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ISTD Imperial Classical Ballet Junior Awards 2018

28/10/2018

On Sunday 28th October 2018, two of our Junior students attended the annual ISTD Imperial Classical Ballet Awards held in Milton Keynes.

Schools competed from across the UK and abroad with 71 entrants in the class. After having qualified for the competition earlier this year, competitors were required to perform set exercises, plus a set dance on stage, to a panel of three adjudicators and a large audience. Students who qualified for the finals had to perform the exercises and dance once again.

Both students reached the finals and we are delighted to announce that one of our students gained 3rd place at this prestigious event.

Congratulations – we are so proud of your achievements.

Photo credit: James Hudson

Birmingham Royal Ballet - La Fille Mal Gardée

28/10/2018

Both our children's school and Silver Swans® enjoyed some special treats this week as Birmingham Royal Ballet toured their latest production of La Fille Mal Gardée to The Lowry in Salford.

Some of our students from the children's school went to watch the full production, and others watched Birmingham Royal Ballet's La Fille Male Gardée production specially adapted for children (First Steps - a child's La Fille Mal Gardée). Students were were able to meet the dancers afterwards.

A group of our Silver Swans® also enjoyed a wonderful day on Saturday, starting in the morning, watching Birmingham Royal Ballet's Company Class on stage. After this, by special arrangement with Birmingham Royal Ballet, Will, the company manager, gave a private viewing, exclusively to our Silver Swans®, of the re-setting of the stage, a close-up look at costumes and Q&A. The Silver Swans® then watched the matinee performance of La Fille Mal Gardée.

Silver Sunday UK

8/10/2018

Sunday 7th October marked Silver Sunday UK – a nation-wide day of free events and activities for older people. Silver Sunday is led by the Sir Simon Milton Foundation.

As part of the celebrations, we hosted a free Silver Swans® ballet class – and we were delighted that the event was fully booked nearly two weeks before.

The sixteen new Silver Swans who attended were given an hour long ballet class followed by refreshments and a chat. A very enjoyable afternoon was had by all – and we loved being involved in the Silver Sunday celebrations!

Thank you to four of our current Silver Swans, and also to our pianist for helping to make it such a great success.

UK Dance Class Championships - Sheffield 2018

7/10/2018

On Sunday 7th October seven of our Junior students competed in the UK Dance Class Championships in Sheffield.

Students had to progress through three elimination heats, with each student learning and performing a short dance in front of a large audience and three adjudicators.

We were delighted that all seven of our students reached the semi-finals in Ballet with the results as follows:

Ages 6-7 (40 entrants)
2nd place
4th place

Ages 8-9 (50 entrants)
2nd place
6th place
2x semi finalists

Ages 10-11 (70 entrants)
4th place

World Ballet Day

2/10/2018

Tuesday 2nd October marks World Ballet Day – and our school joined in with the celebrations!

The evening before, on Monday 1st October, our Seniors gave presentations on different themes about ballet – topics included Darcey Bussell, Mariinsky Ballet, Anna Pavlova, and The Royal Ballet to name just a few.

Everyone gave informative and well researched presentations – they were very creative, including slideshows, music examples, preparing information sheets that they handed out to the class and photographs that were passed around the class. Some had also created beautiful drawings. Well done everyone.

Latest News

ISTD Imperial Classical Ballet Junior Awards 2018

Birmingham Royal Ballet - La Fille Mal Gardée

Silver Sunday UK

UK Dance Class Championships - Sheffield 2018

World Ballet Day

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