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Chichester
Summer School 2004
This
year was our finest yet! We celebrated 100 years of the ISTD
by presenting several new syllabi. For the Modern, the new
Primary Class Examination and Grades 5 & 6 and for the
Tap Faculty, the new Bronze and Silver Awards and Grade 6.
We
covered all the existing syllabi for Modern and Tap plus free
classes in Jazz, Contemporary and American Tap.
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| Alison
Forrester, guest tap teacher from Los Angeles |
Paddy
Hurlings coaching tap in the Chapel |
Approximately
220 teachers, a dedicated crew, enjoyed dancing in any one
of the eight excellent studios, including the lovely chapel!
International teachers were well represented coming from Europe
and many other countries including South Africa, Singapore,
Australia and Canada.
Our
Teaching Faculty this year consisted of, for the Modern, Sarah
Wilson, Tereza Theodoulou, Sue Brice, Katie Morea, Sarah Jane
Bullock, Thedi Joannou, Karen King, Pam Eddleston and myself.
Our Chairman Gaynor Owen arrived hot foot from Thailand and
was able to enjoy the ‘Chichester atmosphere’,
lots of happy, smiling teachers.
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| Katie
Morea teaching in the Dance Studio |
The
Tap Faculty was represented by Paddy Hurlings, Deborah Capon,
Heather Rees, Nick French, Helen Green, Tracey Lee and Alison
Forrester, who gave some wonderful classes on American Tap
and Brazilian rhythms. Inspirational music for the tappers
was provided by pianists, Sheila Lucas and Kate Dickson.
We were treated to a wonderful master class on the Grade 6
Tap syllabus taken by Tracey Lee who coached some pupils from
Paddy Hurlings. This was followed by a superb selection of
solos and an unaccompanied tap duet by pupils and students
from Paddy Hurlings and Deborah Capon.
Barbara
Evans taught some excellent free jazz classes in her inimitable
way and Pam Eddleston took classes on the special brand of
Stott Pilates.
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| Advanced
2 in the dance studio |
We
enjoyed our usual annual visit to the Chichester Festival
Theatre, this year to see a fantastic Cole Porter musical
‘Out of this World’. We arrived back at the campus
jolly and rejuvenated, aching bodies suddenly forgotten!
Many
teachers came this year for the first time and all hope to
return next year. For those of you who would like to come
but feel hesitant for any reason, I would say, take the plunge!
The teachers are a very friendly crew, all ages and ranges
of ability and all wanting to pursue their love of dance and
to learn skills, teaching methods and gain inspiration for
the next year.
The
following words from teachers will provide testament to the
popularity of this course. I look forward to seeing you next
year!
Christina
Ballard
Photographs: Elaine Mayson
I
believe we should all face something which scares us at least
once a year and as bungee jumping and parachuting are not
my scene, I decided that I should go to Chichester to get
myself up to scratch (or at least try) on the Modern and Tap
syllabus.
Although
I am not yet ready to be put out to pasture, I enjoy looking
back over 60 years on this planet, and I therefore knew that
working physically in such an intensive way would be a real
test.
As
I write this on the 4th day of the course, having just returned
from a highly entertaining evening, watching an excellent
production of Cole Porter’s ‘Out of this World’
I am feeling so pleased that I have attended this exciting
course.
To
have the chance to dance and learn from such innovative, friendly
and patient tutors has certainly been rewarding. I have made
friends, young and old and when the body aches and the brain
seems out of gear, I have only ever felt that I was given
encouragement. So thank you Chichester Team and friends for
extending such a warm welcome.
Taking
back such wonderful work to my students will kick-start the
new term magnificently and perhaps my retirement plan will
be put on hold for a while.
Judy
Tompsett, UK
It
is invaluable to learn the work from the team who created
it, and my notebooks are full of little gems that will help
me to remember just how it should be done. The new Primary
grade is delightful and I shall enjoy it as much as I’m
sure my pupils will.
The
Summer School is truly cosmopolitan, and it is impressive
to see teachers from all over the world, I shall go away with
my batteries recharged for the coming year.
Sheila
Cross, UK
As
a final year dance student at University College Chichester
and having spent the summer working in the Conference and
Accommodation Office, I didn’t actually have to come
to the ISTD Summer School, it came to me! Suddenly every corner
of the campus was filled with people frantically practising
exercises and amalgamations!
I
attended the course hoping for an intensive revision course
to prepare for the Associate Tap exam. Intensive is certainly
what I got! Seven hours a day of fantastic tuition from Paddy
Hurlings, Deborah Capon and Katie Morea and I’m left
with aching feet but feeling a lot less terrified about my
exam. I would like to thank the tutors for their support,
encouragement and patience!
Lauren
Pattullo, UK
On
the Chichester course this year, battles were fought and won
on a daily basis and Modern Theatre dance has never looked
better. Delegates joined the ‘Crusade to master Grades
5 and 6’, witnessed the ‘Charge of the Rhythm
Brigade’ and sallied forth for the ‘Battle of
Rising on Wednesday morning!’
Flushed
but victorious, they rallied each evening at the bar, where
morale was high, especially amongst the Irish Guard (9 of
us this year!). At the end of the week, they dispersed to
the five continents to fight the good cause of Modern Theatre
dance. They had been skillfully guided through the challenges
of the syllabi by officers-in-charge who appeared to be mindful
of the words of Yeats himself: ‘I have spread my dreams
at your feet, tread softly, as you tread on my dreams.’
Louise
Behan, Ireland
It
was the 7th August and the condemned arrived,
Jazz shoes and Tap shoes and brains all alive.
Looking
quite eager, with syllabi in hand,
We tap stepped to class to meet the demand.
Like
lambs to the slaughter, little did we know,
That our spirit was willing, but our bodies said “No!”
Our
core strength was lacking, our pelvic floor dropped,
We tried for contraction, but our abdominals flopped!
We
‘tapped’ in the Chapel, the angels did wings,
To Sheila’s sweet music, our rhythms did swing.
Along
came Paddy’s ‘Star’-lings who wowed us with
Tap,
They shuffled and scuffled and “gave it all that!”
Then
came the boys work, our thighs took the strain,
With knee drops and knee rolls and press-ups and pain.
Miss
King wouldn’t let up, until we were through,
All shattered and battered and bruised black and blue!
“If
it’s honest, it’s correct” That’s
what we’ve been told,
“Indulge in the moment!” sustaining control.
Absorbed
information, been completely inspired,
We all return home, enthusiasm fired.
We’ve
laughed, we’ve cried, for the sake of our art,
And all that’s left now is for us to depart.
The
friends that we’ve made, we’ll always hold dear,
With thanks to the Faculty, we’ll see you next year!
Stacey
Grant and Friends, UK
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