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Claire Thompson talks about winning the Phyllis Haylor Scholarship and her love of dance |
In the last issue of DANCE there was a very interesting, informative write-up on the Modern Ballroom pages; Margaret Connon talking to Vernon Kemp about the format of the scholarship. In this issue we wish to congratulate Claire Thompson, winner of the 2008 Scholarship.
Claire gives us her account of taking part as a candidate and tells us a little of her aspirations for the future:
After choosing my subject ‘How to attract a wider range of young people into dance schools’ I started working straight away on preparing my presentation. I drew on experience I had gained with being involved in schools, and from my own classes, and the ideas started flooding in. I arrived at ISTD2 Dance Studios on 9th November and waited to be called. I enjoyed the experience of presenting my ideas to the Faculty Committee members and examiners on the panel; and then answering questions on how I had used or would use the ideas in the future to continue opening up dance to a wide range of people.
My dance history started when I started taking Ballet lessons, and then Modern Ballroom, Latin American, Classical Sequence, Disco, Freestyle and Rock ‘n’ Roll, after joining classes with Marion Lane when I was five. Soon after I started with Marion, the enjoyment of my lessons inspired me to want to become a dance teacher – something that has always stayed with me! I eagerly worked through my exams and entered many medallist competitions, winning the ISTD National titles in Modern Ballroom, Latin American and Classical Sequence in the same year, all of which made me more determined to teach. As I became older, I attended further lessons and took my first Student Teacher examination, which enabled me to start helping at classes, whilst taking my GCSEs. When I left school, I became fully involved at helping in classes and personal lessons with Marion, gaining all round experience of how a dance school runs.
I am now lucky enough to be busy teaching full time. I have established group classes and personal lessons for Children and Adults in the Hertfordshire and Suffolk areas. I am involved in teaching dance in many local primary schools, before school as a breakfast club and during set curriculum time. It has been exciting to watch my classes build up since they first opened, and see the enthusiasm from my pupils, many of whom come along to ISTD medallist competitions, and regularly take medal and grade examinations, which they all enjoy working towards.
Teaching inspires me to continue to achieve within my own study, so far gaining Associate qualifications in Modern Ballroom, Latin American, Disco Freestyle, Rock ‘n’ Roll and Classical Sequence. My aim for the future is to gain further qualifications in all dancesport genres through both Licentiates and FDI and CDE routes, with a view to becoming involved with working on an ISTD faculty committee. Looking further ahead, my goal is to achieve Fellowship level qualifications, and then one day to train to become an examiner!
After winning the scholarship in November, I used some of the money towards the training for my Classical Sequence
Associate Examination that I took in February. I am now using the rest of the money to work towards the Latin Licentiate examination, which I will take when I turn 21. I would like to thank Jill Bush, Yvonne Taylor-Hill, Pat Woor, Janet Clark and Jacqui Norton, for their encouragement through my professional examinations so far; and last but not least, Marion Lane for all of her training because if it wasn’t for her, I wouldn’t be where I am today.
Claire Thompson
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