News and events
Temujin Gill
Temujin Gill of "Temujin Dance" lead a demonstration and workshop in the social dance form of lindy hop, an expressive and contagious dance that brings the vibrancy and excitement of this original African American Jazz dance together with the beautiful beats, rhythms and sounds of jazz, swing and blues from the 1930s. See Day of Dance The Royal Festival Hall June 2011 here.
Momentum whole school show
In March 2011, da presented its inaugural dance show which was a huge success. Momentum included a dynamic combination of dance styles, from ballet and contemporary through to jazz, tap, hip hop and musical theatre. The age of the performers ranged from 3 to adult. You can see this by clicking here.
Mandy Montanez - Leaps and Turns Workshop
During the October 2011 half term, Mandy Montanez, lead a two day "Leaps and Turns" workshop for our older students. You can see a short movement sequence by clicking here. Jenna Hedges - Musical Theatre Workshop for children aged 4 - 11
Musical Theatre Workshop
Jenna taught a two day Musical Theatre workshop including singing, acting and dancing selecting the best songs and scenes from The King and I and My Fair Lady. The children gave a delightful performance to parents and friends at the end of the two days.
Dance Academy Sevenoaks Newsletter - December 2011
Dear Parents & Students
New Timetable
The new timetable for January 2012 is now available to view on the school website. There have been some changes to the classes on a Tuesday evening and we have introduced two new classes. Pre Primary Tap and Primary Modern is now a combined class for our younger pupils first starting tap and modern classes. Zumbatomic is a dance fitness work-out which is great for body conditioning. It is open to students aged 10 and above. This is a drop in class and costs £5 per session (pay as you go).
New Teachers
I am delighted that Becki has met so many students from da this term (we have arranged to swap classes once a term). The students have really taken to Becki and enjoy her creative choreography and teaching.
Nicola is now on maternity leave and her classes next term will be taught by Jenna. Many of you already know Jenna as she teaches Musical Theatre and Zumba. I am sure you will all wish to join me in sending our very best wishes to Nicola.
Theatre Trip
I have had a great response to our annual theatre visit. In January we are off to see the English National Ballet in Strictly Gershwin - a dazzling display of ballet, jazz, tap and ballroom. Tickets have been handed out and everyone will make their own travel arrangements.
RAD Ballet Exams
The girls did you all proud and received high merits and distinctions in their summer RAD exams, with a top mark of 80% being awarded. Congratulations and well done!
ISTD Exams
This year a large number of girls went up to the London ISTD2 studios to take their exams in both Modern and Tap. They all enjoyed their day and we are waiting for their exam results.
Workshops
In October I had the great pleasure of introducing Mandy Montanez to a group of students who had signed up for the half term workshop based on leaps and turns. It was truly inspirational and got us all pirouetting and executing split leaps! Everyone had a fantastic experience.
During the half term our younger pupils enjoyed musical theatre and gave a delightful insight into The King and I and My Fair Lady. Two awards were presented to the most outstanding performers, giving a free term’s lessons in musical theatre
Chance to Dance
We have signed up for the summer Chance to Dance. This year we will be taking 30 of our older students from tap/ballet/contemporary/jazz and will start rehearsing in class early next term.
Dates for your Diary
Chance to Dance - 24th & 26th June 2012
RAD Ballet exams - early/mid July 2012
Strictly “da” – Friday 25th May 2012 (watch out for details in the New Year!)
I am sure you appreciate that whilst I am a regular user of the halls we use; there are occasions when the halls do have other advance booking commitments. I am assured that these are kept to a minimum and we are always offered alternative dates. I will notify you in advance of any changes.
Lost Property/Second Hand Box
There is a box of lost property kept at Kippington Hall alongside the second hand box. Please check the box if you have lost anything! It is available on Tuesday evenings from 4-8pm at Kippington Hall. Mrs Wright from our Wednesday Pre Primary/Primary class has kindly volunteered to monitor the box. She can be contacted on 07940 571207.Website and Contact details
Please inform the office by email (dasevenoaks@btconnect.com) if any of your contact details have changed this term (including e mail address, mobile telephone and address). We are trying to use e mail as our main means of contact so please let us know if you do not have regular access to emails.
Facebook
We now have a facebook and hope you have all signed up as friends of da. It should provide an easy way of contacting parents/students in the event of lessons being cancelled at short notice because of bad weather etc.
Fees
Please note that from January 2012, all invoices will be sent out via email. Please contact the office if you would prefer to receive a hard copy.
All fees are due in the first week of the new term. Invoices are being distributed at the end of term and payment should be returned with the advice slip. Please feel free to post payments to me at my home address or to make a direct payment. This should ensure that time is not wasted during teaching time. In the future, any bank charges incurred due to cheques being returned to me by the bank will need to be passed on. The current sibling discount of 5% will cease in September 2012. Half a term’s notice is required if your child wishes to withdraw from any class.
Uniform
The girls all look smart in their uniform but please, please may I ask for your support in getting them to tie their hair back in a bun whenever possible (ballet students). Thank you. I would also like to use this opportunity to ask that students arrive at lessons on time. Latecomers do interrupt the flow of the class and it is not good for their bodies to miss the warm up!
Hoodies/t shirts are available to order from your teacher and can be worn at the beginning of class during the cold weather.
English Youth Ballet
Two of our ballet students, Lydia Narramore (Inter Foundation) and Sophie Rugg-Gunn (Grade IV/V) recently took part in EYB auditions for Swan Lake and have both been awarded places. I hope many of you will want to go along and support them in their performances of Swan Lake at the Orchard Theatre, Dartford on 23rd and 24th March 2012
Margie x