Author: Rhianna

This is a gentle reminder that only academy t-shirts and hoodies, black/pink cross-over cardigans, plain black t-shirts, or Tapathon t-shirts are appropriate to wear in class over the top of dance wear.

Thank you to everyone that supported our school by attending our concerts 2019, I hope you have throughly enjoyed watching the sheer level of talent that our school has!

In the front of our programme I mentioned most of this year’s goings on and achevements, but I also need to mention the Guernsey festival of dance that dancers in Year 1 upwards participated in.

We achieved 2 trophies, one to Ewan Mauger for the most promising competitor 13 & under 20 years, selected by the adjudicator, and the other to Jemima Vhadra for Classical Greek under 13yrs.

We also achieved 5 first places, 10 second places, 13 third places, and 7 fourth places, just one mark behind placing. The standard of dance is ever increasing in Guernsey, and I am very pleased to say that we are keeping up with the crowd.

I have a few additional thank yous to make:

Staff at the performing arts centre, Sam & Russ on lighting

Olly Tracey and Kit Gillson filming all three concerts

Our student helpers in Pre-school & Reception ballet, and Under 9 ballet B – Joni-May and Abigail

All chaperones over the past 3 performances for exceptional hard work and a very slick running of the running order – no matter how quick the changes!

My senior dancers who have been so helpful with my little dancers, helping take them to and from the stage and give them plenty of pep talks!

Thank you Robyn, Ingrid, Sue, Abigail and Miffy for music operating, and Abigail again for taking beautiful photos from side of stage.

I had a much larger costume team this time around, so thank you to Jo, Niki, Davinia and Charlotte for all their help on sourcing, sizing, ordering costumes, not to mention helping come up with themes in the first place, looking at shoes, accessories, props… the list truly is endless.

I know he’s not here, but thank you to James and his brother Chris for lugging the props from the studio to Beau Sejour, Beau Sejour to the studio, the studio to here, and in advance for taking all of them back to the studio again when we’re done!

And finally to Miss Miffy – for amazing choreography and concepts, for all of your hard work supporting and training our dancers, and for supporting me through my most challenging Festival season yet. We are all incredibly grateful for your time, attention to detail, and the passion you bring to your classes.

Our last section of my little speech before I release you all is our little award ceremony.

Miss Miffy and I have been deep in discussion, and these awards are given irrespective of placings or awards at the Dance Festival. They are awarded to children that have stood out to us over the past year for their hard work and determination to reach their goals and personal achievements.

My mini award this year is shared between Chloe Ferbrache & Ruby Le Poidevin.

My Junior award is also shared between Joni-May Lowe, Amelie Sheridan and Grace Purvis.

My senior award is also, you guessed it, shared, between Lani Girard and Elisha Horsepool.

I would also like to bring forwards a few people for mentions:

Lyra Jordan, Tallulah Hutchison, Jemima Vhadra, Abigail Peek and Nicole Hubert.

Finally, we have some students that have just danced their last concerts with the Academy. These students have been with the school for years, some since they were tiny and others joined in recent years. Either way, their presence will be sorely missed, and we know you will go on to achieve great things. Thank you to Ewan, Emma, Georgia, Amy, Ivy, Ingrid, Ellie, Imogen and Abigail T for all of your hard work over the years that I have had the pleasure of teaching you for.

 

After an amazing week at the Guernsey Festival of Dance, we are so proud to be able to report the following placings and trophies!

Trophies

Ewan Mauger – Joanne Fletcher Cup for most promising competitor 13 & under 20

Jemima Vhadra – Joyce Down Trophy for Classical Greek under 13yrs

1st

Scarlett Mauger & Ewan Mauger Greek duet

Jake Taylor & Jemima Vhadra Modern duet

Ewan Mauger Character E

Lily Wyatt-Nicolle Greek D

Jemima Vhadra Greek C

2nd

Under 20 Modern To This Day

Beatrice Forget Pre-Primary class

Ruby Le Poidevin & Chloe Ferbrache Greek duet

Elisha Horsepool & Ewan Mauger Tap duet

Ivy Botzenhardt Song & Dance E

Tallulah Hutchison Primary class

Lily Wyatt-Nicolle Character D

Ewan Mauger Modern E

Lily Wyatt-Nicolle, Ellie-Mae Le Tissier, Scarlett Mauger Greek trio

Felicity Febrache National A

3rd

Under 9 ballet Christmas at The North Pole

Under 9 modern Stray Cat Strut

Under 20 Greek Game of Thrones

Under 20 tap Both Reached for The Gun

Elisha Horsepool Tap E

Cai Hoyte Modern B

Jake Taylor Modern B

Elisha Horsepool Character E

Jemima Vhadra Character C

Scarlett Mauger Character D

Lani Girard Greek D

Felicity Ferbrache Greek A

Amelie Sheridan Greek B

4th 

Under 9 Modern Toot Sweets

Under 13 Greek Fantastic Beasts & Where to Find Them

Ewan Mauger Tap E

Felicity Ferbrache Ballet A

Taya Smit Modern A

Chloe Ferbrache Primary class

Jake Taylor Greek B

 

There were many, many other achievements not noted above, whether it was doing their first ever solo, their first time on stage, a breakthrough with performance, or simply nailing a dance that they had previously struggled with, we are so so proud of every single dancer.

