Thanks to Nat for this latest news from Ryde Academy and Jack Millward for the photos. Ed
Ryde Academy’s elite dance team recently submitted an audition piece to take part in Dance Woking’s annual dance festival ‘Innovate 2015’. Their dance, entitled ‘The Pebble Effect’, a piece based on the idea that we are all connected, was successful in being shortlisted.
On Saturday 28th November, eighteen dancers and one student videographer, Jack Millward (Year 11), went to the Rhoda McGaw Theatre in Woking to perform. Two of the dancers, Leah Russell and Courtney Medd attended additional rehearsals as they were also performing under the direction of the Richard Alston Company’s animateurs.
During the October half term, Miss Seaton, Ryde Academy Dance Teacher, had arranged for three A-level students to take part in a workshop based on the company’s repertoire ‘Nomadic’; this proved extremely useful as they were able to then use this repertoire for their A-level assessment as well as have the opportunity to perform a second piece during Innovate.
Appreciating other team’s work
Whilst Leah and Courtney were rehearsing with the Richard Alston Company, the rest of the elite team were able to watch some of the other performances including a traditional dance from the Chinese Association of Woking and Transform Dance Company based in London.
As well as watching other performances the team did a full dress rehearsal and had a professional photoshoot done before the main performance.
Improving life skills
Being part of the dance team not only improves the students’ educational experience, but also their life skills.
Many said that being part of the elite team has has increased their confidence and they feel more able to communicate with older/younger students. Others have said that being on the team has helped to boost their academic achievements in performing arts subjects.
Miss Seaton said
“We were incredibly excited because we were performing alongside other groups from extraordinary training backgrounds including Arts Educational (one of the most prestigious musical theatre colleges in the country) and The Place (of which Richard Alston is artistic director).
“Students composed themselves like true professionals as they waited in the wings and performed beautifully. The level of teamwork and commitment to both the rehearsal process and the performance made everyone involved extremely proud.”
Looking forward
The team have a number of other projects on the horizon and hope to enter a regional U.Dance platform organised by Pavillion Dance at Bath University; they will be performing at the Lift Off Gala in Bracknell; Infinity8 Dance Company will be working with the team on a commercial jazz routine and two students, Ella Mountford and Shannon Delaney are currently preparing to enter a national choreography competition in the hope to perform at the Royal Opera House.
Image: © Jack Millward
