Nicola Gaines, BPhil(Hons), listed Cecchetti, is a specialist performer and teacher of Early Dance.

Nicola will be running two dance workshops, on Sunday afternoon and evening. The first is French Baroque Dance – steps and rhythm. Nicola will focus on the Minuet, showing how experiencing the steps of this typical Baroque dance can illuminate the music.

In the evening we can let our hair down with some English Dances from the 17th century – patterns and fun! In 1651 Playford published “The English Dancing Master” or “Plaine  and easie Rules for the Dancing of Country Dances, with the Tune to each Dance.” These dances were intended as light relief from the more formal dances of the age and were all about “meeting and passing”.

A graduate of the London College of Dance and Drama, and the Royal Ballet School’s Teachers Training Course, she worked for many years with the late Belinda Quirey MBE. In 1998 she recorded a highly acclaimed video on Baroque dance with Christopher Tudor.

Nicola has worked and performed on numerous educational projects with the Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment. She has also led educational projects for the Victoria & Albert Museum and Viva (East of England Orchestra). Nicola has also delivered workshops for EPTA, BKA and the Purcell School of Music

Nicola is the Dance Leader and Administrator for the Early Dance Faculty of the Imperial Society of Teachers of Dance and has taught and demonstrated Early Dance on numerous courses run for dancers and musicians.

Nicola is also a senior teacher for the Junior Associates Scheme at the Royal Ballet School where she is responsible for the use of Early Dance material in the JA training programme and performances.