The journal

Advice & news

Starting dance the right way, choosing your discipline, understanding the stages, and news from the school.

Danseuses en répétition dans le studio de l'Atelier du Mouvement à Nantes

5 min read

How much does a dance class cost in Nantes?

In Nantes, there is no single price for dance: it all depends on what you dance. Here is what makes the price vary, the cost of workshops, and why you always start with a free trial.

Groupe d'enfants en tutu lors d'un cours d'éveil à la danse à Nantes

5 min read

Which activity for your child in Nantes? Dance

Sport, music, dance: every new term, the same question at home. Why dance is one of the most complete activities for a child in Nantes, and how to choose theirs.

Ensemble de danseuses alignées sur scène sous une lumière rouge

6 min read

Dance in Nantes: festivals, shows and venues

Nantes dances all year round, often without our knowing it. Here is an overview of the festivals, the venues and the styles that keep dance alive in the metropolis.

Danseuse de street jazz en fente sur scène, bras tendu

6 min read

Hip-hop in Nantes: Hip Opsession and street jazz

Every winter, Hip Opsession makes Nantes a capital of hip-hop. And what if, after watching, you felt like dancing in turn?

Une salle de spectacle prête à accueillir le public pour une représentation de danse

6 min read

Where to see dance in Nantes

Nantes is full of stages that programme dance all year round. Here is a simple, warm guide to help you choose your first outing, as a couple, with friends or as a family.

Un groupe de danseurs en plein mouvement lors d'un cours de danse contemporaine

6 min read

The Trajectoires festival: dance in Nantes

Every winter, the Trajectoires festival puts contemporary dance in the spotlight in Nantes. An ideal event to discover this living art, then, why not, to try it yourself.

Danseuse en tutu bleu en arabesque

7 min read

Enrolling in dance in Nantes: the back-to-school guide

The new term is coming and you are thinking of enrolling your child, or yourself, in dance? Here is how to go about it, stress-free and at the right time.

La salle du Théâtre Capellia vue depuis la scène, gradins rouges

6 min read

The Théâtre Capellia, the stage for our shows

A real auditorium, a real stage, real lighting: each year our students dance at the Théâtre Capellia. Here is the place that makes the show so memorable.

Le corps de ballet aligné sur la scène du Théâtre Capellia

5 min read

Dance workshops during the holidays, in Nantes

The holidays are a fine time to progress: a few hours of focused workshop sometimes achieve more than a whole term. What our workshops offer.

Le corps de ballet aligné sur scène, éclairage rouge

6 min read

End-of-year show: why every one of our students takes the stage

In many schools, only the best dance on stage. With us, it is the opposite: everyone goes up. A deliberate teaching choice, not a detail.

Groupe de danseuses en costumes jaunes sur scène

7 min read

Behind the scenes of the annual dance show

A successful show means months of invisible work. A little tour behind the scenes of our annual event.

Répétition en studio à l'Atelier du Mouvement

7 min read

Starting dance as an adult: it is never too late

"I'm too old", "I've no flexibility", "everyone else will have started as a child"... We hear these lines often. They are almost always untrue.

Danseuse en solo sur scène, éclairage rouge

6 min read

Stage nerves: how we help dancers tame them

A pounding heart, trembling legs before going on: every dancer knows stage nerves. The good news is that they can be tamed.

Danseuses en tutus colorés en arabesque sur scène

7 min read

Preparing for a dance competition: how does it work?

A competition is far more than a contest: it is work on yourself, a variation you make your own, and learning the stage. Here is how you prepare for it.

Danseur en fente profonde, éclairage bleu

6 min read

Street jazz: urban dance, taken seriously

Between studio dance and the street, street jazz has found its place. Energetic and accessible, it is often the way teenagers come into dance.

Deux danseuses sur pointes en arabesque

6 min read

Going on pointe: at what age and how?

It is the dream of many young dancers. But pointe work is not decided by age: it is earned through a strong foot and a well-placed back.

Danseuse contemporaine avec un voile, éclairage de scène

6 min read

Contemporary dance: understanding the discipline

Often little understood, contemporary dance intrigues as much as it attracts. Here is what defines it, and why it goes so well with ballet.

Groupe de danseuses en modern jazz sur scène

6 min read

Modern jazz: origins, style and who it is for

Energetic, musical, expressive: modern jazz is one of the most popular dances, and one of the most complete for getting started.

