A year of change

Last November, dance students performed for their families and friends in a range of dance styles and the Summer show included Classical Ballet, Contemporary, Jazz and Musical Theatre performances. Our Choreographic Show in the Spring Term was a new initiative, which enabled students to hone their performance skills and display the choreographic pieces they had created as part of their GCSE, AS or A Level studies, First year students also showed their work. Senior students attended the Dance Open Day at the Prep and Prep students were observed as part of Open Day displays at the Senior School. Prep School dancers also had an in-house performance in June with displays from all year groups.

In January, as part of their studies, sixth formers watched the Royal Ballet in Company Class and all Performing Arts and Legat dancers saw a performance of La Bayadere at the Royal Opera House in Covent Garden. A group of 130 music, drama and dance students went to see the musical, Wicked at the Apollo Victoria in the Spring term and in April, we also took a group to see the Birmingham Royal Ballet perform a triple bill production with Serenade, Month in the Country and Still Life at Peguin Café (one of their GCSE set pieces). During the Easter holidays 60 young dancers attended a Company Class at the Royal Opera House and were truly inspired.

Another first this year was our Shall we Dance Easter Course at St Bede’s. Sixty-four girls and boys aged 8 – 15 years who had been selected by audition attended a four day course in dance. Two of my former students, James Barton (now with Birmingham Royal Ballet) and Francesca Filpi (now with the Royal Ballet) were visiting teachers on the course, along with Paul Rooney (Adventure of Motion Pictures), Elizabeth Wit (Character specialist) and Legat dance staff. All of the young dancers said they wanted to come back to St Bede’s for more dance courses and one of the surveyed responses summed up their stay: ‘It was an absolutely, outstandingly fabulous course’.

The Faculty is building on Wendy Vincent-Smith’s legacy and this year she completes her invaluable work in teaching ‘Benesh Notation’ (Dance shorthand) to A Level Dance students in this the final year in which ‘Benesh Notation’ will be examined at this level. Diana Curry, who works at both the Royal Ballet and the Royal Academy of Dance has been teaching Ballet Repertoire for us and we also welcomed Catherine Orys and Lyn Fitzsimons.

We are sorry to lose Emmeline Harris, a teacher who is a joy to work with. She is a former Legat student and a professional of rare distinction. She is moving to Essex to be with her partner and we wish them both every happiness and success. We are delighted that Emmeline has agreed to return to Legat to teach on future holiday courses.

As the Summer term closes, we wish our 6th form graduates every possible success in the future. Students are off to new pastures at Laban, London Contemporary Dance School and Northern Ballet School. You will be pleased to hear that Danny Hay-Gordon, (ex- Legat and graduate from St Bede’s) is currently now Rambert School’s Head Boy and has accepted an apprentice position with the Rambert Dance Company.

To all who graduate this year, we urge them to make full use of the opportunities they will be given. Dance is fun and we all like to dance, but as a chosen career it is most demanding and it needs supreme dedication to succeed. Good luck in all of your endeavours.

Having ability to follow one’s passions is one thing, being given the opportunity to do it is quite another. I close by acknowledging the magnificent work of Janet and Steve Cole for all they have done to support and advance Dance at St Bede’s. Dancers and staff sincerely thank them and wish them very well with their new ventures.

Mary Goodhew