| Chichester
'Olympics'
15th
- 21st August 2004
University College Chichester
I
have to admit that when I flew from Athens this Summer to
attend the Chichester Summer School it was with a heavy heart,
I would be missing an event that Greece had been preparing
for years - The Olympics!
It
didn’t really help that I arrived at Gatwick to rain
and grey skies but I was on a mission to prepare for my own
Olympic Marathon, the Licentiate Ballet examination, and so
convinced myself that I must concentrate on that.
When
I arrived at the Bishop Otter Campus my spirits immediately
lifted. One of the first people that I bumped into was a fellow
victim! From that moment on I started to enjoy myself so much
that by the end of the course I was almost sorry to be leaving.
This
was my third Summer Course at Chichester but my first for
Imperial Ballet. It is such a unique experience. I felt very
privileged to have had such inspiring teachers sharing their
knowledge throughout the week.
We
all worked very hard but by the end of the course I am sure
that everyone felt that something had been achieved. It was
so interesting to meet so many people from different parts
of the world and our meal times were spiced up with conversation
ranging from dance (mainly) to our different cultures.
I
felt that I could approach my examination the following week
with much more confidence and would recommend to anyone preparing
for exams that attending Chichester Summer School would be
of enormous help and assistance.
Susan
Garrard (Greece)
As
the Olympic Games got underway in Athens on a breezy August
afternoon, the Opening Ceremony began at University College,
Chichester. The various delegates from many nations gathered
in the dining room to meet and eat.
As
events began in the truly Olympic sized main studio, Team
A - the Associates and CDE delegates, including myself worked
through the Grades and onto Intermediate in detail.
We
were guided by Mrs Prime who instilled confidence and put
us at our ease with her humourous anecdotes. Downstairs, Team
B - Licentiate candidates worked through to Advanced 1 (both
girls and boys) at Olympic record speed.
Midweek
we were treated to a visit from Miss Swain who led us through
the new variations for Grades 5, 6 and Intermediate Foundation
with medal winning enthusiasm. On Thursday evening Miss Fish
talked us through the finer ‘pointes’ of pointe
work with shoes brought along by Roynon Dancewear.
Towards
the end of the week the athletes called for the physio and
this arrived in the form of Mrs Beattie whose daily trip into
town for supplies of deep heat, frozen peas and chocolate
was greatly appreciated by all! So
as the week came to a close the Associates worked through
their mock examinations hoping to make it to the final.
Without
the pressure of a forthcoming exam I was able to make full
use of the social amenities which included relaxation in the
TV lounge with some very good new friends and a welcome glass
of wine, whilst cheering on the British team in Athens.
As the closing ceremony in Chichester approached we looked
at the medal table headed by our lecturers for sharing their
expertise and our pianists Kate Dickson and Alison Raphael
for their patience and inspiring music.
On
a serious note, the course is invaluable for anyone who has
an imminent status examination but also for those wishing
to refresh the content and qualities of the Imperial Classical
Ballet Syllabus.
I
am sure that it will not be another four years before we all
meet up with our friends for another Chichester Olympic week.
Keely
Oliver and friends (UK)
The
first dance steps I took were with the ISTD, taking classes
in Imperial Ballet, Tap and Modern and I started dancing professionally
at the age of nineteen.
Twelve
years and a slipped disc later I decided that I wanted to
be back in the arms of the ISTD and started studying for my
Associate in Imperial Ballet under the guidance of Elaine
Wilsdon from Koblenz, Germany. She gave me invaluable private
coaching and also recommended attendance at the Chichester
Summer School to prepare me for the examination.
Well
what can I say, it was the most incredible week and the Faculty
was brilliant, so devoted, so professional and at times so
funny! To be in the presence of truly great teachers was awe-inspiring
and often a little nerve wracking! The days were long, both
physically and mentally demanding and each evening I found
myself falling into bed exhausted, praying that I had retained
everything I had seen and heard that day.
As
I left Chichester with my head full, my muscles sore and a
few friends richer, I realised that not only was I ready for
my exam but I had been given back the reason of why I started
dancing. We are different, we are unique, we believe in ourselves
and we have imagination, love and respect for what we do.
However the most precious thing I learnt was not to lose my
sense of humour.
Amanda
Lawford (Germany)
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