Case study: Rosie Thorpe

I like to explore some of the county’s areas of interest. Trips I have particularly enjoyed include walks in Lulworth Cove, shopping in Dorchester, walks along the Bournemouth Coastline and evening meals out in Charminster. I was amazed at how much there is to see only a short drive out of Bournemouth.

I am studying BA (Hons) Acting and we have been lucky enough to perform at one of Dorset’s best theatres, the Lighthouse in Poole. It is a large Arts centre that shows plays, opera, films and art exhibitions. Being here has given us the day to explore the town, which offers an awful lot. There are loads of shops of all varieties from Department stores to charity shops. There are some lovely restaurants and a beautiful harbour.’

Rosie’s Parents, Sarah and Trevor Thorpe commented;

‘We already knew the area well because we used to come down to Bournemouth regularly when the kids were young. There are plenty of places to stay – an exceptional number of hotels at a range of prices to suit every pocket. Bournemouth itself has much to offer the visitor. It is vibrant all year round and has good shopping facilities including the Christmas market in December and the Winton Farmers Market.

We have visited Poole with its quaint harbour and potteries, Christchurch, Salisbury, Dorchester, Wareham, Weymouth and Swanage. We have been on a number of cliff-top walks – Lulworth Cove, Durdle Door and old Harry Rock. We have also visited Studland Bay on the Chain Ferry. There are many beautiful beaches to visit: The main Bournemouth beach of course and less crowded Boscombe but also Sandbanks.

Case study: Jeff Tong

A leisure activity which proves popular with students is dancing. Town centre venue Bar So runs regular Salsa and Tango classes and Bournemouth University also offers a range of classes. Second-year Graphic Design student Jeff Tong found the perfect opportunity to learn some moves with AUB Dance Society.

Whether it’s to practice some slick moves before hitting the clubs, or just to learn a new skill and have fun, Bournemouth offers you the chance to experience dance at any level. Before I came to Arts University Bournemouth, I had only taken part in Ballroom dancing for a year in London and was excited about furthering this hobby. Two years on I have learnt many new styles of dance from the various classes around the area.

Latino Beat offered a Salsa course aimed at students, from beginners to advanced, for a reasonable price. They also hold massive Salsa events where two hundred budding dancers of ranging abilities danced the night away. There is also Tango Alchemy which takes place in town every Monday night, where you can learn the Argentine Tango, a style which looks really impressive when practiced well. This is open to all ages and I am still enjoying its diversity of people and complexity of dance.

More recently I discovered AUB Dance Society. This is run by dedicated students and holds two separate classes each week. Dance styles range from Jazz, Contemporary or anything the class suggests. There are so many other places that I could mention, Bournemouth University’s instructional classes, Anglo Dance Studios, Latino Funk, the list goes on. Pretty much all styles are covered here, it’s impossible to try them all!