Dance Base

07/10/2026

Dance Base x Project X Scratch Night artist spotlight: Michael Arowolo ✨

Michael is a Nigerian-born multidisciplinary artist working across dance, choreography, drumming and music. He has over five years of experience working in theatre and the performing arts, including working with Project X Artist Voice for Dance International Glasgow, collaborating on 'Dictations: The Heart of the Sea' by Mele Broomes, 'Dive Into the Groove' with Whacking Scotland and Project X’s 'In the Making'.

At Scratch Night, Michael will be performing a section from a dance piece called 'Sacrilege,' which is still being developed. It’s inspired by his Nigerian roots and features various traditional dance movements such as Bata and Yengbe accompanied with the Bata drums from the Yoruba tribe and Yoruba chants (oral poetry).

Michael will be joined by Adenopo Samiat who features as a dancer on this piece.

💫Dance Base x Project X Scratch Night
📆 Friday 23 October
🕘19:00-21:00
🎟️Tickets: £10 (£8) https://loom.ly/5dIZCNU

06/10/2026

Join us for an evening of reflection and performance to mark 25 years on the Grassmarket! 🎉

When Dance Base opened its doors in 2001, it made a bold and lasting statement: that dance deserved a permanent, ambitious, purpose-built home that would nurture and support Scotland’s dance artists and Edinburgh’s dancing public.

To bring the strands of this extraordinary journey together, we have invited dance historian and teaching legend Agnes Ness to share her personal reflections on Dance Base past and present, alongside the premiere of a newly commissioned work by dancer, choreographer and Dance Base teacher, Benoît Egloff.

🎉 Saturday 17 October
🕙 18:30-20:00
🎟️ £10 https://loom.ly/o1TJ5O8

05/10/2026

🪩Teacher spotlight: Meggy Viana

Meggy spent over 10 years in Portugal training and working professionally in Hip Hop, before moving from Lisbon to Scotland in 2014 to dive into classical styles.

Meggy is endlessly curious and loves to learn, which has taken her as far afield as New York (for Jazz and Contemporary training), Brazil (to explore Afro-Brazilian dance), and Cuba (to study Afro-Cuban movement).

As a choreographer, she has created work for the Edinburgh Festival Fringe, Celtic Connections in Glasgow, and Edinburgh Carnival, collaborating with incredible artists from around the world, including Brazil, Cuba, South Africa, Costa Rica, New York, and Zambia.

Meggy is also our incredible Bookings and Front of House Manager, so you'll catch her at Dance Base most days, making sure your experience here is nothing short of exceptional.

Dance with Meggy:
💫Jazz
📆 Wednesdays
🕐 20:00 (60 min)
🎟️ https://www.dancebase.co.uk/classes/jazz/?id=166481

📽

02/10/2026

Turn back the clock and take a class from the past - part of our 25 Years on the Grassmarket Celebration Weekend!

Maybe you were there the first time around, maybe you're just curious about leg warmers. Either way, check out these stone cold classics, back for one weekend only!

🕺Dance Throwbacks with Paul Wood
📆Friday 16 October:
🕐18:00-19:30
🩰 All Levels
🎟️ £15
Get your groove on with a Jazz-based dance session to get yourself moving to some iconic retro tracks.

🧑‍🩰Barefoot Ballet with Kirsty Po***ck
📆Saturday 17 October
🕐10:00-11:30
🩰All Levels
🎟️ £15
A relaxed approach without the restriction of shoes, but still with the grace and beauty of a traditional Ballet class. Set to an inspiring playlist to enjoy movement and artistry together in the studio.

🧳Destination Jazz with Chris Stuart Wilson
📆Saturday 17 October
🕐11:30-13:00
🩰All Levels
🎟️ £15
Take a trip to much-loved styles, from zoot-suited Swing to neon Flashdance. Upon arrival please, remember to pick up your new found Duty Free Confidence from the Oversized Baggage Department. See you on the dance floor...

Book your spot! https://loom.ly/dvClV_Q

30/09/2026

Dance Base x Project X Scratch Night line-up! 📣

🌟 Michael Arowolo | Sacrilege
🌟 MC Laffitte | Clear
🌟 Kiki Oladapo and Gaia Silvan | Lost Tongues – The Humanity of the Gods….

The Dance Base x Project X Scratch Night is an exclusive first look at works-in-progress by some of Scotland’s leading Black dance artists from the African and Caribbean diaspora, curated and supported by Project X and hosted by Dance Base Artistic Director Tony Mills.

