My daughters have been attanding this dance school for many years now. It is ran by Mary and Lisa…read morePhelan along with other excellent dance teachers. I highly recommend them to mums for children (boys&girls) of ages from 2yrs+. They have many classes and unlike most dance schools they charge on a weekly basis and not in advance, which i think is really good for those of us who can't afford to pay in bulk. They do a Tweenies Class for 2-3yr olds on a Sat morning which has a mixture of Tap, Disco & Ballet. For children age 4+ they also have Hiphop, Tap, Ballett, Jazz, Modern, Highland and irish and are about to start up Drama classes. They also have Aldult dance classes. Some dance classes are held through week also but most are on a Saturday. Children can also be involved in performing at the Edinburgh Stage Festival and Dance Competitions all over Scotland sometimes further. They hold a yearly dance show for all the parents and family. And they have exams twice a year that are optional for all children. They are very resonably priced and while your child is in class you can sit in the cafe area and have a cuppa and some hot or cold food. So come along and see what you are missing. Its great fun for all the family.

I've taken a few different courses at Dance Base now and loved every one! All of the teachers are…read moreat the top of their craft and in my experience are dedicated to fostering and encouraging supportive and friendly atmosphere both in and beyond their classes. The administrative staff are equally lovely and helpful. As the National Centre for Dance you can truly tell how passionate and dedicated everyone is to championing this art form. I especially appreciate that Dance Base platforms a variety of dance forms which are harder to access, such as Dr Charm's Burlesque class which I have been in for a year now (and have already booked my slot for autumn)!

This place is amazing. The depth and skill of their teachers , and the range of classes offered…read moremean there is something for everyone. It is truly a place for everyone from professional dancers to schmucks like me. Go here. It will be so much fun.

It might not look like much from the outside, but inside it's a little gem of a dance school! Dance…read moreFor All is a more traditional dance school, which in contrast to the modern facilities at Dance Base, offers an experience much closer to my childhood dance classes. The ballet class I have attended features live piano music and the teacher provides useful, individual instruction in a non-threatening manner. Very reasonably priced, with adequate changing facilities. The school makes excellent use of its two studios to provide a range of classes, including exam syllabus classes for young and old alike.

What a fantastic tour! Our guide, Jamie, made it an unforgettable experience. He could tell I was…read morefrom Texas (I think the cowboy boots and hat gave me away) and saddled up to all my antics. Jamie is witty and very energetic which makes it so much fun to visit the Summerhall Distillery. Also, the gin tasting was amazing, helping our group to identify the differences between each batch and identifying what we would all like based on our preferences. I've been to many a distillery tour and I reckon I can't think of anyone better than Jamie and Summerhall!

Obviously I am a fan of summerhall as I've checked in twice recently and that is because the food…read moreis delicious and if you don't mind looking at X-rays of lungs and intestines while you eat, you'll love it too. The only complaints I have is that it can be a little chilly and you don't get enough tea, I would prefer a pot of tea or maybe a bigger mug to last while I wait for my food and preferably have enough left to enjoy with my meal instead of having to gulp it down quickly before it goes cold otherwise a great place to get some delicious food and also great for kids as they have a children's menu and toys.

Keep an eye out for all sorts of shows by independent performers: comedy, magic, fire, etc.. The…read moreEdinburgh Festival Fringe is a joyous annual event that happens every August. Short street performances are spread throughout the city, particularly centering around the Royal Mile. We were unlucky with the weather in that it was pouring rain the day we visited. And so it was difficult to find shows as well as for the entertainers who had to stall until a large enough crowd had gathered. For the ones that we did stop to watch, they were quite enjoyable.

I happened to be visiting Edinburgh for a college reunion during the time of the Fringe Festival,…read moreso after meeting up with my friends at the airport, we all headed to the Royal Mile (which I fondly started calling the High Mile on account of its elevation and because so many people were high on life, drugs or alcohol!) to soak in the atmosphere. And what an atmosphere it was! Full of buskers, mimes, musicians, and eclectic acts - from Japanese pop to American tap dancing to an Eastern European theatre group performing a moving play about Jewish children interned at a Nazi concentration camp. It was a warm and sunny afternoon and the crowd was out in force, and I could clearly see the shimmering blue waters of the Firth of Forth in the distance. After stopping by for a wonderful meal of haggis and salmon and IPA at the Whiski Bar and Restaurant (different review for that one), we plunged back into the creativity and madness, enjoying the magical experience that's the Fringe!

There are very few opportunities in life where someone tells you to jiggle your thigh fat and you…read more don't want to punch them... The opportunities where someone tells you to jiggle your thighs and you not only WANT to but you greatly enjoy the process and laugh the whole way through, while listening to great music tracks, swinging feather fans, peeling gloves & cracking jokes? Those are unicorns.

