February/March 2008
RAD Exams
Two sessions have been booked, 23rd June at AMC and 11th July at EACC. A separate note has been circulated telling everyone which one they are booked in on and what time their extra lessons are. Please note that extra lessons are compulsory and will obviously be charged for.
IDTA Exams – EACC
These will be booked this week, don’t panic I have not forgotten, sorry for the delay, but we now have the DVD teaching aid which will allay the fears of the Grade 3 modern class.
Invoices
These are out again, I am afraid, and with exam costs and extra lessons on can work out quite hefty. Don’t forget we have a payment arrangement system in place for all accounts over £100. We have tightened this up slightly and this is the new regime. Complete a payment arrangement form, all arrangements must be specific, e.g. three post dated cheques or several specific dates and amounts; all invoices must be discharged before the end of the term; payments can be made online; the payment arrangement must then be agreed by the Principal and countersigned by her. N.B. if any payment date is missed then the whole amount becomes payable immediately and if your account is in arrears you must not attend any external classes or courses until your account is brought up to date.
Tell a Friend
Did you know that you get a discount if you refer a friend? It is nice to know that some of the invoices going out this term actually have their discount on them. If you did not know about this scheme then check out the website [insert page]. If others are getting their discounts, what about you?
EACC Charity Gala in favour of Wakefield Hospice – 19th & 20th April 2008
We are still waiting to find out how many chairs we can get in the hall. We think there are other chairs in the back, but the doors are locked and we are waiting for the caretakers to let us in. As soon as we know we will be able to finalise the ticket sales. Don’t fret I will be nagging as soon as we get back.
Alwoodley Community Association Gala – Sunday 8th June 2008
I need to know who is going to do this, and as soon as the Wakefield Hospice Gala is over I will be sorting this one out.
Yorkshire Youth Dance Theatre (YYDT)
Well done to Emily Bailey, Rebecca Bonthron, Heather Irving, Caitlin Rose and Sophie Turner who all attended YYDT this Easter. YYDT runs every two years, and consists of several Sunday’s working with top choreographers, culminating in a residential week in York with a performance ending the week. All five were absolutely fantastic. Well done also to Beckie Craig, Lucy Ford, Kiera Rose, Jourja Pattrik and Jessica Taylor who all attended the one day workshop with YYDT, they too had a fantastic time. Don’t forget this comes around every two years, so make sure you are on the next one.
Northern Ballet Theatre Associate Scheme
Well done to Antonia Dante and Claudia Stanton who were allocated reserve places on the scheme. Double congratulations to Claudia who has been invited back to audition for the YYD scheme.
New Teachers
We are actively searching for new teachers to join the School. We want to grow the school by consolidating what we already do, but also bringing in new teachers with new skills. So far, we have been very fortunate in that everyone who has visited us wants to work with us. Their skills include contemporary, musical theatre and street dance – all subjects I know you are all desperate to try. Over the course of the next term (so far as exam classes will permit) we will be trialling these new teachers. Please help us by turning up for the trial classes and giving us your feedback. There is little point in our employing a teacher nobody likes. Eve Headley is the first teacher to be doing some trial classes, and she will start with Street/Stretch classes and advanced tap/modern. I have tried to put the classes on when they will benefit each age group. Please come along, and if you have any friends who want to come too, bring them along.
Festivals
As a School we have never subscribed to the festival idea. However, we are now thinking that it may be a good idea in small doses. Festivals do enhance the performance ability of pupils and exposes them to the competition. They do not suit everyone however, and no-one will be forced to do them. If you are interested could you please let us know, as you may be invited to take part in our pilot scheme. We will randomly pick a few keen pupils to participate in the first set of festivals (two a year) and then build on that.
RAD Days of Dance
There are two RAD events coming up and they promise to be good ones…
Musical Theatre Workshop for children aged 7 or Grade 1 and above (maximum age 11). These workshops are always brilliant and a good first external class to take. The application form can be found on the website, please download it and send it off.
Master Class 12th October for students, Intermediate standard and above please.
Both courses are to be held at West Park Centre, Spen Lane, Leeds, and I will be at both.
Chitty Chitty Bang Bang
This was a fantastic day, Grace was lovely, and she was very impressed with our students. Well done everybody who participated. She said that she managed to do much more with you than she usually got around to with other groups, so well done. Very impressed with you.
Swan Lake Trip
What a super afternoon. The production was amazing, and I think we will need to incorporate mime in our classes, given the amount of interest it received. Odette did about 38 fouettes – were you counting??? We had 20 children sat with us in the stalls, 15 parents in the upper balcony and five students sat further back in the stalls who had participated in the ENB workshop. Everybody behaved impeccably – well can’t speak for the adults, but the kids were wonderful.
And finally……………
Don’t faint, but we have found a printer……….yes, and they seem to be very reliable. You will see some of us modelling rather lovely hoodies. So, whatever you want I can now get. The hoodies are £25 per adult and £23 per child (they may be cheaper in the very small sizes, but won’t know until we order some), and come in any colour you like. So far we have had pale pink and black done, and they both look very snazzy. I will now get on with the outstanding t-shirt orders, so if you think you have an outstanding order feel free to nag me. If you haven’t but want some printed goods, then let me know.
Deborah