Performing Arts – Berry Academy of Dance

Miss Dance 2017 – Charlotte Qualifies

DSC_0928 (2)-001 Congrats, congrats and more congrats to our lovely Charlotte Stones who last week qualified for Miss Dance of Great Britain 2017, the International Dance Teachers’ Association‘s annual competition, bringing 55 of the best dancers in the country together in a celebration of all things glitz, glam and stretched feet!

Charlotte Miss Dance

Charlotte has again qualified with her Tap number, Little Lautette, a charming dance delivered in a sea of orange and pink sequins, making this her second time appearing on Blackpool’s Winter Gardens stage.

We can’t wait to cheer her on as she joins Rebecca, Alex, Bree & Jack (Dance Master) representing our Sheffield dance school in June. Well done Charlotte!

April 17, 2017 by Berry Academy of Dance Categories: NewsTags: Berry Academy of Dance, Charlotte Stones, Dance, Dancing, IDTA, International Dance Teachers Association, Little Lautette, Miss Dance, Miss Dance 2017, Miss Dance of Great Britain, Musical Theatre, News, Performance, Performing Arts, Tap, Tap Dance Leave a comment

Jack and the Beanstalk 2016

The pantomime news is coming thick and fast! Adding to our array of Berry Boys and Girls in South Yorkshire Christmas productions are 6 of our pupils who will be appearing in Manor Operatic Society‘s Jack and the Beanstalk.

No stranger to Manor’s spectacular productions, having performed in Barnum and Cinderella, Ewan Revill will be happily returning to the Sheffield City Hall stage, and joining him are our pupils Billy Dunn, Benjamin Povey, Conner Povey, Gabriel Sharrock and Gracie Smedley-Croke.

This takes the Berry Babe count up to 23 pupils appearing in Christmas shows across South Yorkshire. Our December and January calendars are looking more and more full!

September 6, 2016September 5, 2016 by Berry Academy of Dance Categories: NewsTags: Jack and the Beanstalk, Local dance school, Local Theatre, Manor Operatic Society, Musical Theatre, Operatic theatre, Pantomime, Performing Arts, Sheffield, Sheffield City Hall Leave a comment

Snow White 2016 – Auditions

2016.08.25 Snow White Rotherham

Shone Productions are looking for a team of seven juvenile dancers for their pantomime Snow White this Christmas at the Rotherham Civic Theatre.

Auditions will be held Monday 5^th September at 6.30pm at St Thomas More Church, please arrive by 6.15pm to register.

Auditionees Must be under 5 foot
No younger than age seven
Strong Dancers who perform

The children must be committed and attend all rehearsals and performance dates for their team.

Rehearsal Dates
– Sunday 11th September: 12:00 – 4:00pm
– Sunday 9th October: 12:00 – 4:00pm
– Sunday 6th November: 12:00 – 4:00pm

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.

August 25, 2016 by Berry Academy of Dance Categories: NewsTags: Audition, Latest News, Pantomime, Performing Arts, Pop Idol, Rotherham, Rotherham Civic theatre, Shone Productions, South Yorkshire, Zoe Birkett Leave a comment

See you at the Scholarships!

We’ve had another very successful round of IDTA examinations and the results are in! Well done to everyone who took Grade 3 Tap and Intermediate Theatre Craft – you have maintained the school’s 100% pass rate and achieved a fabulous set of marks.

A very special mention to Eve Wainwright, who has been nominated for her Intermediate Theatre Craft, and will take part in the IDTA Theatre Dance Awards in Manchester next February in the Performers’ Category! Eve recently took part in the scholarships a month ago for Grade 4 Modern Jazz and Grade 5 Theatre Craft.

2016.03.15 Eve Scholarships TC — Eve performing in the Theatre Craft Grades category at IDTA Theatre Dance Awards 2016.

Congratulations also to our younger members of staff, Lauren Newbould, Theresa Rycroft and Amy Smith who have achieved their Pre-Associate Level 2 Theatre Craft teaching qualifications.

Best of luck to all taking part in examinations in the coming weeks!

March 15, 2016 by Berry Academy of Dance Categories: Class, NewsTags: Ballet, Dance, Dance School, IDTA, International Dance Teachers Association, International Dance Theatre Association, Latest News, Local News, Modern Jazz, Musical Theatre, Performing Arts, Sharon Berry School, Sheffield, Theatre Craft, Theatre Dance, Theatre Dance Awards Leave a comment

Blame it on the Boogie!

You can imagine our delight on Saturday night as we watched our very own former pupil, Devon McKenzie-Smith, breeze onto the Jonathan Ross Show on ITV1!

2016.03.09 Motown 01 — Dev looking fantastic on the far left

Devon appeared to promote the West End’s latest fabulous production, Motown: The Musical, written by legendary Motown record producer and songwriter, Berry Gordy.

Performing as 1/5 of one of the most famous and popular Motown acts ever, the Jackson 5, we were thrilled to see Dev donning an afro and flares – it took us back to our own great 70s show numbers!

Keep your eyes peeled for Devon and the cast of Motown: The Musical on Ant & Dec’s Saturday Night Takeaway.

To watch Devon in action, take a look at Motown: The Musical‘s segment on the show on Saturday. Dev makes his appearance at 12:00.

