A NEW centre for dance is set to open in East Lothian next month.
ArtEastDance will be based at The Mart in East Linton and run by professional dancing couple Sarah Jane Medley-Marchand and Jerome Marchand.
Sarah Jane, who is originally from the village, recently returned home after years spent in Stockholm with the Royal Swedish Ballet and Les Ballets des Monte Carlo.
She now returns with a wealth of expertise and experience hoping to foster the next generation of dancing talent in the county.
Sarah Jane said: “I grew up in East Lothian and wanted to come back after more than 20 years away.
“We have a five-year-old daughter and I wanted her to be close to family too. I’m very lucky that Jerome was happy to follow me as he loves Scotland.
“We went for a walk to look around East Linton when we first arrived from Sweden and we found The Mart.
“Formerly used for auctions, The Mart is now a thriving community hub housing various local businesses, including a yoga studio, guitar maker and farm shop.
“We thought it was a great space and amazing opportunity to open our new dance school.”
The school will offer ballet classes for all ages as well as modern dance, barre classes, progressive ballet technique and private coaching in a new, fully equipped studio.
“At ArtEastDance, we will have a small, fully equipped studio to start, which we will hopefully expand in the future, with wall-to-wall mirrors, a sprung floor and ballet barres from Harlequin,” Sarah Jane said.
“We can’t wait to bring our 20-years-plus experience as professional dancers to teach what we love to children and adults in a fun and friendly environment.”
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