The month of December will be pantomime-central for our Berry Babes, and we’re delighted that two more pupils have been cast in local festive productions. Our Sheffield dance school is spreading its wings in South Yorkshire towards Doncaster!
Congratulations to Kayla Barnes and Millie Boynton for earning their places in Cast Theatre‘s Christmas pantomime, Jack and the Beanstalk! The show will be on in Doncaster from 2-31 December, tickets are already on sale so make sure you get yours here.
Our tally of Berry Boys & Girls in local pantomimes is ever rising, and we look forward to seeing what Kayla, Millie & Doncaster pantomime have to offer!
Today marks new beginnings for some of our lovely class of 2015/6.
Eve Wilson will go back to Newcastle University where she will start her second year studying Food Nutrition and Marketing. Elle Longden-Lyons who is currently a trainee teacher with us now and has been attending the school since the ripe age of 2 years old is planning her next dance qualifications and steps towards a possible summer in Camp America.
While Isabelle commences her Musical Theatre degree at the University of Chichester, Sheffield Hallam will be receiving two lovely young ladies into their degree programmes: Molly Barrowclough and Megan Clixby, both trainee teachers of ours, will be making a start on their freshers’ week today. Molly will be studying Early Years with QTS and Megan will be studying Adult Nursing.
These girls have been with us a long time and we’ve got rather attached to them! We hope all your paths lead you to success, and we will be following your progress with great interest. We’re very proud of all of you, and wish you all the best. We look forward to seeing you soon!
We’re very much looking forward to a familiar face returning to Sheffield this Christmas, and that’s our own former pupil Matthew Croke!
Matt returns to lead a class
Matt has secured his place in Sheffield Theatres‘ Christmas musical, Annie Get Your Gun, which will be performed on the Crucible stage 9 December 2016-14 January 2017. Rehearsals begin in the autumn and in the meantime Matt has been finishing up his run as the lead in Singin’ in the Rain.
We’re excited to be hosting a workshop led by a cast member of Cats the Musical International Tour 2016-17! The musical theatre session will take place at St Thomas More Community Centre on Sunday 2nd October between 3-5pm.
The class is appropriate for all those who are Grade 3 Modern Jazz and above and will cost £20. If you are interested, please contact Miss Rebecca to reserve your spot.
Congratulations to the pupils selected for Shone Productions‘ Christmas pantomime at Rotherham Civic Theatre! Well done to all our pupils who auditioned today.
The team who will be part of the Snow White cast this Christmas is: Isabel Adshead, Hêlin Arslan, Abigail Bridger, Megan Bridger, Grace Mitchell, Niamh Thompson, Evie Wright and Laylah Xaba.
We’re very much looking forward to watching the girls in action!
Technical Rehearsals: Saturday 26th until Wednesday 30th November
Rehearsal times are to be confirmed. Additional rehearsals may be added if required. All information including performance schedule will be given out at the first rehearsal.
The children will be performing as dancers and dwarfs. The dwarf heads can sometimes make the children feel very hot; they will be worn for most of the dance routines. The children need to be made aware of this before attending the audition.
Anyone wishing to attend please register your interest with Miss Rebecca.
Over the course of these summer holidays, 12 of our pupils were lucky enough to attend the summer schools of professional dance colleges, Urdang Academy in London and Phil Winston’s Theatreworks in Blackpool.
Alexandra O’Brien, Jack Skelton & Bridie Thorpe spent the week at Urdang. Every morning there was Ballet & Jazz on the menu and in the afternoons the students had a choice of workshop. As the girls will tell you themselves:
We had a warm up every morning, which killed me! Then every day, everyone in the class one by one had to do a triple pirouette on each leg… by the end of the week we mastered it! We did corner work and freestyle/improv every lesson. I loved it. My teacher, Regan Shepherd was amazing.
My favourite part was the whole aura of London life, when we weren’t dancing in class, we were in the studios just dancing around – it was so easy to just be yourself and everyone was so friendly.
Bridie
This week was so good, I enjoyed every minute of it and it gave me a chance to see what it was like before I audition next year, and now I can see myself training there. I loved it, I made so many new friends and it made me very excited for the future.
Alex
Maddie Dunn, Maisie Ganley, Lucy Holcroft, Eleanor Jackson, Megan Moore, Gabriel Sharrock, Charlotte Stones, Megan Thorpe & Aliyah Xaba attended Phil Winston’s Theatreworks.