Alexandra Gérard sur la scène du Théâtre Capellia

6 min read

The Russian method: Alexandra Gérard's legacy

Behind the Atelier du Mouvement lies an exceptional training: that of Alexandra Gérard, nurtured by the Russian school of ballet. What that changes for the pupils.

Danseuse classique en attitude sur fond noir

7 min read

What is a ballet class like?

Ballet is often imagined as more intimidating than it really is. Here, step by step, is how a real class unfolds, so you arrive relaxed on day one.

Danseuse en cambré, éclairage de scène

5 min read

Is dance a complete sport?

We sometimes forget that dancing is also a workout, and no small one. A tour of what dance works in the body.

Groupe de danseuses en modern jazz sur scène

7 min read

Ballet, modern jazz or contemporary: which dance to choose?

Ballet, modern jazz, street jazz, contemporary: four languages of the body, four different pleasures. Here is how to find your way, and where to begin.

Ensemble de danseurs contemporains sur scène

7 min read

How to choose a dance school in Nantes?

Nantes is not short of dance schools. To choose well, it is best to look beyond the brochure: here are the criteria that truly make the difference.

Danseuse en tutu rose en développé

5 min read

What to wear to start dancing?

Do you need a leotard, ballet shoes, a tutu? To start out, the answer is simpler than you might think.

Groupe de jeunes danseuses en tutus sur scène

7 min read

The benefits of dance for children

Beyond the pleasure of moving, dance shapes a child in depth: the body, of course, but also concentration, confidence and the bond with others.

Duo de jeunes danseuses en costumes jaunes

5 min read

Dance awakening: why start from age 4

Before the barre and the positions comes the awakening class: a gentle way in, where the child discovers their body and music through play.

Jeune danseuse en costume jaune sur scène

7 min read

At what age should you start dancing?

It is the first question parents ask. The answer comes down to one simple idea: there is an age for each stage, but no age for starting to love dance.

Ensemble de danseuses en costumes orientaux sur scène

8 min read

Dancing as a family: why not join in too?

You bring your child to their dance class every week. What if, rather than waiting, you took the chance to dance too?

Le final du spectacle annuel, toute la troupe réunie sur scène

6 min read

Dancing in the east of Nantes: Doulon, Bottière, Toutes-Aides

Looking for a dance class in the east of Nantes? The Atelier du Mouvement sits on rue des Perrines, right next to the Doulon and Bottière districts.

Scène de spectacle, costumes orientaux

8 min read

Dancing after 50: it's never too late

Dance is often thought to be the preserve of the young. It isn't: after 50, it is even one of the best things you can give your body.

Danseuses en tutus avec rubans sur scène

9 min read

A year of dance, from the new term to the show

Signing up for dance means committing to a whole year. Here's how it unfolds, from the discovery of September to the big night of the show.

Duo de danseuses en tutus en arabesque

8 min read

Choosing your first dance shoes well

The dance shoe is a dancer's first real purchase. To avoid a mistake, or buying too soon, here's what to know, discipline by discipline.

Danseuse en solo au sol, éclairage chaud

8 min read

How long does it take to progress in dance?

It's a fair question, whether you're a parent or an adult beginner: how soon do you see progress? An honest answer, step by step.

Porté à deux danseurs, éclairage rouge

8 min read

Boys and dance: doing away with the clichés

"Dance is for girls": the cliché dies hard, and yet it does not stand up to scrutiny. Dance has a great deal to offer boys, and they give it back in kind.

Groupe d'enfants sur scène en costumes orientaux

8 min read

Dance and self-confidence: what it changes for the shy child

Many parents enrol their shy child in dance hoping to help them open up. It is often an excellent instinct. Here's why.

Danseuse en tutu rouge en attitude

7 min read

The vocabulary of ballet: a short glossary for beginners

Ballet has its own language, and it sometimes puts beginners off. Yet these words are only landmarks. Here they are, explained, without jargon.

Groupe de danseurs contemporains sur scène

7 min read

Do you need to be flexible to dance?

"I'm not flexible enough." It is one of the phrases we hear most often when people are about to start. It is also one of the most mistaken.

Danseuse en tutu rouge en arabesque

8 min read

The dance bun: why it matters and how to get it right

It's the little Wednesday-morning challenge for many parents: the dance bun. Here's why it matters, and how to get it right without any fuss.

Come and try

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