Ballroom with Holiday & Dance in Calpe - This holiday is no longer available -

• Return flights from London airports (regional departures available at a supplement - please enquire on booking)
• Return airport transfers
• Seven nights' half board accommodation at the four star Hotel AR Diamante Beach and Spa
• Minimum 4 x 1.5 hour dance sessions, suitable for all dance abilities, plus mini revision sessions with Philip Wylie
• Music & dancing every evening
• FREE spa session
• Optional Fitsteps and Zumba classes
• Welcome drink and orientation pack on arrival 
   

NB: Price is based on a twin / double room. The single supplement is £126.

AR Diamante Beach Spa (old)**** (Half Board) (Included) 

The AR Diamante Beach Spa is located on the Levante beach in the town of Calpe, a stunning location on the Costa Blanca in Spain’s Alicante province. The hotel’s unique style is characterised by its spectacular glass facade that lends an impressive source of natural illumination to the carefully designed interior.

There are no less than three outdoor pools, surrounded by attractive terraces dotted with palm trees and just a few steps from the seashore. The locally-renowned, modern Spa is one of the best on the Costa Blanca and has an additional indoor pool with water features as well as Turkish baths, sauna and an array of treatments. It has been totally renovated and opned to the public again in May 2013. There is also a gym and access to a nearby golf course.

Dining options include two a la carte restaurants serving local and international cuisine, a buffet restaurant, cafeteria and piano bar.

All 283 double rooms are attractively decorated and have large balconies, air conditioning, safe, wi-fi internet connection and private facilities and hairdryer. Note that there are no tea and coffee making facilities in the hotel.

In addition to the hotel rooms, we also have an exclusive arrangement with the AR Diamante Beach to use their attractive and spacious apartments (the Ambar Beach Apartments). Apartments are furnished to a high standard and offer one or two bedrooms, a large living area, balcony, kitchen facilities and bathroom (the two bedroom apartments have two bathrooms), as well as daily room service. Adjacent to the hotel and with their own pool, guests at the apartments can also use all of the hotel facilities. An ideal choice for families or groups of friends.

Ballroom legend Philip Wylie joins us once again for the ultimate Ballroom (with Modern & Latin) dance holiday, ideal for beginner through to intermediate dancers.

Ballroom dance has never been more popular and we bring you a wonderful opportunity to learn or perfect a new skill, meet like-minded people and keep fit in the comfort of our favourite 4* hotel on Spain's sunny Costa Blanca. You will enjoy at least eight hours of dance tuition throughout the week, plus revision sessions and dancing each evening.

NEW for 2014: To give you an extra boost on your holiday, we're offering an optional Fitsteps class - a brand new ballroom and Latin-themed dance fitness workout devised by Natalie Lowe and Ian Waite of "Strictly Come Dancing". 

Although Calpe is a brand new destination for our ballroom holidays, we've been working with Philip Wylie and Christine for many years. Feedback is consistently good for these two so we have no concerns over your experience. Here's a small selection of previous comments -  

"The dance teacher Philip Wylie and his assistant Christine are a great team, with an excellent teaching method"

"Loved being able to relax while still having an activty to focus on"

"Overall an enjoyable week , good balance of teaching time , dancing and free time. Lots of laughter"

"Very enjoyable and felt we improved our dancing skills considerably. The mix of classes and free time was good"

"Superb tuition, lovely people, good evening dancing" 

This is the ideal holiday for anyone who loves to dance, from complete beginners to experienced Ballroom dancers. On this holiday you will learn new routines and immerse yourself in the world of dance for an intensive week of classes, social events and fun in the sun. This is a holiday for all ages and abilities and is a fantastic opportunity to experience the dance fever currently sweeping the nation!

Not only will you perfect your ballroom repertoire, you will have the opportunity to chill by the pool, relax on the beach and explore Calpe and the surrounding area.

NEW for 2014: To boost your holiday experience further, we've included an optional Fitsteps class, brand new to 2014! Fitsteps is a brand new ballroom and Latin-themed dance fitness workout devised by Natalie Lowe and Ian Waite of 'Strictly Come Dancing'.

Here's a provisional itinerary aiming to give you an idea of what your holiday will look like, however there may be some elements which will change -

(OP) indicates an optional extra for which a charge will be made in advance.

