Meet your Dance Energy coaches

Karen Jane:

Choreographer & Dance Coach

With over 50 years of dance experience across most dance styles – Karen Jane has performed in Paris, at the Edinburgh Festival and the West end. She was also selected to dance on ‘Come Dancing’ (for those that remember the pre-runner to ‘Strictly Come Dancing’!)

Karen Jane is constantly learning and developing her dance skills – she just completed Sir Matthew Bourne’s New Adventures Overture programme. having been one of a small number of dance artists selected to join the 2023/24 cohort.

Following this, she is now working with some of the top choreographers and international dance artists in the UK supported using public funding by the National Lottery through Arts Council England. All of this learning is being poured back into classes and performances bringing a richer and varied experience to the dancers.

Choreography

Choreography draws on movements from lyrical, commercial, latin, ballroom, jazz, modern, disco, contemporary and urban choreography adapted for the older adult.

The classes are designed using Laban principles to give both health and skill benefits. Karen Jane is accredited in both ‘KFA Moves’ (dance movement based on Laban principles) and ‘KFA Sit and Stay Fit’ (specialist training in dance for older dancers). She loves being an active member of the KFA (Keep Fit Association) and EMD UK (National governing body for group exercise) where she qualified to teach Dance and Fitness. KFA and other similar organisations provide opportunities for training, performing and competing across the UK.

Inspired by her parents who in their late eighties are still dancing she is determined to bring her love of dance, movement and music to adults of all ages and abilities.

If you want to keep active, improve your health, have a lot of fun and (optionally) an active social scene, then come join us and see what you think.

Winning solo performance 2023 – performed again in Nottingham Albert Hall this year.

June 2024: Music Celine Dion “It’s all coming back to me now”

Jazz:

Dance Teacher

Jazz has also been dancing since she could walk. Her style mixes lyrical and contemporary with all forms of urban choreography which is her passion. Jazz covers for Karen Jane and provides dance workshops as well as teaching in other dance schools locally and on the South coast. She is normally found on stage or competing. In 2023 she competed in Blackpool at the UDO World championships as well as Masters of Dance in the European championships in Majorca in 2023 and 2024.