Despite the continuing disruptions caused by the pandemic, we are already looking forward to a new term. Unfortunately, Sabine and her family are having to relocate to East Sussex so we will have a new teacher joining the team on Saturday mornings.
There are still some restrictions in place and we receive regular updates from the dancing organisations such as RAD and ISTD which we will pass on to everyone through email and Facebook. We have started exam work and Festival work once more.
Because the RAD could not send examiners jn person to schools, they allowed teachers to film the Grade exams – at least until the end of the year. Strict conditions apply: Each grade had to be continuously filmed and definitely no editing. Once the result are issued, the video files have to be deleted. The recordings cannot be used to query marking. However, it has proved very useful since the teacher is able to see how someone behaves under exam conditions. Normally, teachers are not allowed in the exam room so viewing the videos has been a real eye-opener. The child who is foot-perfect during rehearsals suddenly behaves as if they are from the school of Long John Silver. Likewise, some children rise to the challenge and do better than expected. Although Steven Spielberg doesn’t have any competition, I am very pleased with the quality of the videos.
Pupils are always welcome to try any classes they do not already attend. If they would like to sample a weekday Ballet, Modern, Tap, Street or Musical Theatre class or a a Saturday Workshop, please let us know in advance.
BRITISH ARTS
The British Arts competition is resuming again after being cancelled during the 2020 – 2021 season. If anyone would like to try a solo, duet or trio in December (at Fernhurst Village Hall), please contact Angela. This is a good starting point for budding show-offs. (In real-lfe, the majority of performers are quiet and even very shy so there is no need to hold back.
Having to learn dance steps, words to a song or lines of dialogue produces people with very good self-discipline, confidence and posture. We often hear from ex-students who have succeeded not just in the arts but in jobs far removed from dance, music or theatre. At one Saturday Workshop in the summer, children were thrilled to meet Travis who just turned up to visit Mrs Cantan. Travis is now a professional choreographer and can also be seen as one of the lead swans in Matthew Bourne’s Swan Lake. He certainly ruffled quite a few feathers on the morning he came to see his old school. Last March, another, and more recent ex-student, Jerome Barnes, was chosen by the prestigious magazine, Dancing Times, as Dancer of the Month. More recently, he has been nominated for an international award and will dance the part of the Prince in Scottish Ballet’s production of The Nutcracker at Christmas.
WEEKDAY CLASSES begin on Monday 13th September. WORKSHOPS will begin on Saturday 18th September.
Haslemere Performing Arts is a Dance and Musical Theatre school whose Principal is Angela Cantan. The school was opened in 1968 and has grown and developed over the years. There are many lessons run each week with classes in Haslemere, Liphook and Beacon Hill.
Mondays at Haslewey 7-14 yr olds : 5.00pm – 6.15pm (£70 per term). Free trial lesson available Classes start back on 13th September 2021. The next musical production: ‘Dick Whittington and His Cat.