Starting the class with 10 minutes of body awareness and breathwork, we will stack the skeletal structure accordingly to prepare for a ballet class. We will move to the barre, followed by the centre, and move quite physically across for pirouettes through a structured ballet class with contemporary influence. This class holds a sense of no expectation and is for the dancers taking part in the class.

Julian Nichols

Julian Nichols is a Canadian-Italian choreographer, performer, and founder of Bodies in Action, a contemporary dance company established in 2021. His artistic practice focuses on queer identity, gender representation, and social equity through dance-theatre, film, and community collaboration. His notable works include Affirming Our Identity, It’s My Birthday!, GUARDIANS, and the award-winning dance film Creature. Supported by funders such as Arts Council England, the Canada Council for the Arts, and the National Lottery Community Fund, his productions blend movement and language to challenge traditional narratives.

An experienced educator, Julian teaches for leading companies including Studio Wayne McGregor, Rambert, New Adventures, and National Dance Company Wales, alongside institutions like The Place and Rambert School. His accessible, improvisation-based approach ensures participants of all levels can engage with movement. Under his leadership, Bodies in Action is dedicated to inclusivity and community engagement, using workshops, roundtables, and performances to celebrate underrepresented voices, foster well-being, and use contemporary dance as a tool for social change.