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The
Imperial Ballet Northern Awards
The
Imperial Ballet Northern Awards were held for the first time
on Sunday 16th November at the University of Salford in Manchester.
The
event was the idea of the Faculty Chairman, June Rycroft.
Sympathetic to the many practical issues, that prevent teachers
from the North entering the annual Imperial Ballet Awards
held in London, she found the perfect solution. Take the Imperial
Ballet Awards to the North! So that is how a host of eager,
excited young dancers were given the opportunity to participate
in an enriching experience, which might otherwise have been
closed to them.
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| Grade
3 Class |
The
day was divided into classes of four levels at Grades 3, 4,
and 5 levels and a joint Grade 6/Intermediate Foundation level.
Each class followed a similar format, which began with a combined
port de bras and adage and developed through to a grand allegro.
The
enchainements were beautifully constructed. Simple yet revealing,
they allowed the candidates to demonstrate their individual
qualities whilst at the same time providing a challenge to
the skills they had already acquired from their excellent
teachers. Responsible for these enchainements were Jacqueline
Gray and Celia Johnson. Miss Gray taught Grades 3 and 5 and
Miss Johnson Grade 4 and the combined Grade 6/Intermediate
Foundation level. Both taught with exceptional clarity and
sensitivity, enabling the students to give of their best.
The young dancers were further helped in their endeavours
by the inspirational playing of Pip Lewis, who captured the
mood of each exercise perfectly.
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| Prize
winners with Miss McDonald & Miss Stevens |
The
adjudicators for each award were Dorothy Stevens and Patricia
McDonald, who at the end of each class offered words of encouragement
and advice and praised the immaculate grooming of the young
dancers.
Thanks
to Miss Rycroft’s team of helpers, committee members
and examiners the day ran so smoothly that one would think
the Northern Ballet Awards were an every day occurrence!
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2nd
place in Grade 6/Intermediate Foundation, Natalie Berry |
The
day ended with many awards and speeches but I would like to
end by echoing the words of Miss Dyson. Thank you Miss Rycroft,
together with your committee, for bringing the Imperial Ballet
Awards to the North. Please bring them back soon!
Val
Jones
Photographs: Rory Williams
Winners
Grade
3
•
Class Prizes
Lily Bliss (Sarah Beswick and Clare Moult, South Cheshire
Theatre and Ballet School, Wigan)
Jennifer Tait (Sarah Beswick and Clare Moult, South Cheshire
Theatre and Ballet School, Wigan)
• Musicality Award
Rebekah Jones (Jayne Mills, Rigney Ballet School, Cumbria)
• 3rd Place
Genevieve Fay (Alison Willett and Heather Cox, Tozer Studios,
Nottingham)
• 2nd Place
Carla Hoyle (Jayne Mills, Rigney Ballet School, Cumbria)
• 1st Place
Rebekah Jones (Jayne Mills, Rigney Ballet School, Cumbria)
Grade 4
•
Class Prizes
Verity Hutchins (Bronwen Patching, Adagio School, Essex)
Millie-Georgia Ruddock (Bronwen Patching, Adagio School, Essex)
• Musicality Award
Millie-Georgia Ruddock (Bronwen Patching, Adagio School, Essex)
• 3rd Place
Christina Marks (Anne Tyrer, Anne Gale School, Luton)
• 2nd Place
Abigail Bebbington (Bronwen Patching, Adagio School, Essex)
• 1st Place
Gemma Rogers (Justine Kavanagh Theatre School, Middlesborough)
Grade 5
•
Class Prizes
Claire Rhodes (Clare Slater, East Lancashire School of Dance,
Colne)
Lynne Sayer (Trudie Croft, Unique School, Redcar)
• Musicality Award
Jessica Buckby (Rosalea Houghton, Leicester)
• 3rd Place
Sarah Huntbach (Sarah Beswick and Clare Moult, South Cheshire
Theatre and Ballet School, Wigan)
• 2nd Place
Oscar Mason (Alison Willett and Heather Cox, Tozer Studios,
Nottingham)
• 1st Place
Jessica Buckby (Rosalea Houghton, Leicester)
Grade 6/Intermediate Foundation
•
Class Prizes
Jayne Priestly (Sarah Jenkins and
Kay West, K School of Dance, Gomersal)
Ruth Draisey (Christine Popple School of Dance, Wakefield)
• Musicality Award
Jayne Priestly (Sarah Jenkins and Kay West, K School of Dance,
Gomersal)
• 3rd Place
Amber Preston (Jacqueline Gray, Parklands Dance Studios, Bury)
• 2nd Place
Natalie Berry (Jacqueline Gray,
Parklands Dance Studios, Bury)
• 1st Place
Jennifer Stones (Claire Slater, East Lancashire School of
Dance, Colne)
Teachers Award
Given
to the teacher gaining the highest aggregate number of points
throughout the day
•
2nd Place (140 points)
Jacqueline Gray, Parklands Dance Studios, Bury and Bronwen
Patching, Adagio School, Essex
• 1st Place (190 points)
Jayne Mills, Rigney Bank Ballet School
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