Dear Parents,

I hope you have all had a lovely, restful Christmas and New Year. In this letter I have enclosed everything you could want to know about the upcoming Dance Festival.

Ballet shoes, tights, and socks

These will be fitted and handed out during the first couple of weeks of term. Please save them for stage use only!

Ushers at Beau Sejour and Chaperones back stage

As in previous festivals, all schools will need to provide two extra ushers for various sessions during the competition week. All ushers will need to attend a briefing 45mins before the start of their session. The Academy has been allocated Wednesday 23rd January 14.00-17.30 (approx) and Friday 25th January 19.00-22.30 (approx). You will be able to watch these sessions for free so this may be ideal for a grandparent/relative who would like to watch their child dancing but had been unable to get tickets.

In addition to this, due to the new child protection regulations and an increasing number of students taking part in each group session, I require a little more help back stage. If you are available at the below times, and hold a DBS check, please email or add your name to the list at the studio. I would recommend that volunteers are not parents of competitors in the sessions as you will be unable to sit and watch your children from the front. The below times are chaperone times, not competition hours.

Tuesday 22nd January Under 9 ballet (both groups) 10.00-12.30

Wednesday 23rd January Under 13 greek 13.00-15.00

Friday 25th January Under 9 modern 10.30-12.30

Under 13 ballet 14.45-16.30

Under 13 tap 18.00-20.00

Saturday 26th January Under 9 tap 10.50-12.30

Under 13 modern 18.30-20.45

Concerts 8th, 9th, 10th February, Princess Royal Performing Arts Centre

Tickets will go on sale Monday 21st January. These will be available online only through a website called StageStubs, I will email out a link in the New Year. Tickets for adults are £11.50, children are £7.00. I will need ushers for these performances as well, there will be a form up on the board at the studio, as well as a sign up sheet for volunteers back stage. There will be programmes available to purchase from the school from Monday 14th January.

Class cancellations and half term dates

Saturday 19th January Pre-school and Reception Ballet will run as normal (covered by Miss Miffy) Under 9 ballet B rearranged from 13.00-13.45 at the studio after dress rehearsal at the theatre.

Monday 21st January-Saturday 26th January inclusive no classes will be running at the studio.

Friday 8th February Pre-school ballet, Reception ballet (Fri & Sat) & Contemporary to rehearse at the theatre after school prior to evening show commencing. No classes running at the studio.

Saturday 9th February Pre-school ballet & Reception ballet run as normal at the studio. All Under 9 ballet B from 10.30-11.15 only.

The school will then close for two weeks for February half term, Monday 11th February-Sunday 24th February. From Monday 25th February we will operate a new timetable, where all Festival groups will revert to separate grades. New timetable will be available on our website and Parents Facebook page.

Competition times

Under 9 modern Stray Cat Strut & Toot Sweets
Friday morning 11.00am

Under 9 tap Monster Mash
Saturday morning 11.50am

Under 9 ballet Grandma’s Attic & Christmas at the North Pole
Tuesday morning 11.00am

Under 13 modern Nightmare & Cluedo
Saturday evening 7.30pm

Under 13 tap Steppin’ Out
Friday evening 7.00pm

Under 13 ballet Starry Starry Night
Friday afternoon 3.45pm

Under 13 greek Fantastic Beasts and Where To Find Them
Wednesday afternoon 2.10pm

Under 20 modern To This Day
Thursday evening 8.00pm

Under 20 tap Both Reached For The Gun
Tuesday evening 7.00pm

Under 20 ballet Music Of The Night
Saturday afternoon 2.00pm

Under 20 greek (unnamed)
Tuesday afternoon 4.35pm

Please arrive a minimum of 1hr before the stated competition time for groups, duets, trios, and solos.

All dance schools will be using the David Ferguson Hall as changing rooms. Please arrive at the theatre through either the front doors or concourse doors. The David Ferguson Hall is down the stairs on the left. You will need to sign your child in. All Under 13 and Under 20 parents are required to leave your children at the door, Under 9 parents are permitted to accompany them through to the dressing rooms and settle your child before leaving them to go and watch. After your child’s section has finished and adjudication taken place, we will get all group/s ready and take them out of the dressing room en masse to reduce the number of people in the dressing rooms.

Under 9s should not wear underwear beneath their costumes. If your child is nervous about getting changed in front of others I suggest bringing a beach wrap to change underneath. Under 13s (where possible) should not wear underwear/should not have visible underwear, and Under 20s should not wear visible underwear. I strongly suggest that on the dress rehearsal at the theatre that all children wear what they intend to on the competition day to see if it works.

