Northern
Congress 2006
The Congress this year was held at Salford
University on Sunday 22nd & Monday 23rd October 2006.
I arrived at Salford University early to find a sea
of familiar and friendly faces. Registration was very
quick and efficient and armed with my ID badge and
programme for the two days of events I decided to
start upstairs and listen to Miss Owen’s and
Mr Hunt’s opening speeches. Then I hastily ran
downstairs to watch Christina Ballard’s warm-up
for teachers. What a wonderful beginning to a Sunday
morning!
Barbara Evans then took over with her co-ordination
teaser determined to spark those neurons. She brought
many smiles to faces as brains were put though their
paces. She taught the Grade 6 Modern amalgamation
with clear and precise detail and the Intermediate
Foundation Jazz amalgamation with her never ending
energy and attention to detail.
At 11am there was no time for a coffee and Jacqui
Tapsell had started her Tap class downstairs with
the teachers. I rushed upstairs to watch part of the
Cecchetti Open Ballet class, where the children were
already going through the disciplined paces of their
class, taken by Lindsay Kidd who had a lovely gentle,
but firm, rapport with the children. The class ended
with a wonderful grande allegro where the children
were divided into small groups so they could really
dance and use that fabulous floor space.
Downstairs Barbara Simons took a teacher’s National
class starting with Pat-a-Cake Polka and the Pruborak
from Grade 4; this was very enjoyable, detailed and
lots of fun.
All charged up after a quick lunch I watched Cathi
Conroy-Jones take a packed floor of children through
an English warm-up, a Berliner Polka and then a Danish
Dance-Den Halve Kaede. I have never seen so many children
all beautifully organised, attentive, and still having
fun.
Downstairs again to watch Richard Marcel’s Salsa
workshop – the teachers claimed that they had
never done it before; but having started moving to
the rhythm and following Richard, I don’t think
that he believed them!
At 4pm I moved upstairs to watch the Children’s
Tap class with Jacqui Tapsell – Chickens! How
clever! And what fun the children of all ages and
levels were able to join in and had a fabulous time.
To finish the day Barbara Evans took a children’s
Jazz class and even though it was the end of the day
and there were abundant aching legs and sore feet,
the room was still charged with huge energy.
I left amidst a sea of happy faces, chattering about
the classes and their day’s highlights. What
a wonderful day it had been for all.
Alison
Clark
 |
 |
| Classes
in full swing at the Northern Congress 2006 |
Salsa
Workshop with Richard Marcel and Suzanne Hammond |
These
were a rather special two days as it is the first
time that the Northern Congress, which usually consists
of the Theatre Faculties, has teamed up with the Dance
Sport Faculties.
The result was a fascinating timetable of all types
of dance for all ages. A bright and busy day followed
in both the upper and lower halls.
Being a Dance Sport teacher of Ballroom and Latin
American I was keen to see and learn as much as possible,
even if it did mean extra exercise running up and
down stairs!
DFR Workshop – Paul Streatfield
The upper hall was packed with children of all ages
when Paul and his two young students Amy and Stephanie
came on to the floor to great applause.
After demonstrating a clever street style routine,
Paul invited the children on to the floor to take
part. Their enjoyment and enthusiasm was obvious as
they learned this very stylised dance with tricky
arm movements and syncopated rhythms performed to
equally exciting music. Paul then split them into
smaller groups so that they and we could see more
easily their full potential. Their appreciation and
that of the spectators was obviously displayed at
the finish.
Latin American Workshop – Marion Lane
Marion and her student teacher Claire were
welcomed onto the floor and after enquiring if the
children watched Strictly Come Dancing (to a thunderous
‘yes!’) proceeded to demonstrate a very
stylish short samba group, using Boto Fogos, foot
changes and reverse turns in shadow position using
body roll.
The children were duly invited onto the floor and
after noisily but enthusiastically deciding who would
lead and who would follow, gave a very good account
of themselves. Strictly Come Dancing look out!
Latin American New Intermediate Syllabus –
Marion Lane
Marion’s second workshop of the day
assisted by her excellent student teacher Claire was
centred around the Jive from the new Intermediate
syllabus. After a brief but detailed and polished
demonstration of Jive’s basics, emphasising
correct and rhythmic leg and foot actions and use
of free arms, Marion and Claire demonstrated the dance
specific warm up which all candidates must perform
first facing one way and repeating on the opposite
foot. This was followed by the PDE for Mooch, showing
how good use of body, arms and bounce action can enhance
the exercise.
DFR Intermediate Workshop – Yvonne Taylor
Hill
After lunch it was the turn of the DFR Faculty
to show some of their intermediate work, enthusiastically
presented by Faculty Chairman Yvonne Taylor-Hill.