💫Dance Base x Project X Scratch Night
📆 Friday 23 October
🕘19:00-21:00
🎟️Tickets: £10 (£8)

Book now: https://loom.ly/5dIZCNU

📸1. Courtesy of the artist. 2. Sally Jubb 3. Marios Ento-Engkolo

29/09/2026

💫Confidence in Motion | Contemporary Workshop with Bex Hunt

Join Bex for this two-hour workshop, focused on developing dynamic range and performance presence.

Through structured improvisation and guided movement tasks, we will explore contrasts in weight, speed, flow, and energy, building physical clarity and expressive intention. Technical phrases will challenge us to shift dynamically while maintaining control, musicality, and connection to the movement.

📅 Sunday 18 October 2026
🕜 14:00 (120 min)
🩰 Level: Improver/Intermediate
🎟️ Tickets: £18/ £16

Book your spot! https://loom.ly/qtLtKYY

The workshop will encourage us to practise projection, focus, and emotional engagement in a supportive and confidence-building environment.

25/09/2026

✨ Dancers Emerging Bursary Scheme (DEBS) Mentor Spotlight: Thomas Small ✨

Throughout 2026/27, our new DEBS will be working with Thomas to hone their practice and navigate their route forward into the professional dance sector.

Thomas Small is a Scottish choreographer, director, and educator best known as the founder and Artistic Director of the multi-award-winning Dundee-based dance company Shaper/Caper. His work spans stage and film, often combining contemporary dance with social themes and community engagement.

The Dancers Emerging Bursary Scheme (DEBS) is Dance Base's annual programme of mentoring, guidance, and practical support for four emerging dance artists in Scotland.

Find out more: https://loom.ly/l-Xfb-o

[Images: 1. Thomas Small. 2-3. Small Town Boys production photos. Credit: David Monteith-Hodge.]

25/09/2026

🪩Teacher spotlight: Jack Anderson

Jack is a dancer based in Glasgow. As a performer, his work includes Éowyn Emerald & Dancers, Shotput, Company Chordelia, Rob Heaslip, Barrowland Ballet, Indepen-dance, 4, Niamh O'Loughlin and Ériu Dance Company.

Most recently, Jack performed alongside Charlotte Mclean and Malin Lewis in 'not for glory' at Dance Base Festival 2026 in partnership with Assembly Festival.

His work as a teacher, facilitator or rehearsal director includes Dance Base as well as Scottish Ballet, Indepen-dance and Paragon Music.

At Dance Base, Jack’s ballet classes focus on opening classical technique to everyone - tuning in to an expansive physicality and enjoying moving together, without taking it all too seriously. Every body is welcome, and you can come just as you are - the only rule is to have a nice time!

Dance with Jack:

💫Vintage Ballet
📆 Fridays
🕐 12:30 (60 min)
🎟️https://loom.ly/EAMSXX4

💫Ballet Improvers
📆 Fridays
🕐 13:35 (90 min)
🎟️https://loom.ly/ASCNWdU

24/09/2026

💫Ballet Repertoire | Workshop with Benoît Egloff

Immerse yourself within the world of classical Ballet repertoire with international choreographer, performer and teacher Benoît Egloff.

This workshop is suitable for those attending improver, intermediate (or above) on the Dance Base programme. Benoît looks forward to welcoming you to this workshop to explore the artistry and beauty of Ballet.

📅 Saturday 3 October 2026
🕜 13:30 (90 min)
🩰 Level: Improver/Intermediate
🎟️ Tickets: £18/ £16

Book your spot! https://loom.ly/lRnAF44

He began his performing career at 19 for Les Grands Ballets Canadiens de Montreal Canada and also danced for Ballet Basel in Switzerland. During this period he toured China, Australia, the United States, France, Germany, Hungary and Canada. As a performer, his credits include such pieces as: Giselle...

23/09/2026

🪩Teacher spotlight: Emanuel Carlos

Emanuel Carlos is a dancer, choreographer and cultural leader originally from Angola, based in Scotland since 2018.

His style is rooted in Afro House, Kuduro, and other diasporic forms, blending Angolan and Portuguese influences with global street and contemporary dance.

Over the years, he has collaborated with organisations such as Edinburgh Festival Carnival, Project X, Afro Dance Academy, and Dance Base, using dance as a tool for community building, identity, and joy.

Emanuel is also the co-founder of the Jipangue association in Lisbon, working with youth and arts for social change, and the founder of Multicultural Youth Dance Company, which meets at Dance Base every Friday.

Dance with Emanuel :

💫Afro Beats
📆 Fridays
🕐 19:05 (60 min)
🎟️https://loom.ly/5r9icig