On 28th and 29th September ISTD teachers and students gathered from all over Scotland and the North of England for the second Scottish Congress at the Falkirk Town Hall.

The venue at Falkirk was excellent and we were delighted to see the Chairmen of all ISTD Theatre Faculties in attendance. It is a rare treat for Congress to be held in Scotland, and with travel to London so expensive and time-consuming for busy dance teachers, there was an extremely enthusiastic attendance.

The children’s day on Sunday was very well supported and the floor packed for every class. Congress is such an excellent opportunity for teachers and pupils alike to watch and experience dance disciplines other than their own and each class was full of energetic, enthusiastic dancers! It was a treat for teachers to see how the uniformly excellent teaching faculty coped with the daunting task of giving a class to such large numbers with such a vast range of ages, abilities and experience! The sessions for teachers were also well attended and we all benefited from the chance to learn new aspects
of syllabus work or to watch and participate in classes from other Faculties. I am sure we all wished to be able to work with an accompanist like Roz Jennings!

Junior Ballet class

The day culminated in a workshop by Scottish Dance Theatre with 12 students selected during the day from the dancers at Congress. It was a fitting end to the day to see how the dancers responded to completely different demands in terms of movement and to see how they worked with a professional, theatrically based company. I am not sure if those dancing or those watching enjoyed this more!

Lecture demonstration by the Scottish Dance Theatre

Monday was the day for teachers and students, more focused on syllabus. It was wonderful to see the majority of teachers up on the floor dancing. The teaching was absolutely excellent all day, I am sure inspiring us all as teachers ourselves with the clarity and accuracy, balanced with encouragement and enthusiasm which helped us all achieve a remarkable level of performance by the end of each class. Special mention must go to Fabrice Maufrais from the Dance School of Scotland for his elegant and inspiring open class with the most wonderful demonstration of how to ‘mark’ which drew a rapturous response!

The afternoon ended with a session on the changes to the qualifying exams. It was good to hear the changes directly from Matthew Wilkinson, Head of Education and Training, as opposed to reading them in DANCE, it is always so important to learn about major changes to our examination system first hand. There was much food for thought and I am sure we will welcome the improved professional standing for dance teachers that the new qualifications will confer.

Congress is not only a time for learning, it is also a chance to meet other dance teachers and especially for those of us who teach very much in isolation, it was wonderful to end congress with an informal glass of wine and chance to chat, not only among ourselves but also with members of the ISTD Theatre Faculty Board and management team from Headquarters. We all appreciated that they had come to Scotland for our benefit and it was wonderful to be able to match faces to names we all know. Scottish Congress was a great success, the only pity is that we have to wait 4 years for the next one!

Tessa Ferguson
Cecchetti teacher and examiner

Sunday 28th September 2003. The sun was bright, the venue was perfect and the two-day programme for this year's theatre congress was superb in everyway.

Falkirk, Scotland - a welcome return for the ISTD, from all teachers, students and pupils who had travelled far and wide to attend the lectures over the
two days.

Following a very warm and welcoming introduction from Miss Prime, the two lecture halls, upstairs for teachers, and the main hall downstairs for students/pupils, became full of enthusiastic and keen to learn bodies. The juniors were quick up on their feet for their first class, a lively, fun and energetic Jazz class taught by Thedi Joannou, whose wonderful manner ensured that all who participated - from the smallest to the tallest - started the day fresh and wide awake.

Gillian Hurst's Senior Ballet lecture then followed. A balanced class for pupils in Grade 5 upwards, incorporating her much enjoyed enchainments from port de bras through to the travelling allegros.

Next, well possibly a new venture for the children and students - a demonstration, followed by a chance to participate and experience the Indian Classical Dance styles, given by Nina Rajarani and Nilima Devi. Again, all pupils were up on the floor keen to follow the intricate hand and foot work that was so easily demonstrated from the stage by Nilima. During this time, the teachers upstairs had also been kept on their toes. With not much room to spare, they worked with Sarah Wilson on some of the excerpts from the new grade 5 modern syllabus. It was very clear from the teacher’s applause at the end, that this class had wetted their appetite for all classes that would follow.

Deep concentration as young dancers try out South Asian Dance

Karen Collins' introduction to Classical Greek gave the teachers a change of atmosphere, prior to Deborah Capon and Jacqui Tapsell tapping them back over the floor with excerpts from the bronze tap award. It was clear to see from the teacher’s faces that it is not only the pupils who enjoy learning this up to date and trendy new work.

Downstairs, Lorraine Swain had the juniors up (those who were too young or below grade earlier) for her much awaited ballet class. The seniors were tempted to join in - at the back! - And again, via Lorraine’s wonderful teaching, the energy and enthusiasm of all pupils and students participating shone through. For some it was lunchtime, for others - carry on dancing.