Yvonne and her young assistant led the class through
the lyrical and contemporary arm exercises which had
been formulated as two separate dances, showing good
use of arms and body and moved beautifully through
the music. As Yvonne herself explained, this falls
somewhere between DFR and Theatre work.
Ballroom Workshop – John Taylor
Whenever the name John Taylor appears I
just know that the work will be of a high standard
and so will the humour! Today was no exception. Partnered
by Jill Bush, John came onto the floor with the usual
flurry of comic banter and proceeded to demonstrate
the Viennese Waltz, dancing natural turn, change step
and reverse turn phrased to the music.
Throughout the workshop there was great attention
to detail about lead and follow, smooth rise and fall,
footwork and timing. Although some participants struggled
a little having never partnered a Viennese Waltz before,
all was explained with patience and fun.
Sequence Workshop – Karen Byron
Having been introduced, Karen Came onto
the floor and explained the intricacies of an Old
Time Waltz showing the carefully placed footwork and
the gentle method of turning. Having dealt with the
technical issues and having invited the participants
to join her on the floor with partners, we were treated
to a wonderful demonstration by Cameron and Emma,
a talented juvenile couple who were a joy to watch.
Salsa Workshop – Richard Marcel
Richard, assisted by Suzanne Hammond, commenced
the workshop with a very lively warm up combining
basic salsa figures with plenty of body, hip and arm
movements. It was a really good workout which everyone
seemed to enjoy.
After announcing a crash course in salsa, he began
with some basic movements and graduated to some really
good partner work using underarm turns with some rather
tricky arms. Everyone seemed to get these in the end
and good fun was had by all.
This was an informative and enjoyable day and I sincerely
hope it will be repeated in the not too distant future.
Alan
Baldwin
 |
 |
| Classes
in full swing at the Northern Congress 2006 |
There
were a record 234 teachers and students at this year’s
Northern Congress.
Sunday 22nd October
In the Lower Hall a full class of teachers
started the day with warm-ups in Lyrical and Jazz
style taken by Christina Ballard and Barbara Evans
who then moved
on to teaching the Grade 6 Jazz Amalgamation with
great energy and detail, bringing alive her own unique
style. It is always good to learn from the choreographer!
The children's Classical Greek class was taken by
Carol Vasko who took a lively and enjoyable class,
stressing the importance of relaxation in dance and
building up to a creative section with the children
freely expressing themselves as seaweed in the sea.
While this was going on Barbara Simons was teaching
the Grade 4 Czech Republic dance Priborak to the teachers
and students. I saw the end of this class with everybody
happily dancing round the room in pairs, swapping
partners having a great time.
The children's National class was taken by Cathi Conroy-Jones
who taught a couple of folk dances which the children
had fun learning and a sense of achievement in getting
the patterns correct. A lovely Grade 5 and above Ballet
class followed, taken by Corraine Collins who requested
a ‘moment of stillness’ at the end of
each exercise.
Jacqui Tapsell taught a really fun ‘chicken’
Tap dance that had three variations of difficulty
which greatly appealed to all ages and ability. Even
after a long fun packed day the children still found
lots of energy for performing the dynamic Jazz routine
taught by Barbara Evans. The children must have gone
home tired and inspired.
Monday
23rd October
The teachers and students day got off to
a good start with Christina Ballard warming everyone
up with the exercises from Grade 5 and 6 encouraging
them to have a sense of performance. The Imperial
Ballet Faculty introduced the new music for their
Primary exam with Heather Fish clearly explaining
the subtle changes and the effect it will have on
the syllabus.
The South Asian Faculty put on an interesting and
informative lecture demonstration showing work from
their Graded syllabi, from Primary to Advanced 2.
They were all dressed in beautiful brightly coloured
costumes.
Jacqui Tapsell's ‘Rhythm and Time’ Tap
class was devoted entirely to Time-steps, but the
way she played with them created a fun and inspiring
class. The ‘Pilates in Class and Injury Prevention’
class was a very valuable and interesting lecture
by Louise Mercer who created a feeling of calmness
throughout the hall. The last class of the day was
the Jazz class, taken by the Guest Lecturer, Tracy
Baxter who got everybody moving in her dynamic and
stylish routine to the music of Britney Spears.
The Northern Congress was clearly a great success
and so enormous thanks must go to Miss Gaynor Owen
and Mr Richard Hunt for organising the event and to
her team who helped the two days run smoothly. I'm
sure that all who attended will be looking forward
to the next Northern Congress.
Maureen
Jeffery
Photos: Ray Smith
Back
to Top ≥≥
