NEWS 2008
SPRING TERM 2008 UPDATE
We would like to give a warm welcome to the new pupils who have joined us this term. The first exam sessions of the year are fast approaching, the ISTD (our examinations board) have introduced a few changes as of 2008. Firstly to refresh the Ballet syllabus they have introduced new music for Primary - Grade 6, we have been using this music in class since the start of the Spring term and will be compulsory for anyone taking exams in the future. There is also a change of examination uniform for girls taking grade 2 ballet or above. They are no longer required to wear a skirt, just the cotton sleeveless leotard with ballet tights and your teacher will provide you with a colour co-ordinating belt. Skirts will still be allowed in class.
All pupils taking exams at the end of the spring term must start attending their exam coaching classes as of week commencing Monday 25th February 2008. Any queries please don't hesitate to ask your teacher.
Exam Results (update 2nd May)
We had 23 pupils taking Ballet exams and 24 pupils taking Modern and Tap exams at the end of the Spring term. Congratulations! Excellent reuslts. To see the individual results please see your branch notice board.
HIGH SCHOOL MUSICAL SUMMER SPECTACULAR 2008
The Summer holiday workshops details have just been announced. High School Musical Summer Spectacular is coming to each branch, enjoy a day packed with Singing & Dancing to all your favourite High School Musical Songs. We have a new workshops page, please click here for more details.
Summer Term 2008 (update 14th July)
It was lovely to see so many of you at this terms open week, once again a very busy term for the pupils. We had some pupils performing a display of Grade 2 Modern at Southwold School Fete in Bicester. We had 19 pupils taking Ballet exams and 29 pupils taking Modern and Tap exams on the 6th & 8th July. The results will take 4 weeks to come through, please call, text or e-mail Louise for your individual results. Keep a eye on this page for a results update. We still have spaces available for 'HIGH SCHOOL MUSICAL SUMMER SPECTACULAR 2008' Please call to book your place. You will all have received your Choreographic Competition letters on the last week of term which outlines the rules, if you require any further information please don't hesitate to contact, we look forward to seeing the dances, good luck choreographing!!
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Summer Exam Success For Pupils & Teachers!
THE SCHOOL ~ Congratulations to all the pupils that took Ballet, Tap and Modern exams in July, you all passed with excellent results, with 5 pupils receiving 'A's, 34 receiving 'B's & 9 receiving 'C's Well Done. Please see the notice board or your teacher for individual results
TEACHING QUALIFICATIONS ~ Hayley has now completed her FDI (Foundation in Dance Instruction) in Modern & Ballet. She successfully passed her Modern exam in June and Ballet in July. Congratulations!
An Exciting Time For Tap!
The ISTD have decided to completely change the Tap syllabus, dance styles date, in order to keep the syllabi fresh and exciting they are in the process of a complete overhaul of the Tap syllabus from Primary to Grade 5, they are keeping the current Grade 6 Syllabus. The process has begun with Primary & Grade 1 this year and hopefully Grade 2 & 3 in 2009. Louise & Hayley have been on teacher training courses over the summer to learn the new syallbi and will be teaching it in class from September, it is very different but lots of fun! The new music will hopefully inspire the children and introduce them to many musical styles - Hip Hop, Swing, Latin, Reggae, Rock 'n' Roll and more, for the first time there are vocals on some of the tracks, look out for 'The Warm-Up Song'! The new syllabi has many American influences and this is reflected in it's style, it will be essential for all pupils to have heel taps on their tap shoes and no Cuban heel tap shoes for the older pupils a jazz tap will now be more suitable (the type Louise & Hayley wear). Please do not feel pressured to purchase these straight away, all tap shoes purchased through the dance school from September '08 will have heel & toe taps fitted. We will hopefully have some pupils demonstrating some of the work at the Choreographic Competition in November. This is an exciting time for tap, all the pupils will love the new syllabus.
High School Musical Summer Spectacular 2008
We have been holding our Summer dance workshops for 9 years and this years High School Musical Summer Spectacular was a huge success. A great time was had by all. There are some photos available on the workshops page, please use the menu link.
New Ballet Uniform for Grade 5 & 6
There is a new uniform for Grade 5 & 6. It is a black cotton leotard with adjustable cami straps which can be worn either way as pictured. No skirts are required, you can now purchase transition ballet tights through the dance school. Skirts are now optional in class for Grade 2, 3 & 4.
New Ballet Uniform for Grade 5 & 6
Annual Prize Giving 2008
Well done to all the pupils that received awards at this years prize giving, all the pupils below were recognised by their teachers for making an outstanding effort and improvement throughout 2008.
Bicester Ballet Awards Bicester Tap Awards Bicester Modern Awards
1st ~ Michelle Koranteng 1st ~ Alice Pearson 1st ~ Courtney Holliday
2nd ~ Holly Cushion & Sophie Merrett 2nd ~ Ella Stone 2nd ~ Gemma Cadle
3rd ~ Niamh Gardner & Grace Thomas 3rd ~ Issy Bostock & Emma Dunlop 3rd ~ Grace Birkett
Brill Ballet Awards Brill Tap Awards Brill Modern Awards
1st ~ Lizzie King 1st ~ Bethany Francis 1st ~ Pippa Horton
2nd ~ Madeleine Cayley & Abby Soutar 2nd ~ Daniella Bassett 2nd ~ Katie Cottrell
3rd ~ Ellen Brown & Elspeth Jackson 3rd ~ Sophia Hawkins 3rd ~ Maddie Shott
Downley Ballet Awards Downley Tap Awards Downley Modern Awards
1st ~ Chloe Woolford 1st ~ Natalie Harris 1st ~ Ruby Archer
2nd ~ Meghan Randall & Rachel Haven 2nd ~ Helena Roden 2nd ~ Sophie Sheehan & Louise Amos
3rd ~ Sophie Mulligan 3rd ~ Chloe Webb 3rd ~ Emily Bater & Bradley Powell
Grooming Awards Most Promising Pupil Awards
1st ~ Alice Woodwards 1st ~ Esme Nicholls
2nd ~ Jasmine Truscott & Anna Webb 2nd ~ Poppy Nicholas & Jennifer Digman
3rd ~ Verity Wilson & Ella Sharp 3rd ~ Lola Castle
Choreographic Competition 2008
On Sunday 9th November we held our 4th choreographic competition at The Players Theatre, Thame. There was such a high standard as always making the adjudicator, Karen Seaton's job very tough. The results are as follows.
Juniors & Intermediates
1st - 'Girlfriend' - Ruby Archer (7)
2nd - 'She's So Lovely' - Rachel Haven (10), Nicholas Clarke (10) & Hannah Isaacs (10)
& 'Relax' - Ellen Webb (7)
3rd - 'Drastic Boogie' - Eimear Simpson (11) & Charlotte White (11)
Seniors
1st - 'The Clockwork Dolls' - Helena Roden (13), Alice Henshaw (13) & Abi Isaacs (12)
2nd - 'All That Jazz' - Kayleigh Falkner (11) & Verity Wilson (12)
& 'When I Grow Up' - Rebecca Moffett (12)
3rd - 'You Can't Stop The Beat' - Natalie Harris (16) & Charlotte Langley (15)
& 'Step Up' - Tessa Gamble (15) & Josephine Glover (15)
New Teacher
We would like to give a warm welcome to Catherine Lyford who has joined the teaching staff at the school. Catherine joined us in November, to find out more about our new teacher please use the menu link to the teaching staff page.
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