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Congratulations to all the teachers at the ‘Spirit of Dance’ who successfully conducted the first Amateur Disco/Freestyle Medal tests in Athens this spring.
Throughout my weekend visit, it was very clear that the Gods – Terpsichore (that I later found out stand for “terpo” meaning delight and “chores” meaning dance) and Aphrodite (the Goddess of Love and Passion) were playing a big influence, as pupils, students and teachers performed and presented all these elements through their examination dances.
Despite the fact that many of the candidates already have dance experience in other genres, under the guidance of ISTD tutor, Marion Lane, all commenced the Freestyle Examination ladder at Social Dance or Pre-Bronze. Those aspiring or training to be teachers, or who were already professional, entered at Bronze level.
?Above: Mrs Yvonne Taylor-Hill, Mary Chorianopoulou and Marion Lane with students of the Spirit of Dance
Street and Contemporary (so rarely seen in this country) heavily influenced the choreography and style of dance. I loved it all and I was extremely impressed with the quality, strength and control shown in every performance. Mix this with a lot of ‘passion and delight’ and sheer ‘love’ of dance and the result can only be a great foundation and future for Disco/Freestyle dance in this country.
I would like to extend my sincere thanks to the Principal, Mary Chorianopoulou, for her kind hospitality and to the teachers Michail Elpidoforou, Anna Giannelou, Antonis Lithadiotis and Plotinos Eliades. I know they are all continuing their training to achieve and further their teaching qualifications. Good Luck to them all and to their pupils!
I hope I will be lucky enough to see them all again very soon.
Yvonne Taylor-Hill |
