DFR
Faculty Congress 2005
The
day opened with a welcome to all present by Chairman,
Yvonne Taylor-Hill, quickly followed by a Warm Up session,
most efficiently managed by new DFR Committee Member,
Suzanne Hammond.
1.
Commercial Jazz
2. Fun Time
3. Street Styles
4. Slow Lyrics
5. Video Pop
6. Intermediate Freestyle
7. Imagination with Grades
8. Authentic Rock 'n' Roll
9. Bronze Junior
10. What We're Looking For
11. Advanced Freestyle
Commercial
Jazz
The
first lecture 'proper' was given by much-requested returned
guest lecturer Tony Parrie - wearing his yellow trousers
- as he said - to wake everyone up so early in the morning!
A man well on top of the advanced work taught and giving
many invaluable teaching hints as he worked through
the routine - containing wide variety of movement, shapes
and timing, also explaining how to listen to and extract
the accents in the R’n’B music - so popular
with the youngsters. A stunning presentation of tremendous
value.
Fun
Time
Jonathan
Reed presented the 2nd lecture and pointed out at the
beginning the importance of maintaining the children's
interest at an early age always bearing in mind that
the success of this age group will bring the children
through this stage - at which they are after all bombarded
from all sides by the media and other interests - and
keep their interest in Dance until they develop through
the levels - for some of them to the height of professional
qualification in the future. Suitably dressed to entertain
the children, Jonathan demonstrated and then taught
the 3 simple dances, ably assisted by the Children of
the Star Dance Club - who entered the room carrying
one balloon letter each making the words 'Fun Time'.
Jonathan used various teaching aids - clown noses, swizzle
sticks and alien masks - which were actually shared
around among the teachers! The last piece of advice
on this work was that teachers should not take themselves
too seriously in the delivery of this work. A most competent
and carefully prepared lecture.
Top
Street
Styles
Presented
by David Welch and obviously giving the teachers what
they need and want which was proved by the teachers
enthusiastic participation. David - assisted by 4 equally
rubber-legged teenagers illustrated the various points
of importance with care and with a most experienced
teaching manner - dealing with a difficult 'popping'
component most effectively. As the Chairman said when
thanking David, the stylised movements, although very
well written up in the detailed notes, will be even
better remembered by use of the video. One of the best
Street lectures I have so far seen.
Slow
Lyrics
A
lovely routine was introduced by Paul Streatfield and
demonstrated by his pupil Amy. The slow routines in
the Medal Tests have been improving over the last few
years and the teachers need variety of content as this
work is used increasingly in the lower grades. This
work - which is so valuable for training purposes at
all levels - is always needed by the teachers - whether
the whole routine is used or movements or shapes extracted
and re-choreographed. Paul brought out details of the
work as he progressed through the routine and all taking
part thoroughly appreciated the highlighting of these
points. Marion Lane was on hand to give advice and answer
questions on all the queries about the QCA work in the
lunch break - a most valued service for members needing
to know about the Grade and forthcoming Vocational Grades
and professional work. Presentations of a beautiful
cut glass rose bowl and flowers were made and thanks
and appreciation given before the afternoon session
to the 2 retiring DFR Committee Members, Mrs Pat
Lait for personal reasons and Miss Betty Bouston.
Top
Video
Pop
Richard
Marcel gave an inspired choreography to Janet Jackson's
All Nite (don't stop) again with lots of variety of
shapes, movements and split timings. A challenging routine,
But again as well as being a great showpiece as a whole,
many sections could be extracted to re-choreograph -
perhaps to liven up an existing routine. Experienced
teaching and attention to detail characterised this
presentation, but the highlights were definately - at
the beginning and end of the lecture - the performances
given by Richard assisted by his 3 colleagues (Sam Vickers-Shole,
Jessica Derrick and Emma Jones), first to the Jackson
music and at the end to Mariah Carey's 'Just Like That'.
Intermediate
Freestyle
Very
capably given by self confessed '70's Disco Dancer'
from Scotland, Lisa Ambrose. Again much variety of content
at this level (is 'variety' the theme of this day?),
this routine had the teachers on their feet in force
and Lisa's persuasive coaching enabled all taking part
to successfully complete the dance. Her dynamic speeding
up of the routine to 'Instant Replay' brought back memories
of Lisa as a young auburn haired student as I remember
her at Hammersmith Palais when we taught the original
version to this music at 'Teachers' Workshop'.
Top
Imagination
with Grades
Amanda
Hughes introduced 2 dances demonstrated by 2 pupils
- one from Grade 1 at medium tempo, very suitable, well
shown and well taught. Following this a slow routine
for Grade 3, again most suitable. It was good for teachers
to be able to see examples of what is needed at these
grades, as there seems to be some mystique developing
about these exams - which are really absolutely straightforward
and so good to learn the 'preparations' which are always
a good base to learning, in any case.
Authentic
Rock 'n' Roll
It
was good to see this style of Rock 'n' Roll highlighted
- it is after all the style which us '1956 Rockers'
all steamily danced regularly into the early hours!
It is very difficult to change from the more popular
upright poise to the forward poise and bent body line
of
the authentic style and not all teachers were successful
in this aspect, but of course 'practice makes perfect'
and I'm sure that many teachers will persevere. Nigel
was partnered by Suzanne Hammond dressed in a delightful
green skirt with the necessary net underskirts so beloved
in the 50's.
Top
Bronze
Junior
Sarah-Jane
Garner taught this routine well with all useful material
for this grade, which I find is sometimes underestimated
by teachers, bearing in mind that most children have
taken several, if not many, tests before 'Bronze'. To
give the children something like this, and the next,
routine to 'get their teeth into' can be a very important
point to keep their interest. Victoria Hawkes then gave
the bronze juvenile routine, again showing interesting
moves with 'challenge'. Two bright young and most capable
teachers, whom we will undoubtedly see again in the
future.
What
We're Looking For
Vernon
Kemp started his lecture by a performance (wearing his
best 'Sunday go to Meeting' suit and collar and tie)
of a dance which he later explained he had taught in
1979 for Bronze - this brought the loudest applause
of the day! The Committee had asked Vernon to talk about
the items in the Medal Tests which need to be highlighted
in lifting the standard. Vernon brought up many points,
starting with the correction of postural problems and
then went through the grades bringing out problems and
qualities at the various levels, with thought provoking
suggestions for improvement. It would be good to have
this type of lecture as a permanent fixture at this
Congress.
Top
Advanced
Freestyle
This
was presented by Tony Palmer (who told me that he remembered
me when he was a small boy dancing at the Hammersmith
Palais Discorama Competitions) who started with another
short warm up, following the previous 'sitting' lecture.
A most accomplished and experienced dancer, Tony taught
a most attractive and - once again - varied routine,
stressing in his teaching the importance of movement
'from centre' and giving many important details on shapes
and movement. The teachers had much work here to take
back to their pupils. As the Chairman said in her conclusion,
it had been so difficult to book Tony, as he is so busy,
and hoped that it would be possible for him to return
on a future occasion. The day ended with Suzanne again
- this time taking the teachers through a Comprehensive
Cool Down and Stretches before allowing them to leave
the room.
A
very good day indeed - giving so much work to be taken
back for teaching. Everyone present seemed very happy
with content of the day and what a pity that some of
you did not attend - you miss so much by not being there
and taking part! Next year's date is 17th September
2006 - so if you didn't come, please put the date into
your new diary NOW and see you there.
Anne
Lingard
Picture
caption: 'Modern Trends' - Richard Marcel
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