End of year review

The end of the year always creeps up on me, I cannot believe it’s over.  Anyhow, I hope you all enjoyed your summer break.

If last year seemed to be all about accounts, this year was mostly about performances.  We had two main shows and several gala performance

10 Year Show

This was phenomenal, both in terms of the venue and the performers.  The best thing was the fact that we had performances from both the main DCSD School and Street Level.  The atmosphere was fantastic, and I really felt that this was a show that celebrated the past, but showed huge promise for the future. 

Photos are still on display at www.artsphotography.co.uk URN: 421-GB-11, password “dance”.  I know that there were some issues with the website, particularly in the charging of postage, but these can be sorted out. Also, the pictures were a little pricey, despite my asking him to keep them reasonable.  If you had a problem, please speak to Charles at Arts Photography direct and he will sort it out.

Street Level Show

This was the first ever Street Level Show, and to be honest, I didn’t really know how it would turn out.  I intended that it should be a celebration of what the children and students had achieved over the past year.  I wanted everyone to be able to perform on stage (with or without their teacher on stage with them), and that the children and students would be able to see what the other Centres were doing, and make new friends.

Some of the Centres had only been in operation a short time, whereas some had been going for three years or more.  Because of this there was always going to be a huge disparity in technique and performance, however the enthusiasm of all involved more than made up for any glitches.  The only shame was that more of you didn’t perform with us.  You missed a great night, and hopefully we will see you the next time.  I will try and get a date a little earlier in July this next year, so it doesn’t clash with holidays

Following the pricing issues with Arts Photography we engaged Neil Carter to take pictures of this event.  He took some amazing shots, and charged realistic prices from as little as £2, which can be viewed on www.neilcarterphotography.co.uk – password “firework” – so far there has been a disappointing response.  I hope that this is because it is the holiday period, as the pictures are fabulous, if you haven’t had a look, please do.  The only way we are going to be able to secure photographers in the future is to buy their work.  We have found a gem here, please let’s support him so we can use him again in the future.

Gala Performances

We had quite a performance season over the summer. 

First came East Ardsley Gala (photos on www.neilcarterphotography.co.uk – password “nutcracker” – and then Meanwood Family Fun Day.  Both days were great fun and were extremely well received.  We mainly do Galas so that the children and students get more performance exposure (and get to wear their show costumes again!!!)  Also, we get to give something back to the Communities that the children are a part of, and they are great fun.

We also performed at Roundhay Park on 21st August and Morley Cricket Club – Help for Heroes Gala on 28th July.  Our presence in York has been recognised and Becki gave sample Zumba and Street classes at Rawcliffe Open Day.  We were asked to support Fulford Gala, but this year we were unable to commit to this one.

We hope that we will be asked back to these events next year, as it is great to support the local communities were we dance, as well as giving the students further performance opportunities.  Hopefully we will have some York dancers ready to strut their stuff at the next York events……  If anyone is involved on any PTA of local schools, please don’t forget we have children who love to perform.

Exam Results

Another fabulous year for exams, here are this year’s superstars *.

Audition Successes

This year saw Darcey Tillotson and Mia Curley performing with Northern Ballet Theatre in Nutcracker. 

Caitlin Rose was successful in her York Scholar assessment, which means that she has been offered a further year with the program.

Natalie Alleston and Richard Johnston continue with Northern Ballet Theatre’s Centre for Advanced Training programme.

Edward Myhill continues another year with Hammond School in Chester.

Heather Irving has been offered another year with the Northern School of Contemporary Dance Centre for Advanced Training.

Laura Myers continues with White Lodge, Royal Ballet Junior School, and recently took her RAD Intermediate with 91% - fantastic stuff.

Cameron-Joseph Raines was successful in auditioning for the Royal Ballet Junior Associate Program.  He will join them on Saturdays in Leeds from September. 

We wish every one of those students all the luck in the world, we can’t wait to hear about their experiences.

Competitions

We didn’t do much in the way of competitions this year, but do intend to pursue this much more aggressively this year.  Several of you have already signed up to do the next set, and we are in the process of creating dances for you.

Branded Goods

We arranged for KustomPrint in the White Rose Centre to be able to service our printing requirements.  They are not the cheapest, or best, supplier in the marketplace, but are extremely convenient.  We will be reinstating our internet supplier this year and will make periodic orders with them.  We also have a very good embroidery firm in place this year who can make us caps, socks, hoodies, polo shirts etc. 

Communication

Is getting better.  We have whiteboards in place at East Ardsley and Alwoodley as well as the main notice boards.  We will have whiteboards in place at the other Centres this year, please remember to check them.  We still have people saying that they are not getting the information.  When you join you should have filled in a registration form – this is only useful if it is kept up to date, if you change mobile/email details please tell me. 

We are aware that some teachers are better at communicating information to parents, than others, particularly our new teachers.  I am working with the teachers to ensure that this improves.  However, the teachers can only talk to you if they see you.  Despite several requests there are still incidences where children are dropped off on the kerb and parents are never seen.  This is not a good idea on many levels, especially one of child safety.  Our teachers are told not to let children under the age of 11 leave the hall unless a parent/carer that is specifically responsible for them, picks them up from the teacher. 

We started using an internet e-mail Manager which is working fine and ensures that you get emails from us looking all swanky with the logo on, but we only have 299 emails on it, and yet we have over 400 pupils.  Also, out of those 299 with emails, the highest we have ever had open an email is 68%.  Clearly we have some emails which are not accessed.  Therefore, can you check your details are correct with us.

