Congress
proves another resounding success on 16th September
at Aylesbury
Morning
Lectures
On
arriving early, it was unusual to see the Car Park quite
so full and on entering the main hall it was already
buzzing with teachers greeting their friends, exchanging
news and ideas whilst enjoying their welcome cup of
tea or coffee. It is very rewarding for the DFR Faculty
Committee to see the impressive growth and progress
made since that first memorable Congress at Carisbrooke
Hall in 1990.
Promptly,
at 9.30am, the Chairman of the DFR Faculty, Yvonne Taylor-Hill,
welcomed teachers. Then Suzanne Hammond, a DFR Faculty
Examiner and Committee Member, led the dancers through
a programme of easily followed mobility and pulse raising
movements, increasing the intensity of the steps and
actions to gradually adapt the body to be safely ready
for dance. Throughout her performance Suzanne showed
excellent placement and use of resistance, giving clear
instructions in a friendly and helpful manner.
For
the first lecture of the day, Yvonne welcomed Andy Instone
to the stage to present, ‘Nu Skool Hip Hop’.
This dynamic young man quickly captivated his audience;
not only do dance teachers have to learn the movements,
it is also essential to understand the language used
in this popular current dance genre: Rock Foundation,
Isolations, Drops, Snake Waves, Body Ripples, Tuts and
Reverse Tuts, to name but a few of the moves introduced!
Andy
introduced the moves while teaching a routine he considered
not technically challenging! However, the effort, energy,
attack and attitude displayed by everyone taking part
seemed to be extremely challenging, though performed
very obviously with great enjoyment, especially by the
large number of young teachers present. Andy, who was
trained as a Ballet dancer, was able to recognise the
problems of teachers used to dancing with poise and
good ‘pull up’. He quickly encouraged everyone
to get down naturally into the musical beat with attitude
and by the end of the lecture the improvement in the
teachers' performance of this dance style was really
most impressive.
The
second lecture presented by Paul Streatfield, Vice-Chairman
of the DFR Faculty Committee, was, ‘Using the
Syllabus at Bronze & Below Level Freestyle’.
Before presenting his routines, Paul explained how important
it was to fully use the four Social Dance Tests and
four Pre-Bronze Dance Tests before moving up to Bronze
& Above tests. The use of these lower levels allows
pupils to gradually develop their feeling for dance,
timing, rhythm and co-ordination. Pupils will then be
equipped to give a confident performance of quality
at higher-grade medallist tests.
With
skilful and imaginative use of the Syllabus Figures,
Paul presented the three very stylish and useful lower
level dances, very capably demonstrated by Paul’s
assistant teacher Sarah-Jane Garner. The choreography
of Paul’s Social Dance Test routine was designed
to enable candidates to show good timing of Basic Steps
and Actions, using clear arm lines or shapes, avoiding
the use of too many split beats or turns. This routine
provided a good basis on which to develop the requirements
for higher tests. The Popular Dance Test Routine, using
Street style music needed a higher level of rhythmic
feeling and musical expression to really feel and get
down into the beat effectively. Foot Patterns with split
beats and different types of turns added to the challenge
of performing this more difficult routine showing technique
developing. Paul’s choreography for the Bronze
routine requires the dancer to possess agility and musical
feeling, plus a strong technique developing in order
to show correct placement of kicks, good centring on
turns and elevation, performed with safe preparation
and landing. The routines were very well received and
will be most useful for class and test work.
Maria
Howse, also a DFR Faculty Examiner and Committee member,
was given an enormous task to present a full range of
Rock ’n’ Roll medal test routines in 30
minutes! This task Maria tackled most successfully.
With the aid of her pupils Hannah and Lucy, Maria described
a well-choreographed basic Bronze routine using Flick
Basic 1. Following this, keeping strictly to the syllabus,
Maria included the use of additional Basic Actions,
Compound Steps and Figures, different Holds and Body
Positions to create a most attractive Silver routine
and both routines were demonstrated with great rhythmic
feeling by Maria’s young pupils. Maria presented
an effective Gold routine, which pupils Abbi and Bethan
danced very confidently and with good attack. At Gold
level, Maria used further Figures and a combination
of Systems and Links requiring an acute sense of timing
and skilful partnering, which the girls successfully
achieved. The development through the levels was very
clearly shown and Maria’s pupils all showed such
excellent use of feet, and ankles, which complimented
the strong and rhythmic leg action.
Left:
Slow Work - Lori Silmon
Finally,
to present her Gold Star routine, Maria was assisted
by Nigel Kirk, also a DFR Faculty Examiner and Committee
member. Using a combination of Rock ’n’
Roll Systems and Links and a selection of Above Gold
syllabus Figures, Maria taught very clearly, a clever
routine which really challenged the dancers. Great fun
was had trying to sort out the holds and foot changes.
Maria thanked Nigel for stepping in and helping her
at such short notice, which of course he did admirably!
These routines will be so useful to all teachers, particularly
those just beginning to study this dance form.
It
was a pleasure to welcome a much requested lecturer,
Vicky Barkess, who presented an ‘Advanced Freestyle’
routine which could be performed as a line dance, or
adapted to travel round the dance floor for competitive
work. Vicky introduced her pupils, Melissa, Gemma and
Lawrence who with terrific energy, attack and vivacity,
demonstrated a fast routine of contrasting and dynamic
movements. It gave the dancers the opportunity to use
their skill, agility and centring when performing spins
at speed, also athletic steps of elevation, which added
contrast to the ‘held’ positions enhanced
by the pleasing use of arms. This certainly was work
for advanced dancers, requiring strong technique to
show the choreography to its full advantage. Vicky taught
her routine carefully, explaining clearly the Steps
and Actions and it was well received.