March 9, 2016March 9, 2016 by Berry Academy of Dance Categories: Former Pupils, News, UncategorizedTags: Berry Gordy, Dance, Dance School, Latest News, Modern Jazz, Motown: The Musical, Musical Theatre, Performing Arts, Shaftesbury Theatre, Sharon Berry School, Sheffield, Tap, Theatre Dance Leave a comment

Pantomime Auditions – Cinderella, Rotherham

Cinderella Pantomime Auditions – Monday 7th September 2015 6.00pm-7.00pm at St Thomas More.
Six girls are required to make a team of juveniles for this years Christmas pantomime at Rotherham Civic Theatre. Auditionees must be strong dancers and performers as they will be required to act and sing.

The selected children must be 7 years and older and no taller than 4ft 11ins. They must be committed and available to attend all rehearsals and show performances which run from 2nd December 2015 to 10th January 2016.
The first rehearsal dates are:

Monday 5th October – 4.30-7.30

Monday 19th October – 4.30-7.30

Monday 2nd November – 4.30-7.30

(All rehearsals must be attended and further dates will be confirmed)
Performance dates for this team have not yet been confirmed but you must be available for all shows.

Anyone wishing to attend the audition must call or send a private message to Mrs Berry or Miss Rebecca.

August 25, 2015August 26, 2015 by Berry Academy of Dance Categories: NewsTags: Audition, Cinderella, Civic, Dance, Latest News, Pantomiime, Performing Arts, Rotherham, Sharon Berry School Leave a comment

Hollie Glossop

2014 11 Hollie I started dancing at Sharon Berry School from the age of two. During my 16 years there, I made some truly amazing memories. The people I met there are friends for life, we used to have so much fun in class!

When I got older, I was able to help on Saturday mornings with the younger pupils. I used to love pretending to be fairies and butterflies with the baby class!

Pennies From Heaven – Hollie Bottom Right

Competitions were the best part of the year, and Doncaster Civic was my favourite. I used to love getting up so early and having to put full show hair and makeup on. (And I was normally allowed a McDonald’s breakfast on the way – bonus!)

When I was 18 I moved down to Essex to study at Performers College for my National Diploma. I enjoyed three great years there and met some lovely people. During my time at college I was lucky enough to have some amazing opportunities like dancing at the FA Cup Opening Ceremony at Wembley Stadium and performing in a tribute to the tiller girls at the London Palladium.

Since graduating in 2014, I am now part of a showgirl company called Showgirl Entertainments with whom I have performed in different venues all over the UK. In September 2014, I also worked in Scotland with Circus Vegas as a showgirl. I then went on to perform in Dick Whittington pantomime in Birdwell as part of the ensemble over Christmas 2014.

I am currently soaking up the sun in Malta, working as Dance Captain in a hotel show team.

2015 05 04 Hollie Malta — Hollie (R) in costume in Malta

May 4, 2015 by Berry Academy of Dance Categories: UncategorizedTags: Alumna, Alumnae, Berry Babes, Birdwell, Circus Vegas, Dance, Dancer, Dick Whittington, Doncaster Civic, Essex, FA Cup, Former Pupils, IDTA, London Palladium, Malta, Performers College, Performing Arts, Sharon Berry School Leave a comment

Kimberley Adshead

I went to Mrs Berry’s for 13 years and my favourite classes were Gymnastics and Modern Jazz. Before I left I reached the final of the very prestigious Miss Dance competition. It was a brilliant experience in which I performed my favourite dance of all time. I did all the competitions!

I left Mrs Berry’s age 18 to go to Phil Winston’s Dance College in Blackpool where I completed a three-year course. After leaving there I came to Tenerife to dance in various shows touring hotels. I’m still here 10 years later! I’m now performing in a show called The Sound of Musicals. My own daughter Kaci has started dancing.

I had the best years at this dancing school and without Mrs Berry I would not be where I am today.

April 29, 2015April 30, 2015 by Berry Academy of Dance Categories: Former PupilsTags: Alumna, Alumnae, Blackpool, Dance, IDTA, Miss Dance, Musical Theatre, Performing Arts, Phil Winston, Sharon Berry School, Singer, Singing, Sound of Musicals, Tenerife Leave a comment

Frankie Goes To London

Last Saturday evening with a mixture of happiness and sadness, we joined our pupil Frankie Beetlestone and his family and friends for his leaving party. Frankie, 14, has been offered a place at the Sylvia Young Theatre School in London. The school for performing arts boasts former pupils such as Denise Van Outen, Rita Ora, Tom Fletcher and Billie Piper.

Frankie will start his new school on Monday 20th April, and although he hasn’t been with us for too long (since autumn 2014), we have loved teaching him, developing his skills and supporting him through the application process. We wish him all the best, our loss is their gain!

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Images courtesy of Jan. C. Photography.

April 13, 2015April 13, 2015 by Berry Academy of Dance Categories: NewsTags: Dance, Latest News, London, Performing Arts, Sharon Berry School, Sheffield, Sylvia Young Theatre School, West End Leave a comment

A Place in the Sun

We’re thrilled for our former pupil Hollie Glossop who will be moving out to Malta tomorrow to begin her job performing at a hotel! She will be there for six months, probably getting very tanned, dancing for guests. She’s incredibly excited about this opportunity, but also a little bit stressed as she has had to up and leave pretty quickly! We wish you a safe flight Hol, and cannot wait to hear how you get on. All the best!

March 2, 2015March 2, 2015 by Berry Academy of Dance Categories: Former Pupils, NewsTags: Former Pupils, Holiday, Hotel, Latest News, Malta, Performing Arts Leave a comment