As Newo Dance marks its first anniversary in Rye, founder Owen Thompson says the biggest surprise has been the response from the community. While he expected to enjoy teaching, he hadn’t anticipated just how energising the experience would be. Seeing a room of people connect with the music and “pick up the routine” has been especially rewarding, he said, describing the atmosphere in class as something you can feel when people are enjoying themselves.
Newo Dance originally launched with two weekly classes, but Owen has recently chosen to focus on the Tuesday session, which has steadily grown in popularity. He puts this down partly to timing, and partly to Rye’s rich creative scene. With so many choirs, music and arts activities on offer, he sees this not as competition but as a sign that there is a strong appetite locally for creative, social activities.
The Tuesday class has built a welcoming, word-of-mouth following, with participants encouraging friends — and even strangers — to give it a go. Owen says the environment is deliberately inclusive and non-judgemental. “It’s not just about the dance,” he explained. “It’s a nice space to be in for an hour.” The class is open to complete beginners, and people are encouraged to move at their own pace, without pressure to be good or particularly fit.
Looking ahead, Owen is expanding his work with the community. He is about to begin running dance sessions with Rye Youth Zone, where he already volunteers twice weekly, for 10-17 year-olds and will be co-hosting creative holiday workshops with Shelley Gibbon from Ways of Seeing, combining movement and collage-based art. More projects are also in the pipeline, with hints of future pop-up classes to come.
Newo Dance Adult dance class: Rye Community Centre, every Tuesday, from 6 to 7pm.
Dance with Owen: Rye Youth Club , every Tuesday, from 4 to 5pm. Starts 24 February.
Image Credits: Nathalie Desgrange .