After
such an energetic morning teachers were relieved that
they could sit for the next lecturer, Vernon Kemp, for
his lecture entitled, ‘Your Questions Answered’.
Vernon answered many questions regarding all aspects
of examinations with his usual sense of humour, but
always explaining every detail so clearly. So many questions
were answered regarding the content and artistic aspects
of a variety of DFR Faculty tests, including how to
make the best use of the syllabus in your own school
to ensure a good foundation of the basic work. Vernon
also covered the organisational side of examinations,
with special regard to music, and candidates with special
needs. These were just some of the subjects covered
so effectively by Vernon, everyone will surely be looking
forward to gather round for his next friendly chat!
What
an immense amount of work covered in just one morning,
there must be a wealth of information packed on to the
DVD. Order your copy now from Dereck Brown!
Jean
Cantell
Above:
DFR Faculty Committee, L-R: Amanda Hughes, Suzanne Hammond,
Maria Howse, Nigel kirk, Yvonne Taylor-Hill (Chairman),
Paul Streatfield (Vice Chairman), Rachel Wadey, Betty
Bouston, Pat Woor and Patsy Graham (DFR Faculty Secretary)
Afternoon
Lectures
The
diverse range of morning lectures at this year’s
DFR Faculty Congress had certainly given us lots to
talk about, and despite the ever-present temptation
of shopping for dancewear in the foyer, we eagerly filed
back into the main hall, raring to go for an afternoon
packed full of wide-ranging lectures.
European
Freestyle champion, Lori Silmon, was invited back to
demonstrate her slow work with wonderful fluidity and
expression. The routine was well constructed making
use of many Basic Figures, and as we learned, Lori gave
plenty of suggestions for development in terms of alternative
timings and arm lines. Her use of verbal imagery to
maintain smooth transition between Actions was highly
effective, and I am certain that this beautiful choreography
will encourage our students to pay special attention
to finishing their actions, bringing them into new realms
of musicality.
The
topic for our next lecture was Grade 1, and who better
to host this session than Yvonne Taylor-Hill, who has
worked so hard to pioneer graded examinations in Disco
Freestyle. Yvonne was assisted by Joanna Bevan and two
of her students, and as we worked though several of
the more technical exercises in the Grade 1 syllabus
it was emphasised that teachers should not feel daunted,
since it is only the beginnings of good technique that
are expected in the earlier grades. This was followed
by a mock examination in which Yvonne played the part
of the Examiner. It was lovely to observe the way she
put the candidates at ease; a reassuring reminder that
the examiner really is there to help you achieve your
best. In summary, a highly informative lecture which,
in these early stages of the Disco Grades, gave us a
greater sense of confidence as we begin to enter our
pupils for Graded exams.
Nigel
Kirk, (assisted by Claire Aspen), presented an energetic,
exciting Pairs routine which would be very suitable
for competitive work. We left our seats to join them
and were guided through the choreography under Nigel’s
watchful eye. Although his light-hearted teaching style
brought lots of smiles, Nigel was careful to stress
the importance of partner awareness at all times, and
was meticulous in his instruction. A high impact, fun
routine that I am sure will prove popular with our pupils.
Left:
Nigel Kirk assisted by Claire Aspen present an exciting
Freestyle Pairs routine
Lisa
Allan was our next lecturer, a newcomer whose subject
was Silver and Gold Freestyle. With cheerful presentation,
Lisa demonstrated her two routines, the first of which
provided a good basic foundation from which her Gold
routine could be developed. Both routines incorporated
some cleverly contrasting shapes, with arm and head
lines becoming much sharper at the Gold level. As she
led us through the choreography, Lisa’s attentive
approach coupled with her clear break down of the steps
successfully ensured that everyone on the floor had
gained a good understanding of the work covered.
Alison
Anderson and several of her teenage pupils were next,
with a high-energy Street style routine. Alison, also
a first-time lecturer at Congress, was very confident
and provided excellent teaching, whilst her students
gave a strong performance, clearly in control of their
movements and possessing an impressive sense of attack.
Street can often be a difficult style for Freestyle
dancers to adapt to in terms of execution, (let alone
to teach!). However, Alison’s accessible choreography
and uncomplicated approach ensured that everyone was
dancing with confidence and flair. The work from this
lecture should go down very well at our schools, especially
with our younger students!
The
focus of the final lecture shifted to our more mature
pupils, and was somewhat ironically presented by a lady
bearing the surname ‘Young’. Having got
past the inevitable age-related quips, Liz Young tackled
this topic with ease and provided us with two fun and
funky routines, which were centred on the use of isolation
and the development of body rhythm. As always, Liz kept
us well entertained as she shared her experiences of
working with ‘the mums’, but most importantly,
she made it clear that the material given still gave
plenty of scope for technical development in our adult
classes.
Finally,
Suzanne Hammond returned to lead us in a thorough and
enjoyable Cool Down, reminding us that we can perform
this crucial element to the same degree as any other
part of a dance class.
Congratulations
to our hard-working DFR Faculty Committee on organising
such a smooth-running day, covering such a broad range
of subjects and giving us a wealth of ideas and inspiration
to take back to our schools. What an excellent Congress;
here’s to the next one!
Alex
Skinner
Left:
Andy Instone teaches some dynamic moves in his lecture
'Nu Skool Hip Hop'
