A RENOWNED dance artist who grew up in Worcester is moving back to the city to open a wellness studio at the former telecommunications building in Foregate Street.
Shelley Eva Haden, who was has worked for the BBC, Opera North and on the Commonwealth Games, plans to open Studio Shell at the landmark no18 premises.
The performer and choreographer has applied to the city council for a change of use to provide a space where “movement is for everyone, from babies to elders.”
“I am originally from Worcester and choosing to move back home because I want to bring my kids up here,” she said.
“I feel that my kids will be safe, secure and full of sunshine, as I felt as a child, and they are central to my vision for Studio Shell.
“I see so much potential in the city, and hope to get it dancing.”
Shelley Eva Haden is making her real her vision for movement and wellness in Worcester (Image: Shelley Eva Haden)
Studio Shell will offer dance, barre, sculpt, pilates, yoga and parent-and-baby sessions, with every class being accompanied by a gift such as a matcha or essential oil, Ms Eva Haden said.
The mother-of-two told the Worcester News that she wants the space to be the opposite to the many studios that she finds cold and empty.
“Studio Shell exists as a response to this,” she said.
“It is a reimagining of what a dance studio can be: warm, expressive and alive.
“A place where parents are welcomed in, where babies, elders, professionals and beginners share the same air, and where fitness and artistry are not divided but intertwined.
“The studio is built on the belief that movement is for everyone, and that environment shapes confidence, creativity and connection.”
Why is the building a landmark?
On the corner with Pierpoint Street, the building used to be a post office dating from the 1880s and housed the city’s telephone exchange in the 1940s.
In more recent times, Wetherspoon pub The Postal Order served pints in the main section until Aurora Bar and Grill, the present occupiers, moved in.
The former Postal Order before a bar and grill moved in (Image: Sam Greenway)
According to the plans, the studio would be to the side of the restaurant in Pierpoint Street in a ‘vacant’ premises, leaving the existing business unaffected.
A heritage statement from the city council says that the plan does not involve significant physical changes to the building.
The document says the development will be limited in scale and will keep the building’s historic fabric, character and setting.
The statement reads: “Given the nature and scale of the change of use, there will be no harm to designated or non-designated heritage assets.
“The proposal preserves the character and significance of the surrounding area.”
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A change of use is proposed from sui generis – meaning the building has no specific use under planning law – to class E (D), which covers commercial, business and service uses.
The application status is currently pending with a consultation period underway until May 14, 2026.
Who is Shelley Eva Haden?
Currently based in Birmingham, Ms Eva Haden has 15 years of background in international performance, choreography and directing.
She was nominated in the outstanding female performance category at the 2017 National Dance Awards.
Ms Eva Haden’s other credits include working on the choreographic team for the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games opening ceremony and for major broadcasters and production companies including the BBC, Channel 4 and Opera North.