Lorraine Swain taking the Junior Ballet class

Thedi was back on the floor, this time for the senior jazz class - and if you didn't book your space, you didn't get on the floor. Again, following a quick warm up, the students travelled, kicking and turning across the floor, before culminating in a jazz routine that I am sure has since been taught by those who participated, to their own teachers both north and south of the boarder.

Thedi Joannou taking the Senior Jazz Class

Time for tap, and who else to give the juniors a class to remember, but Jacqui Tapsell. A quick warm up, then straight into the 'Rap' routine from the new Bronze Award. The children tapped their way from start to finish, eager to learn and keen to please, taking in all that was being taught to them. Jacqui encouraged everyone, and the appreciation was so clearly shown by all at the end of this class.

Tap with Jacqui Tapsell

With a quick change to bare feet, everyone was back up for the Classical Greek class given by Karen Collins. An enjoyable experience for all, learning the popular 'triple runs’, ‘komats’ or holding with a 'freeze'. Both teachers and examiners were still busy upstairs, having had no time to rest between classes.

Robina Smith had introduced the new Primary syllabus, along with a grade 4 dance, keeping all on their toes with partnering and patterns. Lorraine Swain followed with her working session for the new Alternative Variations for Grades 3 and 4 Imperial Ballet, prior to the South Asian dance being demonstrated and then taught by Nina and Nilima. The story telling in the Indian Classical style - given by Nilima herself certainly kept the teachers alert, and with Linda Pilkington finalising the teachers’ day with a session on the Cecchetti amendments, the teachers had had a day that they will remember with delight as well as exhaustion.

To bring the children’s classes to an end, Robina Smith gave a wonderful National class, based on Folk rhythms and patterns, and although getting very tired, every child and student enjoyed the interesting enchainments that Robina gave. (I must mention the two tiny young boys who had hardly sat throughout the day - keep going boys!).

Folk Rhythms and Patterns

With the teachers now downstairs, the last event of the day was given by Rachel Smith from the Scottish Dance Theatre. 12 students - who had joined in classes throughout the day - had been asked to participate in her Contemporary workshop, and with her guidance and skill, they developed their own creative ideas, working on varying ways of travelling, the use of stillness and balance. Once more, all those who participated gained yet more knowledge from another experienced teacher.

Monday 29th September, another bright, sunny day and while there were slightly fewer in numbers, the day was still full of quality.

Excerpts from the new Grades 5 & 6 modern - introduced by Sarah Wilson and smoothly demonstrated by students from The Dance School of Scotland - commenced the day. Teachers were then back on their feet and with Sarah’s clear and brilliant guidance, they again absorb as much of this new work as they possibly could.

For those who watched, the open ballet class given by Fabrice Maufrais - formerly of Paris Opera, Jeune Ballet de France and the Scottish Ballet - was one of sheer bliss. I don't think Robina Smith & myself (along with many others probably) will forget his wonderful pronunciation of ‘pas de bourree’, so that's how you say it! "If only” I thought - "I were 20 years younger", I would have been up in that class for sure. His brilliance in guiding and correcting of all who participated and his superb demonstration of his enchainments made the class - and where did he get his feet?

The morning came to a much too soon end with an excellent lecture from Deborah Capon on the Bronze Tap Award. Today, finishing the whole syllabus within the hour, Deborah taught the teachers with such clarity, if they hadn't known the work completely before hand, they could certainly go home and teach it now.

After lunch, a talk given by Matthew Wilkinson on the New Teaching Qualifications, reassured all who attended, that the changes that lie ahead, are not going to be as daunting as they probably thought. Emphasising that these new qualifications will give great benefit to all within the ISTD. Matthew announced that he is keen to answer any questions teachers have either bye-mail or by phone.

A relaxing ‘Talk-in' brought the two days to a very satisfying end and it was clear from all teachers who had stayed for this day, that while they are a long way from London, they are not too far - when in need - from some one who will help them with questions and information.

Many thanks go to Elizabeth Henderson, Scottish regional organiser, for all the hard work that she does throughout each year, and her knowledge of all teachers on Sunday morning helped us all tremendously.

However, it has to be said that neither of these two days would have come so superbly together, without the organisational skills of none other than Miss Gaynor Owen. Her enthusiasm for the Scottish region showed in every aspect of the two days. I am sure that everyone departed from Falkirk with many happy memories, uniting together at the end, to show her their appreciation and gratitude.

Thank you Miss Owen for another wonderful Scottish congress, and as it is only 'just up the road'. Please can we all go back?

Carole Moseley
All photographs: Elaine Mayson