DAY 1
Arrival and transfer to hotel
Afternoon - Activity suggestion
2100 - Overview of the week; Welcome drink and Music and Dance session.

DAY 2
1000 - Learn & Improve workshop (1.5 hours)

Afternoon - Relax on the beach, chill by the pool or explore the local sights OR take an optional  Aqua Zumba class in the hotel pool (£6 when pre-booked)

1730 - Introduction to Ballroom and Modern & Latin for beginners
2015 - Dance update
2045 - Music and Dance session

DAY 3
1000 - Learn & Improve workshop (1.5 hours)
Afternoon - Relax on the beach, chill by the pool or explore the local sights OR take an optional Zumba class in the hotel (£6 when pre-booked)
2015 - Dance update
2030 - Music and Dance session

DAY 4
Free day to enjoy the hotel and surroundings

1600 - Optional Fitsteps class (£6 when pre-booked)

1730 - Introduction to Ballroom and Modern & Latin for beginners
2030 - Music and Dance session.

DAY 5
1000 - Learn & Improve workshop (1.5 hours)
Afternoon - Relax on the beach, chill by the pool or explore the local sights

2015 - Dance update
2030 - Music and Dance session

DAY 6
Morning - Learn & Improve workshop
Afternoon - Relax on the beach, chill by the pool or explore the local sights OR take an optional Aqua Zumba class in the hotel pool (£6 when pre-booked)
Evening - Music and Dance session

DAY 7
Morning - Learn & Improve workshop
Afternoon - Relax on the beach, chill by the pool or explore the local sights
2015 - Dance update
2030 - Farewell dance evening

DAY 8
Transfer to Airport
 

Learn and Improve teaching sessions: Philip Wylie's specially designed 'Learn and Improve' morning teaching sessions are a brilliant way to acquire fun, enjoyable and practical get up and dance know how. Your dance course covers the rich portfolio of Modern Ballroom dances – Waltz, Tango, Slow Foxtrot and Quicksteps – with an emphasis on togetherness, floorcraft and choreography. Basic work in the popular Latin Ballroom dances of Cha Cha Cha, Rumba, Samba and more will be included.

Beginners: Tuition for complete beginners will also be incorporated into the syllabus, making this the ideal holiday for anyone interested in dance, regardless of ability.

Dance venue:  All the dancing conveniently takes place in the hotel in a purpose-built dance 'Salon' with a wooden floor.

Music and Dance Evenings: During the evenings Philip would like to offer informal tuition as appropriate for individual couples on a more personal basis than during the group sessions. Please don’t hesitate to chat through the possibilities and Philip will try to help with practical advice as well as recap some of the choreography of the morning workshops if required.

Singles:  Whilst those booking without a partner will be amply catered to in the classes, it is worth noting that Modern & Latin as a dance does attract couples.  This might be a consideration from a social perspective on the holiday.  If you are concerned about booking as a single (you are booking on your own), call us to find out how many other singles have booked on the holiday.  Alternatively you might want to consider booking another of our dance style holidays which attract more single customers than couples - Salsa, Ceroc, Swing.

Note for beginners

All abilities are welcome but we recommend that you attend at least four or five classes before coming on a ballroom dance holiday.

The main dances in modern ballroom area:
• The Waltz - Slow waltz, (Think “Come Away with Me” by Norah Jones)
• The Quickstep - As the name suggests – fast! (Think Nat King Cole’s “Let’s Face the Music and Dance” or “I’m the King of the Swingers” a la Jungle Book!)
• Foxtrot - Smooth as silk – (Think Frank Sinatra’s “I’ve got you under my skin” or Michael Buble’s “Just Haven’t met You Yet”)
• Ballroom Tango – Usually quite dramatic – (Think “Phantom of the Opera” or Fernando’s Hideaway”)

The Waltz – Stems from one of the oldest folk dances, which was usually danced to a faster tempo - more like the Viennese Waltz. This was refined and slowed-down for ballroom waltz to emphasise the flowing and smooth nature of the music.
It is the most danced of all the ballroom dances and along with quickstep the first you would normally learn. The famous 1-2-3 music beat makes it fairly basic to follow and relatively easy for a beginner to pick up basic steps within a short period. To master the dance and make it look really good takes a lot of dedication and therefore a good ballroom holiday would help to enhance.