I had a great time in Blackpool sharing a hotel with around 80 kids from all over, including Greece. I loved commercial and contemporary as I had never tried these before. We travelled to the class on a private double decker bus and we had so much fun together. My body ached like never before and I felt exhausted but I can’t wait for next year!
Aliyah
It was a very busy week!! We went from 9 in the morning until 4 at night, starting with warm up, corner work, stretching and then a routine in these workshops. We’d then start rehearsing for our show dances which were featured in our end of week production of ‘The Works – Summer School’! My favourite dance would have to be the ballet – I got specially chosen by the Ballet teacher (as well as Gabriel!) and we danced to a slow violin version of Robert Miles! I also really enjoyed the commercial dance because it’s not something we do often – a nice challenge.
All the summer school went to the south pier on Thursday night and went on the rides! It was the best week ever, we all learned so much and it was very inspiring.
Charlotte
We stayed in a hotel in Blackpool and the owners put on a disco two of the nights we were there. They even took us to the circus and south pier, it was really nice!
Maddie
We’re very glad all our pupils enjoyed their times at summer school so much. We were particularly delighted that Gabriel Sharrock and Aliyah Xaba were awarded scholarships for the holiday school at Phil Winston’s next year! We’re looking forward to seeing what you’ve all learned.
Congratulations are in order for our very own Miss Marie Horner who has added to her score of teaching qualifications!
Marie with some pupils at our school production
Marie has recently completed module 1 of her Licentiate Tap qualification and not only has she completed it, but achieved a Distinction. Not to mention accomplishing all this during our ever busy and demanding school production earlier this year!
Well done Marie, and best of luck for the next steps.
If you’d like to find out more about our teaching staff, please click here.
We are trying to arrange for a room in the theatre where parents can wait if they choose. There will be more information on this. Any parents of Minnie Mouse(s) who want to collect their children before the end of the first half must see Miss Amy to let her know.
Tuesday 12th July – Technical Rehearsal Children need to arrive preferably with their hair done, no make-up and with all their costumes and shoes.
Arrival time: between 5.15-5.30 Collection times
Any children in the Mickey Mouse Clubhouse (Minnie Mouse) can be collected from 7 o’clock, other children in the first half only, can be collected at 8 o’clock. Rabbits can be collected at 8.30pm. All other children in the second half can be collected at 9.30 at the latest.
Wednesday 13th July, Thursday 14th July and Friday 15th July Children need to arrive preferably with their hair done, full make-up and with all their costumes and shoes.
Arrival time: between 6.15-6.30. Collection times Mickey Mouse Clubhouse – 7.30
Children in first half only – 8.15
Rabbits – 8.40
Children in the second half – 9.30
Saturday 16th July – Matinee Children need to arrive preferably with their hair done, full make-up and with all their costumes and shoes.
Arrival time: between 1.00-1.30 Collection times
Children in first half only – 3.10
Rabbits – 3.30
Children in the second half – 4.40
Please note we cannot remain in the theatre between the matinee and evening performances.
Saturday 17th July – Evening
Children need to arrive preferably with their hair done, full make-up and with all their costumes and shoes.
Arrival time: between 6.15-6.30. Collection times Mickey Mouse Clubhouse – 7.30
Children in first half only – 8.15
Rabbits – 8.40
Children in the second half – 9.30/40 (this could be later than expected – please see us if this is a problem)
DVD and Photographs For those of you wanting to order DVDs and photographs, please be advised that these orders must be placed by the end of the Saturday matinee. The show DVD is £20 and the cash needs to be placed in an envelope with the child’s name and a contact phone number. The same procedure goes for the photographs. Please hand these to Kay Smith or Miss Amy – if you are unsure, a member of staff can take them. Please note no cheques are accepted – cash only.
Well done to four of our pupils who competed in the East Coast Dance Championships yesterday! Maisie Ganley and Aliyah Xaba represented us in the Modern section while Jack Skelton and Charlotte Stones performed in the Tap section.
We were even more delighted when Jack was selected to compete in the semi-finals, which take place next Sunday. Jack will have to make rather an early start after our show on Saturday night to compete in a section of 12, and we wish him all the luck in the world. We know you’ll do us proud.
The month of December will be pantomime-central for our Berry Babes, and we’re delighted that two more pupils have been cast in local festive productions. Our Sheffield dance school is spreading its wings in South Yorkshire towards Doncaster!
We are trying to arrange for a room in the theatre where parents can wait if they choose. There will be more information on this. Any parents of Minnie Mouse(s) who want to collect their children before the end of the first half must see Miss Amy to let her know.
Berry Academy of Dance 