NEWS
SPACES AVAILABLE...
Please spread the word amongst friends and family and new students are very welcome to come for a free taster session before signing up. A discount will also be offered to anyone recommending a student who then starts regular classes!
Pre School / Reception ballet at 10.20am at Isfield Village Hall for children age 3 and 4.
Uckfield sisters to dance with National Youth Ballet
Uckfield sisters Chloe and Amelie Hanson have been selected to dance with the National Youth Ballet.
They will perform in a production of Wonderlands in Birmingham today and tomorrow, and at a gala performance at Sadlers Wells on Sunday.
Chloe, 14, and Amelie, 12, who live in London Road, have been dancing at The Rennie Dance Academy since they were three.
They went to St Philip’s Primary School and Amelie now attends St Paul’s in Burgess Hill while Chloe goes to Bede’s.
Both also dance at Central School of Ballet in London on Saturdays.
They were selected to dance with the National Youth Ballet in March after intense auditions around the country seeking out the best young talent to join the company for the 2019 season.
They have spent the past two weeks at residential summer school at Elmhurst in Birmingham learning the new choreography and preparing for the performances.
National Youth Ballet says Wonderlands is “an exciting mixed programme of completely original works which pairs the country’s finest young talent with the creative imaginations of a carefully selected dream team of dynamic choreographers.”
Rennie Dance Academy principal Kirsten Rennie said: “We are very proud of Chloe and Amelie’s achievements, especially with such intense competition for places, ensuring such an amazing opportunity for them both.”
Photo from Janet Cram Awards students (from left) Amelie Hanson, Chloe Hanson (finalist) and Amberley Schofield with Miss Emma and Miss Kirsten.
Janet Cram Modern Awards
On Sunday May 18th three students competed at the Southern Heat of the Janet Cram modern awards in Staines. The Janet Cram is an ISTD modern dance competition with five heats around the country culminating in a final in London at the Greenwood Theatre judged by influential examiners and industry professionals.
Chloe Hanson, age 11, was selected as a finalist and also won the Class Award in the Junior Section which is a fantastic achievement. Her sister Amelie Hanson, age 10 was also awarded a commendation.
Chloe will now participate in the final on Sunday 18th June in London so we will be wishing her lots of luck!
RAD South East Awards
The recent Sussex heat of the RAD South East Awards which were held at Brighton College on Sunday 26th February. The Awards are run bi-annually and have heats in five counties in the South East culminating in a grand final in London at the RAD headquarters in May. It is usually judged by a celebrity such as Wayne Sleep in 2015 and Lauren Cuthbertson and Gary Avis from the Royal Ballet in 2013.
The competition is open to RAD registered teachers in Sussex and the children have to have passed the relevant grade to qualify for entry. There were over 120 students participating from across the county and only a few students in each class were selected from each audition as finalists. The judge Darren Parish studied at the Australian Ballet School and is an freelance international teacher and former professional dancer.
The Rennie Dance Academy has had students in the finals since 2009 and four current students were successful this time across the age range and classes as follows;
Evie Ashdown age 7 from Newick and Elena Neeter age 8 from Framfield were successful in Class A.
Amelie Hanson age 10 from Uckfield was successful in Class C. Amelie was previously a finalist in 2015 and was placed runner up in the grand final. Amelie is also an Associate at Tring Park.
Charlie Levett age 15 from Uckfield was successful in Class D. Charlie was also a previous finalist and has danced with the Royal Ballet Junior Associates and studied at Elmhurst School of Ballet.
Needless to say we are very proud of their achievements especially as the judge commented on the high standard of work shown and look forward to watching them in the finals.
SUMMER SHOW
CONGRATULATIONS!
Well Done to everyone who danced so well in our Summer Show at the end of term! The feedback has been fantastic and we have had some lovely compliments regarding the high standard of dancing, the wonderful costumes and choreography. Thank you again to all the parents who helped out and made the show so successful and enjoyable for the students. There are still some costumes that have not been returned so please bring them back into class as soon as possible so Miss Kirsten can get them back into storage!
Show DVD
DVDs are still available to order via Miss Kirsten priced at £21.95. Please make cheques payable to `Wizard Video Productions` and we will place a final order within the next few weeks.
Show Photography
Order now from Richard Bass on 07944 899970 or email richardbass2000@yahoo.co.uk
Summer School
Well done to those students who took part in the Sussex Summer School and especially to Chloe Hanson who won first prize in her class, having already been moved up a level!
Chloe also won an outstanding student award at Tring Park summer school and starts Saturday classes at the Central School of Ballet in London on their Associate programme in September. Her sister Amelie also starts at Tring Park Associate classes on Sundays so they will both have very busy weekends!
ENGLISH YOUTH BALLET
Congratulations to Natalie Lamont, Kaiya Butler, Genevieve Allen, Belle Banwell, Amelia Cook-Fuller and Amberley Schofield who successfully auditioned for places with the English Youth Ballet and will be performing `Swan Lake` with the company on November 25th and 26th at The Hawth in Crawley.
SOUTHERN YOUTH BALLET
Well done to Erin Munn, Ella Stevens and Charlie Levett who also successfully auditioned for SYB and will be performing in `The Tales of Beatrix Potter` at the Congress Theatre in Eastbourne on 18th December.