The Quickstep – Very fast and fun! Along with the waltz one of the first dances you would normally learn in ballroom. The slow-slow-quick-quick-slow rhythm is quite easy to follow and therefore relatively easy for beginners to get the hang of the basic steps and quickly be able to move round a dance floor.
To become really good needs a lot of practise and energy. So most people stick to the basics with one or two fancy steps to impress. A ballroom holiday would allow a beginner to learn enough to join in a dance and more experienced dancers to add to their repertoire or polish their style.

The Foxtrot (Also known as Slow-Foxtrot) – The most difficult of the modern ballroom dances, yet often the most beautiful music (Frank Sinatra, Michael Buble, Ella Fitzgerald etc) and that is why many people will go through the pain and frustration of learning it. You would usually learn basic waltz and quickstep before starting on foxtrot, as you need to have some idea of timing and how to move with the music.

You start by being mystified by the complexity of the steps, which make no sense at all at the beginning. Then suddenly you get it - and you link it in with the wonderful music - and it was all worthwhile!

A ballroom holiday gives you the concentrated tuition and practise needed to pick the basics up in a relatively short time and for the experienced dancer, allow you to build on the grace and flow of this beautiful dance.

NEW for 2014: And to boost your holiday even further, we're  offering an optional Fitsteps class brand new to 2014! Fitsteps is a brand new ballroom and Latin-themed dance fitness workout devised by Natalie Lowe and Ian Waite of 'Strictly Come Dancing' (£5 when pre-booked or €6 payable locally).
 

Philip Wylie is one of the leading figures in Modern and Latin dancing. A former professional competitor himself, he is now one of the most prominent teachers of the Modern style in the UK, enjoying an extremely well respected reputation. He has a strong background both in competitive and social dance, and through ‘Holiday & Dance’ Philip is already very experienced in running dancing holidays and events.

Philip will be accompanied by his regular partner Christine Parsons. 

Calpe offers a choice of modern and traditional Spanish restaurants with freshly caught seafood a speciality. International cuisine, including Italian and Chinese, are also available so you'll be spoilt for choice!

What are optional extras?  In addition to your holiday we also offer you a variety of optional extras to make your holiday even richer and add some local colour. 

NEW for 2014: Optional Fitsteps and Zumba classes. Only £6 when pre-booked.

Aqua Zumba class Monday afternoon £6
Zumba class Tuesday afternoon £6
Fitsteps class Wednesday afternoon £6. Fitsteps is a brand new ballroom and Latin-themed dance fitness workout devised by Natalie Lowe and Ian Waite of 'Strictly Come Dancing'.
Aqua Zumba class Friday afternoon £6

On Arrival: You will receive a detailed itinerary and orientation pack. You'll also receive information on the local sights and other helpful tips to ensure you get the most from your trip.

Club Dance Holidays Host: Philip Wylie will be your host.  He will be happy to help you with any questions that you may have.

Welcome Drink: At the start of the week, Club Dance Holidays will invite you to an informal welcome meeting and drink.

Free Time: We encourage you to explore the local area and make use of the excellent hotel facilities. This can be done when you please around the activities and dance classes that we have organized for you. Reception will be on hand for any queries you may have about the local area.

Banks and Money: The easiest way to buy obtain euros is by using a credit card at the cashpoints which are located at five minutes walking distance from the hotel. You can buy small amounts, as often as you like, at any time, without queuing. You will need to know your P.I.N. Bank opening hours are normally 9.00 a.m. to 2.00 p.m. Banks will change cash, travellers cheques and will sell you currency on your credit card providing the lines are open. You will always need to show your passport at a bank.

Tipping is generally not that common in Spain. There is no need to tip taxis but it is usual to leave a 5 - 10% tip at a restaurant if you are particularly pleased with your dinner/lunch.
 
Making friends with the locals and people not on the holiday: The dance classes and dance evening events in the hotel at night are exclusive to Dance Holidays clients. Generally, we discourage people who are not on the holiday from joining our activities and we ask for your discretion in this respect. By all means, outside of the itinerary, do mix with other holidaymakers staying in the hotel. 

You'll be able to put into practice what you have learnt in the company of your teacher and fellow students with ‘Music and Dance’ on five evenings. All the dancing conveniently takes place in the hotel in a 'Salon' with a wooden floor. The best recorded music will be presented during the evening so you can show off your moves!