Wherever possible please get your child ready at home before arriving at the theatre – but do not apply lipstick prior to arrival! Final touches at the theatre is fine (such as eye shadow/eye liner) and if there are hair style/s that you struggle with and require help from another parent/me, please ensure you arrive in plenty of time.

All costumes should be in named bags (most group costumes came in costume bags), I don’t suggest putting names on the costumes themselves as the print may show through. When your child has got changed please immediately put all their clothes in their costume/dance bag and stow away under the chairs/hang on costume rails.

Do’s and Don’ts

Do ensure the night before that your child has everything they need for their dance. We will not have endless spares at the theatre.

Do double check props & accessories. Large props may be brought to the theatre during the groups dress rehearsal and left in the scene dock.

Do bring any hairbands, gel/spray, grips and make up required.

Do ensure that your child has checked in on the door.

Do ensure that you have given Miss King all up-to-date contact details in case of an emergency.

Do wear Academy branded hoodies/onesies if you have them to protect costumes.

Do pack your child something to do when they are waiting to perform/waiting for adjudication such as colouring, or card games. Electronics are not recommended in case of them being lost or stolen.

Don’t bring juice or fizzy drinks to the theatre. Water only.

Don’t bring chocolate or messy snacks to the theatre or to rehearsal.

How to do a ballet bun

• Hairspray & Gel
• Hair brush
• Fine tooth comb
• Hair bands (thicker are better than thin)
• Bun pins (if your child has short or fine hair, use shorter pins or bun will look like a hedgehog!)
• Kirby grips
• Fine hair net (make sure it matches the colour of your child’s hair)

Brush hair to remove all knots and tangles. Hair that has not been washed that day is easier to work with than freshly washed. Brush hair in the direction of a ponytail before spraying with hairspray (easier to brush out than gel) and then combing to ensure that there are no lumps and bumps at the top of the head or under the ponytail.

Gather hair in a ponytail – this should be at the centre of the head, and not visible from the front. Secure with a hairband.

Twist the hair into one long strand and start to wrap around the pony tail in a coiled shape close to the head. Hold this in place with one hand, take the bun net in the other, and wrap the net around the bun, you may need to go around twice. The bun shape should be squishy and mouldable.

Once the bun is formed, you the open bun pins around the base and through the centre of the bun to secure. Use as much hairspray as needed to keep the bun neat and to eliminate loose hairs.

If your child has a fringe, it may be best to use gel as well as hair spray, and use closed kirby grips across the top of the head.

Tips:

Don’t be scared to re-do the ponytail or bun if you are not happy with the shape. The looser and more squishy the bun is under the hair net, the easier it is to mould it and pin it into the shape you want.

If your child has a lot of baby hairs that won’t stick down, try hair spraying the comb, comb the hairs close to the head and hold under the spray dries slightly.

Classical ballet buns should be formed without the use of a bun ring/doughnut shaper.

How to French plait

First of all – practice makes perfect! I couldn’t work out a logical way to write out instructions so I have found a couple of YouTube videos for you to try:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CPE1ktvWXsY – Explaining how to hold the strands so they don’t get mixed up in your hand.

How to Dutch braid

Dutch braids stand out on the top of the hair, the opposite to French plaits. Practise French plaits before Dutch braiding for help on how to hold the strands!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OKvxrG5OcHA

Note: damp hair is easier to work with than dry. Try getting a plant spray bottle to spritz the hair as you go!

How to twist/rope braid

Nice alternative to french plaits into a bun!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GSry_fXAru4&t=9s

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8pd10H-39nQ

By signing this form I acknowledge and agree the following:

1. Upon leaving the Academy one term’s notice in writing is required, otherwise 50% of the term’s fees are owed in lieu as we will not be able to fill your child’s place in class.
2. Classes cancelled due to exams or teacher absence  will be refunded or an alternative lesson arranged. Classes cancelled due to adverse weather conditions will not be refunded or rearranged.
3. We ask permission to use photos and/or videos of your child in our promotional material such as newsletters, leaflets, on our website and Facebook page.
4. Any fees unpaid by half term will attract a 5% late fee, any fees unpaid by the end of term will attract a 10% late fee.
5. Staff are not liable for any injury resulting from the student’s participation in class.

 

 

Why not pop down to the ADTA studio, next to the Indoor Sports Centre, tomorrow afternoon and find out which classes would suit your budding Ginger Rogers or Darcy Bussell, Wayne Sleep or Fred Astaire?

Meet your teachers and head girls, take a look around our fabulous studios, and purchase kit.

There is plenty of unrestricted parking on site, plus a bus stop opposite with good connections to town!

Open Day 2017 will run from 14.30-18.00
enquiries@thedanceacademy.org
07781414940

Huge congratulations to all students that took ISTD dance exams in July 2017. We achieved a 100% pass rate yet again, and our seniors that took vocational, professional level exams received Distinctions!

In total, the 34 children that took exams received 9 distinctions, 29 merits and 6 passes – results that everyone should be very proud of indeed.

Please aim to arrive between 45mins-1hr prior to the exam time start