I thoroughly enjoyed the Academy of Burlesque and Cabaret's beginners course so a group burlesque…read morelesson was an obvious choice for my recent hen party. Our instructor Gypsy was fabulous, she immediately put the group at ease. Even the most uncoordinated people in the group managed to follow her instructions which she delivered in a simple but entertaining way. Everybody had a blast, even those who were a bit nervous beforehand. By the end of the lesson even my mum and future mother-in-law where twirling their tassels like a pro! I am sure we will see some fabulous poses in the wedding photos and I guarantee that everybody will be trying the tassel twirling at home! I shall definitely be booking myself into their next course of lessons when I come back from my honeymoon! -Erika Birse

The Bollywood dance class was brilliant. We got drawn in to adding half a dozen moves together and…read moresomewhere along the line, sweated more than any gym class, but were still enjoying ourselves. Each move got faster and more complex as hands, arms and facial expressions got added to the stomping feet (the only dance class where we behave like a herd of elephants and get praised for it!). The feet were counterbalanced by very sweet upper body moves and I thought we looked great after just one session. Somehow it was easier to pick up than Zumba and worked the body harder without appearing to so do. I'd seriously think about committing to a series of classes. The teacher was great very gentle and patient, and praising. I think he enjoyed our enthusiasm despite our lack of skill. We didn't half look good by the time he'd finished with us.

I went to the Bollywood class and absolutely loved it! The teacher was very patient and encouraging…read moreand the music was uplifting and great to work up a sweat to, which I certainly did. The teacher taught us each move individually and made sure we understood it, before putting together the whole routine, and when at the end it all came together there was a great sense of achievement. I can see this as being a great way to lose weight, if that's your reason for doing it, but it's also great fun and something completely different.

We came to see Chicago the musical and it was so fun! This venue is gorgeous and every seat had a…read moregreat view. The inside was ornate and special and the seats were comfy. They had multiple snack and drink bars that were averagely priced - nothing outrageous. The bathroom lines at intermission were organized, with staff trained to keep everyone moving. The show itself was sooo well done and entertaining. There was awesome dancing, singing, acting, and lots of jokes sprinkled throughout for added entertainment. As of last week, you must show a vaccination card at the entrance and wear a mask during the show unless you're eating or drinking.

A really beautiful venue. I went and saw Dynamo here a few weeks back, this was the perfect space…read moreand from the upper balcony we could see everything perfectly on the stage. Lines for snacks and the bathroom can be quite long pre show and during intermission. Very easy to navigate within the venue and the architecture is gorgeous.

Today was a lovely day and still I thought I will check out some illustrative art from young…read moreprospective students at the Edinburgh College of Art Degree Show. The entrance to the exhibition is located of Westport Street and the illustrated gallery can be found on the 4th floor in a very modern building just opposite from Edinburgh castle with very amazing views. One of the students is no other than our own Ollie from "Wings", who is a very talented young man bringing his fantasies to life, presented in a combination of colourful fiction and science. You need a certain class of talent to draw various human and other forms with such a detailed eye, otherwise what you paint is missing shape and essence. He uses bright and eccentric colours indicating fun and play, and his arty signature is a little dog called "Wings" (well, we might hope so ;-) ) You can also admire his art work in the Princess Mall shopping centre at Waverly Station. There his talent and illustrative work is displayed on a massive wall for everybody to see when passing by. It's literally a very large print with many little characters in it, all waiting in a queue to get into the Mall for a bit of shopping. Remember to look out for it next time you are there. Tomorrow is the last day of the Art Degree Exhibition, so you better hurry. There is a lot to see!

ECA is a bit like other Edinburgh University buildings in that during the school year, students are…read moretortured (and by tortured I mean taught and by taught I mean made to sit exams) there, while during the Fringe, it becomes a venue. The Edinburgh College of Art, surprise surprise, offers art courses. I've met a few photography students from there (all amazing photographers), and their fashion students are, I think, in some way, affiliated with Godiva in the Grassmarket. Every year, the students will take over the many many buildings with a week (or so) long degree exhibition. This exhibition is massive. All the different students have their own sections, so there's the photography part, the fashion part, textiles, animation, etc. It borders on impossible to do it in a day. During the festival, I saw a great show where people in amazing make-up danced and did acro on stilts. It was jaw-dropping. Also, the building itself is pretty amazing. I mean, I'm not a fan of the outside, but then inside is full of columns and huge open spaces. If you haven't made the degree show ever, keep it in mind for next year. And keep your ears open for news on fringe shows going on in the college.