Online dance classes can feel effortless from the participant’s perspective: you press play, step into your space, and start moving. But behind every class on Rambert Plus is a carefully designed and produced process that brings together artistry, practical education, and technical precision.

In this behind-the-scenes look, we unpack how each class is created. From concept to final recording, we highlight what makes Rambert Plus an unique platform in the dance world: classes filmed at Rambert’s headquarters, accompanied by live music, and led by world-class teachers who are (or have been) part of the Rambert company.

Summary 

• All classes are recorded at Rambert’s headquarters and you can feel you’re in the company’s artistic homebase
• Teachers are current or former Rambert dancers, bringing real-world performance experience 
• Every class features live music, boosting rhythm and musicality
• Sessions are structured for clarity and progression
• The production ensures a studio-quality experience at home
• The creation process behind each class mixes artistic integrity with digital accessibility

 

Why Preparation Matters

Online dance content is not just a filmed version of a studio class. It requires a different kind of intentionality.

In a live studio, a teacher can adapt instantly responding to energy in the room, offering corrections or changing pace accordingly if everyone’s feeling tired or energetic. Online, that responsiveness must be anticipated in advance. Every instruction, transition, and musical lead needs to be planned with clarity.

At Rambert Plus, preparation is not just logistical, but it’s also creative. Each class is created to:

• Work for a range of experience levels
• Translate steps through a screen
• Keep the artistic integrity of professional dance training
• Feel engaging and personal, even without a physical space

 

Filming at Rambert’s Headquarters

All Rambert Plus classes are recorded at Rambert’s headquarters, which is an environment that is connected to the company’s identity.

Filming in this space brings:

• Authenticity: These are the same studios where company dancers rehearse and create for live performances
• Atmosphere: The energy of a working dance company can be felt into each recording
• Continuity: Participants are stepping into the same environment as professional artists

The studios themselves are designed for movement: open floors, natural light, and acoustics that support both music and instruction. This creates a setting where teaching and filming can happen simultaneously.

 

Reflecting Studio Energy to Your Screen

One of the challenges of filming is capturing the feeling of being “in the room with a teacher in-person.” Camera placement and movement are all considered to ensure:

• Full visibility of the teacher’s body
• Clear demonstration of direction and spatial awareness
• A sense of presence and connection

The goal is not just to show movement, but to make you feel included in our space.

 

The Teachers Experience

Learning from Rambert Artists

Every Rambert Plus class is led by a teacher who is either a current or former Rambert dancer. This is a defining feature of Rambert’s fan-first platform, Rambert Plus.

These artists bring:

• Professional expertise from performing at the highest level
• Knowledge of technique, artistry, and performance in one go
• Teaching insight shaped by years of rehearsal and mastering their craft

This means that when taking classes on Rambert Plus you gain access to the practices and principles used within a leading contemporary dance company.

 

Teaching for the Camera

Teaching online requires a shift in approach. Rambert dancers adapt their teaching style to ensure:

• Instructions are clear and concise
• Demonstrations are easy to follow from different angles
• Verbal cues replace physical corrections

They often rehearse the class beforehand, refining how they communicate each section so that it lands smoothly on your screen.

 

 

The Role of Live Music

Why Live Music is Important

One of the most distinctive elements of Rambert Plus classes is the presence of live music in every session.

Rather than relying on pre-recorded tracks, musicians collaborate directly with the teacher during filming. This creates a dynamic, responsive environment where movement and music grow together.

 

 

Musicality and Connection

Live music offers some key benefits:

• Adaptability: Musicians can adjust tempo, mood, and phrasing 
• Nuance: Subtle shifts in rhythm and tone support the quality of the teacher’s movement
• Engagement: The relationship between dancer and musician brings the class to life

For you this translates into a richer experience. The music makes the class alive, supporting not just timing, but movement and expression.

 

 

A Collaborative Process

Before filming, teachers and musicians work together to align on:

• Structure and timing of the class
• Key transitions and moments 
• Overall tone and energy that needs to be captured during the session

During recording, this collaboration continues in real time, creating a sense of spontaneity. 

The Class: From Warm-Up to Final Phrase

Designed for Progression

Each class follows a clear structure, usually including:

1. Warm-up – preparing the body 
2. Technical exercises – building strength, coordination, and control
3. Phrase work – applying technique in a more expressive context
4. Cool-down and reflection – allowing the body to recover and integrate

This structure is carefully timed to work within the format of an online class.

 

 

Clarity and Accessibility

Because you cannot ask questions in real time, clarity is essential for us, so our dancers focus on:

• Breaking down movements into manageable steps
• Repeating key sequences
• Offering options for different levels

The aim is to ensure that you feel supported, whether you are a beginner or an experienced student.

The Technical Setup: Capturing Movement Effectively

Filming Considerations

Dance is dynamic, which makes filming it quite complex.

To capture movement effectively, the video team has to consider:

• Camera angles that show both detail and full-wide movement
• Lighting that shows the body form without any distraction
• Sound quality that balances voice and live music smoothly

Multiple takes are often needed to ensure that everything is aligned.

 

Maintaining the Flow

Despite the technical complexity, the final class must feel integrated.

This means:

• Minimising interruptions
• Preserving the natural rhythm of the class
• Editing in a way that supports continuity rather than breaking it

The goal is for you, the student, to feel like you’re taking part in a live session.

 

Rehearsal and Improvement

Testing the Class

Before recording, classes need to be rehearsed. This allows us to:

• Check timing and pacing
• Identify any unclear instructions
• Refine transitions between sections

This stage is crucial to make sure the class resonates to the online format.

 

Balancing Precision and Spontaneity

While preparation is detailed, there is still room for spontaneity particularly through live music and the teacher’s delivery.

This balance helps maintain a sense of authenticity and energy in the final recording that will arrive on your screens.

Post-Production: Shaping the Final Experience

Editing 

After filming, the footage is reviewed and edited to provide:

• Visual clarity
• Smooth transitions
• Consistent sound levels

 

Quality Control

Each class goes through a final review to ensure it meets Rambert’s standards for:

• Teaching quality
• Technical accuracy

Only then is it made available on the platform.

 

What Does This Mean for You?

When you take a class on Rambert Plus, you are engaging with more than just a video class.

You are stepping into:

• A professional dance environment
• A class led by experienced Rambert dancers
• A space where movement and live music interact with each other

The preparation behind each session is what allows you to focus on your own movement by knowing that every detail has been carefully taken into account.

 

The Value of a Well Crafted Online Class

Online dance classes have become an essential part of how people engage with movement today, especially after the Covid-19 pandemic which forced us to keep the ball rolling in innovative ways as a professional dance company. But not all online classes are created equal.

At Rambert Plus, the process behind each class reflects a commitment to:

• Artistic excellence
• Accessibility and clarity
• An immersive experience for you, the student (and the fan)

By combining the expertise of Rambert dancers, the depth of live music, and the authenticity of filming at the company’s headquarters, each class offers something unique and fun.

 

Conclusion

The next time you press play on a Rambert Plus class, take a moment to consider what sits behind it.

The studio you see is a real artistic space. The teacher guiding you has lived the work you are learning. The music you hear was created in real time, live in the studio. 

All of these elements come together so you can feel the experience of a world-class dance company into your home.