Learn and Improve teaching sessions: Philip Wylie's specially designed 'Learn and Improve' morning teaching sessions are a brilliant way to acquire fun, enjoyable and practical get up and dance know how. Your dance course covers the rich portfolio of Modern Ballroom dances – Waltz, Tango, Slow Foxtrot and Quicksteps – with an emphasis on togetherness, floorcraft and choreography. Basic work in the popular Latin Ballroom dances of Cha Cha Cha, Rumba, Samba and more will be included.

Beginners: Tuition for complete beginners will also be incorporated into the syllabus, making this the ideal holiday for anyone interested in dance, regardless of ability.

A ballroom holiday gives you the concentrated tuition and practise needed to pick the basics up in a relatively short time and for the experienced dancer, allow you to build on the grace and flow of this beautiful dance.


 

Flights: Your holiday includes flights from London. Regional departures are available at a supplement - just give us a call on 0207 099 4816 - we're more than happy to help!

Or you buy your own flight and we can offer you a discount by doing so - please enquire when booking.

We provide shuttle transfers from Alicante airport when we book your flight (on the standard holiday dates). We also include airport transfers in Alicante when you book your own flight, providing you arrive between 9am and 5pm on the start day of the holiday and depart on the end day of the holiday.

In order to guarantee a place on our airport transfer (which operates on the standard holiday dates) you must provide us with your flight times.

NB Its important that your holiday is confirmed to you by us before you buy your flights. 

Flight: The current price includes flight - if you buy your own flight we can offer you a discount - please enquire when booking.   The nearest airport to Calpe is Alicante. From Alicante it takes approximately one hour by bus.   We provide shuttle transfers from Alicante airport when we book your flight (on the standard holiday dates). We also include airport transfers in Alicante when you book your own flight, providing you arrive between 9am and 5pm on the start day of the holiday and depart on the end day of the holiday.
If you're arriving on a different day you can easily reach your hotel by taking one of the following routes:
1) Taxi from Alicante Airport: Take a taxi for approximately €100
2) Public Transport from Alicante Airport: You can take a direct bus from Alicante airport to Benidorm bus station. You will then need to change for a bus to Calpe. The entire journey takes around 3 hours, including waiting time.
 

It may be worth your while reading up on your destination before you go. Penelope Casas writes beautifully on Spain, such as "The Blue Guide" or "The Foods and Wines of Spain." Ian Gibson’s "The Fire in the Blood" is one of the most fascinating insights into Spanish Culture.

Budgeting for your holiday: Here are some guidelines on prices, to help you do your own calculations. Please refer to the optional extra section of the fact sheet for the prices of the optional extras.

Three course meal including drinks in the centre of town: 20-25 euros

An evening of tapas and drinks: 12 euros

Rum and coke: 5 euros

Beer: 2 euros

Coffee: 1.50 euros

Health and Fitness: There are no particular health requirements for a dance holiday. However you should be able to dance for at least two hours a day in order to be able to enjoy the workshop/socials.
Insurance, Visa and Passport Requirements: Refer to the brochure for full details. In brief, Insurance is a condition of booking. Visas may be required for non EU citizens. British nationals need a full passport to travel to Spain.

Travel Documents: You receive these 10 days prior to daparture. We also confirm the address and phone number of the hotel and the emergency contact numbers.
 

Average temperatures in Calpe are as follows:

Degrees Celcius

Jan                 14C               Apr            20C               Jul            28C                  Oct              20C
Feb                 15C               May           24C               Aug          28C                  Nov             18C
Mar                 18C               Jun            26C              Sep          24C                   Dec             14C
 

Useful Things to Bring:
Camera - to capture the memories and tweet and post online when you're back!
Confortable Shoes -  both for dancing and for walking as you set to explore Calpe!
Autumn/Winter clothing for day
Warm jacket for evenings
This fact sheet and Joining Instructions
Passport, money, plane ticket.

What to wear for dancing: We recommend that you bring shoes with a leather sole for the dance classes. You may also be wise to bring shoes with a rubber sole as the floors in the evenings might be somewhat “fast” and they will give you an alternative. Your shoes should be comfortable and supportive. Lightweight cotton socks can also help to avoid getting sweaty and blistered feet! It is probable that you may get through quite a few clothes in the classes and dancing at night so bring a variety of outfits. We also recommend you wear comfortable loose clothing for the classes.