Avon Dancers was set up in 1975 to meet the needs of people like you! We are a community of keen dancers who want to improve our skills and the look of our dancing by practice. That is why we organise a practice night each week at the beautiful venue of Somerset Hall in Portishead. We are keen to attract all standards of dancing. We were all beginners once and we only progressed because we stayed with it! Any proficient dancer will tell you that practice and regular dancing is the key to progress and to getting more from your dancing.
Most accomplished dancers will acknowledge that they have been helped by the encouragement and example of more experienced mentors. Bristol and the West Country have a proud tradition of supporting ballroom and Latin dancing, and Avon Dancers have been part of that success story. We hold regular dances, including balls at which we invite some of the top dancing couples to demonstrate their skills for us. Recent appearances have included the World Amateur Latin champions and British ballroom champions. Avon Dancers also organise regular competitions at which dancers of all levels, experience and abilities show off their talents and hope to impress the distinguished judges.
What can Avon Dancers do for you?
Many dancers are offered the prospect of realising their dreams of dancing beautifully well but at a very large cost in time and money. Dancers can (and do) spend thousands of pounds in lessons and coaching to reach the standard of performance that they see in the best competitors, or the moves displayed on television shows such as ‘Strictly’.
Private lessons and personal coaching are wonderful aids to better dancing. Top competitors will have been coached by many different people in their career. But the secret to great dancing is not only listening to a teacher, however inspirational they may be. It is only by regular and disciplined practice that we all raise our standard of dancing. Avon Dancers Club offers you the opportunity to practise your steps on a great dancing floor – at very little cost! The membership fee for the whole year is less than half the price of an hour’s private lesson charged by most teachers. The entrance fee for a night of practice is a mere £4.50 for members, and £6 for non-members. Reduced fees are available for Juniors and Students. For that you have two hours of the best dance music available and the support of a community of like-minded keen friends who want to see you there and enjoy watching you dance. We all love to see people improve.
The proof of the Avon Dance formula is found in the members who successfully compete as well as dancing socially around Britain. We have members of the England dance team as well as veterans who have never competed but have remained true to their love of dance over many years. Our aim is to attract a wide range of age groups with different dance interests. Our goal is simply to enjoy our dancing and to raise our dancing to new levels.
Membership
Avon Amateur Dancers Club does not impose a strict members-only policy, but obviously if nobody is willing to be members there would be no club. If you have more than an occasional interest in our events, please consider becoming a member – and as our events are run by volunteers on a not-for-profit basis, you might also like to become involved in a community of keen dancers willing to keep these events running for the benefit of all dancers.
Why not give us a try by coming along to a Club Night or other event? Newcomers can try a session on our Taster Scheme (see the Club Night and Tea Dance events on this web site).
The membership year runs from 1st April annually. If you join later in the year you will be offered reduced rates of membership until the annual renewal is due. See below for the current categories and rates of membership.
For more information, please contact our Club Secretary (see Contacts).
Membership Categories
Full: Normal membership for anyone not claiming a concession.
Junior*: Under 16s, non-voting.
Student*: 16 and over in full-time education.
Senior*: State registered pensioners.
*Proof of entitlement is required when applying for concessionary membership categories.
Associate Membership: For those with an existing relationship with the Club but who do not qualify for the usual categories above by reason of amateur status, or where there are extenuating circumstances that make normal membership inappropriate. Associate members have no voting rights and are not entitled to serve as an Officer of the Club nor on the Committee.
Joining and Membership Renewal Rates (2024)
Annual Renewal, and New Memberships: Full £20.00, Student Senior & Associate £16.00, Junior £11.00.