Due to popular demand for the Urban Groovers youth group, the Merlin Theatre is introducing two brand new street dance groups.
Taught by Frome’s Craig Marsh and Morton Mitchard, who have worked with well known national and international hip-hop groups including Hip Hop Collective, Urban Groovers has been a huge success due to high demand in the area. Urban Basics takes place on Wednesdays at 4.15pm and is aimed at six to 10 year olds who wish to learn the basic foundation and techniques behind hip-hop dance. This fun and lively group for beginners teaches children fast and funky moves to music that they will love.
Urban Groovers, the Merlin’s ever popular original street dance group, who have performed in the Frome Festival as part of the Merlin’s dance showcase, meet on Tuesdays at 5.30pm. Urban Groovers is also for six to 10 year olds but builds on the technical and creative skills that children have developed from some hip-hop dance experience. Dancers with basic to advanced hip hop skills wanting to develop their technique and choreographically skills should look no further than Urban Plus. This new group for 11 to 16 year olds meets on Mondays at 5.45pm.
The Merlin also has groups for those with an interest in drama. Youth Theatre helps 12 to 15 year olds nurture and develop the skills for devising and entertaining unique theatre on Wednesdays at 5.15pm. The Young Company, Wednesdays 7.00pm for 15 to 19 year olds, is a follow-on group for young people to focus on creating original devised theatre and performance. For younger children the Merlin Theatre provides Playing with Plays on Mondays at 4.15pm for eight to 11 year olds, Creative Drama on Tuesdays at 4.15pm for five to seven year olds and Drama Club on Saturdays 10.00am for eight to 11 year olds.
All the Merlin’s Youth Groups meet weekly throughout the school term. Fees are payable in advance for the whole term. Some of our groups have waiting lists. Contact Claudia Berry on 01373 461360 or claudia@merlintheatre.co.uk to find out if there are places available.
The Merlin Theatre is a registered provider for Give it a Go! which provides funding for out of school activities for children who are eligible for free school meals or are in local authority care. All the Merlin’s Youth Groups and holiday activities can be paid for with Give it a Go funding. Children who are eligible should contact their school to access the funding.
