’s so much better being in the studio with my friends and being able to hear other people’s voices when we’re singing and really see us all dancing together.”
MAD has 250 students on its books, aged between 3 and 18. In ‘normal’ times. Over forty different classes a week are run outside school time ranging from pre-school ballet to pointe work, Tap, Modern, Contemporary, Jazz, Street Dance, LAMDA (drama), invitation-only Company dance groups and the Saturday Stage School (Dance/Drama/Singing).
For more information about MAD click here. The MAD Facebook page also gives more information and celebrates what the students have been doing during lockdown.
April 2021 – An exceptional month – cold – but short of the April showers
