Toddlers take their first steps into the world of dance (From Swindon Advertiser)

Toddlers take their first steps into the world of dance

11:30am Sunday 3rd February 2013 in News

A NEW company has started in Swindon offering dance classes for under fives to encourage their physical and creative development.

Sarah Gaustad, 29, a former secondary school dance teacher, has established DancePlus, which runs a weekly session for toddlers and, new this week, a session for babies.

The classes started at Robert Le Kyng Children’s Centre, of Westcott Street, but should soon be available at various centres across Swindon, including the Central Library and North Swindon Library.

Sarah, of Grange Park, who leads the classes herself, said: “There’s lots of parent and baby sessions but I want to get across that mine is different. Because a lot of them are music-orientated.

“There are a few sessions that use a lot of musical instruments with the children, but mine is much more focused on movement and getting children to explore their environment, whether that’s parents playing with their babies and moving their arms and legs about if they are still really babies, or the children standing and moving around themselves.

“That’s what it’s about - it’s encouraging movement.

“And dance is also very good for encouraging children’s imagination and creativity. That’s one of the key skills. To encourage them to be creative and come up with ideas, particularly when they’re older and they’ve got real personalities.”

Sarah, formerly the education liaison and marketing co-ordinator at Swindon-based children’s book publisher Child’s Play (International) Ltd, plans to expand her service intoafter-school clubs, teaching older children, and dance sessions at children’s birthday parties.

For more information and prices visit the website www.danceplus.uk.com.