CriticalDance Forum

BECKY KEEPS DANCE DREAM
From The Gloucester Citizen


Gifted 16-year-old Becky Lane is on cloud nine after winning a scholarship to one of Britain's most prestigious dance schools.GIFTED 16-year-old Becky Lane is on cloud nine after winning a scholarship to one of Britain's most prestigious dance schools.

Earlier this year, The Citizen told how Becky had been offered places at three major ballet schools but could not afford to go.

Her parents, Yvonne and David Lane, of Oakway, Stonehouse, were unable to find the £15,000 needed to support her on the three-year diploma course.

But now Becky's dream will come true after all because she has been given a dance and drama scholarship award to the famous Hammond Dance School in Chester.

"News of my scholarship placement came by telephone from the Hammond and I was speechless and totally surprised," said Becky.

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Article in The Scotsman which focuses on the fitness asoects of ballet for children and talks to a teacher in Scotland as to how teaching has changed.

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DANCERS' DELIGHT OVER ROYAL ACADEMY SUCCESS
fROM The Hexham Courant

THREE young ballerinas from a Hexham school of dance have passed their first exams at the Royal Academy of Dance in London.

Ballerinas Helen Oakley, (14), from Slaley, Rosanne Oliver, (13), from Hexham, and Olivia Duncan, (12), from Oakwood, near Hexham, each passed the first vocational examination of the Royal Academy of Dance. Helen and Rosanne both passed with a merit, and Olivia with a pass.

The girls are students of the Phillips-Cane School of Dance run by Sarah Laurie, from Hexham.

The dance school, which was started 50 years ago by Mrs Laurie's mother Monie Patterson, meets every day after school hours in the Moot Hall at Hexham.

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Hip-hop helps school move with the times
By JASON CUMMING for The Scotsman

HIGH school dance classes have traditionally involved clammy-palmed attempts to master the Gay Gordons.

But pupils at one Edinburgh school are learning the latest dance-floor moves from America’s top nightclubs to the strains of rap stars Snoop Dogg and Missy Elliott, and r’n’b diva Jennifer Lopez.

Castlebrae Community High is believed to be Scotland’s first school to offer hip-hop lessons inspired by US ghetto culture.

Teachers say the popular classes have left some of their rowdiest pupils "spell-bound" and improved their behaviour.

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Young dancers delighted with competition success
From The Huddersfield Daily Examiner


TWO young Huddersfield dancers have triumphed at a recent festival.

Melissa Carroll is only five - but has ambitions to be a top dancer.

And 13-year-old Abigail Brodie is already a champion.

Melissa, of Victory Avenue, Paddock, won the baby song and dance class at the Huddersfield Stage Dance Festival at the Deighton Centre.

She was also overall winner of the baby section.

Melissa, who goes to the Adele Taylor Dance School in Dundas Street, Huddersfield, impressed judges with her routine about a spider.

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Ballet dream for village dancers
From The Huddersfield Daily Examiner


THREE Marsden dancers are to see a dream come true.

The girls are to perform alongside professional dancers in the classic Christmas ballet, The Nutcracker, at the Tameside Hippodrome in Ashton-under-Lyne.

The girls, Ellie Senior, Yvette Flaherty and Caroline Dyson-Lee, won the parts after undergoing a gruelling audition.

The three have been rehearsing at a school in Ashton-under-Lyne on weekends in preparation for the three performances this Friday and Saturday.

Ellie, 13, of Chain Farm, Yvette, 16, of Manchester Road and Caroline, 11, all attend the Bernadette Heys School of Theatre Dance, Marsden.

Ellie and Evette will perform the Arabian dance in the ballet and Caroline is a flower.

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Top ballet school's move in doubt
By Paul Dale, Birmingham Post


The planned relocation to Birmingham of one of Britain's most prestigious dance schools is under threat.

Sport England has lodged an objection to Elmhurst Ballet School's proposal to build its new £12 million headquarters in Edgbaston because the scheme would destroy playing fields.

A final decision will have to be taken by Deputy Prime Minister John Prescott, if Birmingham City Council planners recom-mend approval next week.

Elmhurst's proposed move from Surrey to grounds once occupied by the former Edgbaston College, off Bristol Road, has been hailed as an important element of Birmingham's bid to become European Capital of Culture.

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Good news for Elmhurst and Birmingham:

Dance school coup for city
By Staff Reporter, icBirmingham


One of the country's most prestigious ballet schools is to set up home in Birmingham.

Campaigners behind the city's bid to become European Capital of Culture in 2008 say the move is a significant boost.

Elmhurst School for Dance will relocate from Surrey to a new £12 million state-of-the-art centre in Edgbaston and become an associate school of Birmingham Royal Ballet.

Birmingham council's development control committee approved the dance school's plans yesterday, removing the final obstacle to the relocation.

John McNamara, Principal, Elmhurst School for Dance, said construction work will now begin in the New Year.

