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Summer
School
Reports from attendees at the Modern and Tap
Summer School held in Chichester in 2008
The
2008 Summer School was certainly one of the most successful
the Society has ever held at Chichester. There was as
always a very friendly atmosphere, and both delegates
and tutors worked extremely hard throughout the week.
Any difficulties were swiftly sorted out by Sarah Combes
and her staff and I think everyone appreciated the efficient
way David Wood ran the shop.
Above:
pupils of Diana and Anthony Clifford Studios with teacher
Helen Green
Photo by Jon Firth
We do understand the commitment in terms of time and
finance that all the delegates make to attend Chichester
and we are pleased to receive any feedback that can
help us to provide the courses you need in 2009.
On behalf of all the tutors we would like to say that
we do appreciate the gifts given to us at the final
meeting. We still have not figured out when you find
the time to buy such appropriate presents.
We
hope you will all enjoy teaching the new syllabus work
and we look forward to seeing you all in the near future.
Gaynor Owen and Paddy Hurlings
Being
a novice, at the ISTD summer school held in Chichester,
I was armed with a timetable, a very heavy bag and lots
of apprehension. This was very quickly dispersed as
I soon realised how friendly and helpful everyone was.
The welcome meeting lived up to the name and I was certainly
looking forward to the week ahead.
The first day I chose the boys' modern work with Katie
Morea. As the day unfolded I realised how intense the
week was going to be as there was so much information
to be absorbed.
As the week progressed, the heavier my limbs felt and
there was still so much to take advantage of. Learning,
participating and watching a mock exam for the new primary
and Grade 1 Tap was great. Alison Forrester and Tracey
Lee’s choreography is innovative and original.
Sarah Wilson gave a very interesting lecture on ‘Dance
Teaching Today’.
The variety and range of classes was faultless with
every aspect of the Modern and Tap syllabus available
throughout the week.
The Pilates classes were a great way to end your day,
leaving you refreshed and relaxed.
The
meals were good and a great social event, with everyone
chatting about what they had learnt.
I would like to thank the teachers, lecturers and participants
for a truly memorable week. I had great fun while being
given the opportunity to receive a lot of new information.
I
look forward to sharing this new information with my
students in September. I am also looking forward to
repeating the same experience next year.
Holli Shackleton
What do we all need at the end of a busy summer term?
A week at Chichester of course! And once again the ISTD
residential Tap and Modern course did not disappoint.
A full and hectic week of syllabi lectures, Free Jazz,
Pilates, Tap and Jazz Awards, music lectures, mock exams
and demonstrations and not forgetting the brave souls
tackling status exams at the end of the week. There
really was something for everyone and the wonderful
lecturers delivered the work with their usual clarity,
flair and detail.
One of the highlights of the week was a mock exam of
the new Primary class exam and Grade 1 Tap. The children
who demonstrated were delightful, full of energy, with
bright happy faces and boy did they entertain us! It
was so great to see normal dance class children working
with the fantastic new work that Alison Forrester and
Tracey Lee have created.
Photo
by Jon Firth
The music is so appealing and rhythmical, the children
just responded instantly with natural ease.
Thanks to the team for giving us this excellent new
work, which I am sure will begin to transform the face
of Tap and how we all teach it.
Of course we all had a few laughs along the way, particularly
those participating in Tony Parries’ Hip Hop class
at the end of the week. We all tried really hard to
feel the beat and style and the atmosphere was great.
It’s always good to remind yourself about all
the fantastic trends of dance that teenagers really
love.
As
always my week at Chichester, meeting so many dedicated
ISTD teachers from all over the world was refreshing
and inspirational, if not a little tiring! I have gone
back to work with renewed energy, so if you have always
thought about going to Chichester, do it, you’ll
love it! Here’s to next year!
Fleur Stevenson
Teacher and Yorkshire Area Group Organiser
As we wave goodbye to the place that has been our home
for the past week and begin the six hour journey we
reflect on our Chichester experience.
Our last experience was four years ago so when we arrived
we had anxiety, expectations, excitement, dread and
fear! As we settled into the week our worries were set
aside as all the lecturers made themselves approachable
and welcoming. Even our first meeting was relaxed with
a glass of wine (which was gratefully accepted after
the journey there).
Our expectations were also fulfilled as the lecturers
delivered what we required and more in such a relaxed
and enlightening way.
The
new Primary and Grade 1 Tap are inspirational and to
have Alison Forrester teach us the work was a privilege.
We are both really intrigued to see where the work is
going and how the lower grades link with Grade 6.
Midweek our weary muscles were very pleased to sit and
watch the new work mock Tap exams. It was great to see
the work we had just learned actually danced by children.
The fun they were obviously having with the work made
us excited to get back to teach it to our own children.
Also we were treated to an Advanced 2 Modern Master
Class conducted by Katie Morea. Katie is just inspiring
and the students who demonstrated did so with enthusiasm
and were a pleasure to watch.
As always it is the people who make the Chichester experience
special. Not just the lecturers but the many teachers
who have travelled the many miles to be there. It is
fantastic to speak to people from such a variety of
countries and cultures all with one huge thing in common
– dance! As the experience comes to an end we
can both say that we have had a wonderful time and will,
more than anything, miss the opportunity to talk dance
all day guilt free!
Glenda Hill and Claire Simpson
I had never been to a Tap/Modern summer school before
but had heard from my colleagues what a valuable experience
it had been to them in past years. They were not wrong
it was great. However, my initial thoughts of what I
expected to achieve from it changed – dramatically!
As the new Primary and Grade 1 was being taught I felt
that this was my main purpose for attending the course
as I had not yet had the chance to see or learn it,
but also I would attend the Grade/Major Tap classes
and teaching qualification lessons in between to deepen
my knowledge for teaching FDI and CDE. Within the first
day my plan changed somewhat, after a day spent on advanced
2 Tap and an evening on Fellowship I was made aware
that it was possible for me to take my Fellowship exam!
Hence a change of direction with my plans. The next
few days were amazing as I spent two full days with
Nick French and gained a wealth of knowledge on the
Advanced 2 syllabus, three Fellowship classes were also
so helpful now that we had decided I was to take my
exam in October. Then a day spent with Katie and Alison
on Licentiate Tap, then I got to learn the new Tap grades,
which are like a breath of fresh air, I am now teaching
these new grades and the children love them (they are
even singing the tunes as they leave class, and still
singing them when they return; bet the parents are thrilled).
So it was a very packed week with all the classes but
there was also time to meet so many other teachers,
which was great, as I teach six days a week so don’t
get to meet many other teachers from outside our college.
It was a fantastic experience and it’s one I hope
to repeat. Without the help and encouragement I received
I would not have taken my Fellowship Tap, which I’m
very pleased to say I took and passed on the 11th October
2008. So thanks again, Summer School was great and congratulations
on the new Tap grades they are fantastic.
Tracey Moss
Joan and I had a most enjoyable time at Summer school.
We very much enjoyed the classes that where taught by
such dedicated and knowledgeable teachers. For us who
worked to take the Licentiate Exam at the end of the
course, everyone was so supportive and encouraging,
which was needed. The highlight of the week was the
Quiz and naturally the glass of wine or two that accompanied
it. Fellowship here we come!
Sabine Runkel-Ingenhaag and Joan Bradley
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