Timetable

The new pointe work classes worked extremely well last year and will therefore be continuing.  Classes at Alwoodley remain largely unchanged on an evening.  The Saturday classes have been changed so that they run inline with East Ardsley.  There are some students at both Centres due to take exams so they have not moved classes yet, but will do after their exam in November.

Evening classes at East Ardsley are still under review – some changes need to be made, but the ones I have suggested don’t appear to suit.  I will be going back to the drawing board and working with parents to hopefully get something that works for all.  Please bear with me.

I am looking to start a new Junior Vocational Ballet class at East Ardsley on Saturday afternoons at 2.30 and will invite prospective students to it.  This is the beginning of the vocational classical ballet training, and introduces pointe work for girls.  This is not a class for everyone and is only suited to those specifically wanting a career in dance, and who have been high achievers in their previous ballet grades.

**York Ballet/Tap/Modern/Street/Zumba Classes**

I am delighted to tell you that Rachel will start mainstream classes in York from September.  She will do Saturday morning classes at Rawcliffe Pavilion, again following the same timetable as East Ardsley and Alwoodley.  She will start with the younger age group, i.e. toddlers through to children aged 5+.

She will also be doing early morning Zumba at Rawcliffe on a Saturday, then she will be driving up the road to Woodthorpe to do more street classes and Zumba.  Hopefully this should then fit in with everybody’s lifestyle and get as many children to try our classes as possible.  Don’t forget you are not limited to merely doing one class in one centre – you would be more than welcome to do more.

Check out the website for more information.

RAD Exam Information

The new RAD Pre-Primary and Primary work was studied all of last year.  Children at Alwoodley took the first exams in this new syllabus in July and all passed, some with fantastic results.  Children from Alwoodley and East Ardsley will be following in their footsteps in November.

The RAD are in the process of reviewing and changing the majority of their syllabi.  Intermediate Foundation and Intermediate have already changed and can be examined as of January this year.  It is much harder than the old work, but has the advantage of being able to be examined in the student’s own centre, which will take away the stress element of a new venue.  However the vocational venues are still available for those who want to take the exams outside of our own exam sessions.  The next ones to change are Grades 1-3, and these will be introduced this year, and compulsory from next year.

Glee Club

We ran a Glee Club for 10 weeks from January, and we had a fabulous time recreating My Fair Lady.  We will look at doing other things like this during the year and hope to see more of you, watch this space.  If anyone can send me a copy of the video clip we took I would be very grateful.

Zumba

Zumba was introduced last year, and will continue this year.  It is a great, fun way to work out, if you haven’t tried it yet take a look at the website.  It happens in Alwoodley, Colton, East Ardsley, Fulford, Rawcliffe, Woodlesford and Woodthorpe. See Zumba for the timetable.

Troupe

Troupe will continue and we are looking to start performing this year.  It has changed the time to Thursday at 7pm at East Ardsley and will be taught by Becki, with me assisting.  I think that Becki’s choreographic style will suit the competitions better than my own.  I have also asked your other teachers to look at doing their own routines within their own Centres too.

RAD UCAS Points awarded for Exams Taken

The RAD Examinations Board is delighted to announce that UCAS tariff points for Graded and Vocational Graded Examinations in Dance at Level 3 are now confirmed. What this means is that candidates who have achieved a Pass or higher at Grades 6-8, Intermediate or Advanced Foundation can use their exam result as contributing towards their points tariff when applying to a university or Higher Education institution in the UK, for applications from 2012 onwards. Further information can be found here on the RAD website. So far as we know the RAD is the only dance organisation who has secured points from UCAS so you really are part of a unique and forward thinking organisation.

Teachers

This year has seen quite a lot of changes to our faculty.  We have welcomed Lucy, Kirstie and Rachel and said goodbye to Jenny.  There are yet more changes to advise you of. 

Natasha White will not be returning in September.  Many of you may know that Natasha worked as a therapist at Wakefield Wildcats, but had been trying to get into teaching.  She has been offered a job with a primary school in Wakefield, who will hopefully support her training to become a fully fledged primary school teacher.  Therefore, she wishes to put all her energies into ensuring this happens.  I am very grateful to Natasha for stepping in to cover the Morley Centre, and for her input into making the Centre more technically proficient and inline with the others.  I am sure you will join me in wishing her all the luck with her new career.

Very recently I learned that Sophie Crosthwaite, who had run our East Ardsley Street Centre so marvellously for the last 3+ years, has decided to leave pursue other challenges.  We wish her every success in her endeavours and will miss her terribly.  We are still looking for a replacement for Sophie, but classes will continue unaffected. 

We are also delighted to welcome the newest member of our faculty.Margarida Isabel Delgado Oliveira (Mags) will be joining us to take over the Morley Centre.  Mags took some classes over the summer with a selection of students from AMC, EAMC and MSP.  Everyone adored her.  Her approach is very different, but I guarantee it is going to be an extremely exciting time for Morley students this year.  Mags is from Portugal but is now living here in the UK.  Her background is mainly hiphop/street.  She has featured in many tv commercials and tv music performances in Portugal, and in here in the UK came 2nd in the YouTube StreetDance 3D competition.  She is fabulous and I cannot wait to get your feedback.

Here’s to this year……