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When you wish upon a star
By Lisa Smith, Evening Mail


A city stage school is celebrating plenty of sunshine coming its way after being invited to perform at the prestigious Disneyland theme park in Paris.

All 54 dancers from the Spotlight school in Castle Bromwich will travel to France on July 21 for a twoday stay at the request of the Walt Disney Corporation.

They will perform a 20-minute dance spectacular on the main stage in the theme park's Fantasyland arena and will also join characters such as Snow White and Sleeping Beauty in Disney's magical parade.

The school is one of 30 from the UK which has been invited to perform a routine to entertain tourists during the park's peak season.

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A very sad fatal accident for a young dancer:

Skipping rope tragedy
By Lisa Smith, Evening Mail


A rising young ballet star tipped for the top with Birmingham Royal Ballet was killed in a freak skipping rope accident in his bedroom.

Benedict Grego, 10, was discovered by his older brother after he had fallen on to the rope which was pulled taut.

An inquest which recorded a verdict of accidental death was told how the fall caused the Kings Heath youngster's heart to stop.

Benedict's ballet teacher Anne Gallacher, education director at Birmingham Royal Ballet, today hailed him as a star pupil at the Dance Track project to encourage young dancers.

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Just about as bad a story as you can imagine:

Boy's dancing dreams 'shattered by bullies'
By Nick Britten for Th Daily Telegraph
(Filed: 08/01/2003)

The mother of an 11-year-old boy is suing her local education authority after school bullies all but ruined her son's chances of becoming a professional ballet dancer.


Kristopher King
Kristopher King's hopes of fulfilling his life's ambition seem to be over after bullies injured his feet, leaving him facing surgery that will prevent him dancing for five years and effectively ruin his career.

In one of several beatings last year he was kicked severely at school, damaging bones in his foot, an incident the police described as a "nasty assault". Since then he has been unable to dance properly or take part in weekly classes.

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Mother may sue over bullied 'Billy Elliot' boy
By Colin Blackstock for The Guardian

The mother of a promising young ballet dancer who hoped to follow in the footsteps of film character Billy Elliot said yesterday she was considering suing her local education authority after her son was repeatedly bullied, threatening to put an end to his dancing career.
Kristopher King, 11, was kicked and stamped on by boys at his school in Derby after they found out about his dancing aspirations.

His mother, Diane, believes his career could be ruined after doctors revealed he needed an operation on his bruised feet.

Kristopher, of Borrowfield Road, Spondon, has been dancing since the age of four and has starred in theatre productions in Derby. He had hoped to start a career as a dancer.

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Ballet tots learn ropes
By Tony Collins, Evening Mail (Birmingham)


Children from deprived city areas are to embark on a "magical journey" to introduce them to art and culture.

Pupils as young as three will spend 18 months working with Birmingham Royal Ballet on an exciting programme of dance and drama.

The project will culminate in a production at the Hippodrome in March 2004 which the children will devise and perform themselves.

Telling Tales is the joint brainchild of Birmingham Royal Ballet and Creative Partnerships.

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BALLET STARS CHEER BULLY VICTIM
From The Evening Telegraph (Derby)


The world-famous ballerina, Darcey Bussell, has invited a Derby schoolboy who has been bullied

because of his dancing talent to spend a day with her at the Royal Ballet.

The surprise invitation was made yesterday as the budding "Billy Elliot", 11-year-old Kristopher

King, rubbed shoulders with the creme de la creme of the ballet world.

He had been invited to attend the third annual Critical Circle National Dance Awards at Sadler's

Wells Theatre in London after the Evening Telegraph last week revealed his bad treatment at the

hands of bullies.

Kristopher was devastated when doctors said that an injured foot he received during an alleged

assault in April, when he was a pupil at Asterdale Primary School in Spondon, might need an

operation.

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Help offered to 'bullied' ballet boy
From the BBC website


Kristopher's love of ballet has the support of his parents

A schoolboy who said he was bullied at school for his love of ballet has been inundated with

offers of support.
Kristopher King, 11, was told by doctors he had to stop dancing to allow his feet to heal, after

they were stamped on by bullies.

But since his plight was highlighted he has received dozens of offers of help from professional

organisations and well-wishers.

Kristopher, from Spondon in Derby, has been invited to an international award ceremony for

dancers and the Royal Ballet School has offered specialist medical treatment.

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<small>[ 28 January 2003, 07:47 PM: Message edited by: Stuart Sweeney ]</small>

Congratulations to the ENB School:

Show stopping Ofsted report for ballet school
From the Ofsted website

A ballet school scores top marks in a joint OFSTED and Adult Learning Directorate inspection report published today.

English National Ballet School's two-year professional dance course and leadership and management structure received an "outstanding" ovation by inspectors.

Her Majesty's Chief Inspector for Schools, David Bell, said:

"The staff and management of the school should be proud of this outstanding report. I am delighted that today's talented dancers are getting the top quality training they deserve."

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