Dear Parent/Student, I hope you all had a great summer. After a very successful year we have lots to look forward to in the forthcoming year, so read on for more information.
TERM DATES
Classes recommence from Wednesday 11th September.
Half term is from 23rd October – 5th November. End of term is Friday 6th December. We will be returning to classes on 8h January 2019. Attached is a timetable to refresh your memory of class times.
CARNIVAL
Sat 21st September – Dunmow Pantomime Group will once again have a walking float, if anyone would like to join us to help promote panto and the Dunmow Theatre Dance School please let me know. Under 14’s children should be accompanied by an adult during the walk, we will be walking alongside the float for safety reasons. We hope to provide costumes for the children but please dress them in black leggings and a t-shirt. Please let me know if you wish to join us so we can organise the kids’ costumes – the more the better to help get the word out about our great school and panto group!! We will meet at the Rec in Dunmow by 12.00pm returning approximately 2.30pm.
PANTOMIME
Dunmow Pantomime Group will be producing CINDERELLA at Foakes Hall- JANUARY 1st – JANUARY 4th 2020. I shall once again be choreographing. The dancers’ rehearsals begin on Sun 22nd September at the FOAKES HALL, if your child didn’t sign up but would still like to dance please let me know so I can send you all the information regarding show and rehearsal times. Pupils in yr. 3 and above are accepted and do not need to be members of the dance school to join.
Tickets for this fabulously entertaining show are on sale from 1st September and can be purchased on line at www.dunmowpanto.co.uk or by calling Terry on 07769 684839 or just ask me for a booking form, they will sell fast so don’t delay.
THIS TERM
EXAMS– This term the pupils will commence and continue work towards exams. Some pupils will be taking exams in December, others will be taking exams in March, depending on how we progress. Exams are not compulsory but do provide a very secure grounding in technique so even if not taking the final exam doing the work is greatly beneficial.
Please note that not all of the class will be exam based, we will still include free work.
We use an independent examination board – The Associated Board of Dance (ABD). Fees are set by the board, I will send out more information as and when the children become ready to be entered. Once they are entered they need to commit to lessons and home practice – the more the children put in the better results they will achieve. The examiners are all lovely and it is a very relaxed atmosphere which the children thrive in. I am happy to provide private or smaller group lessons if you feel they would be beneficial near exam time. I will only enter pupils when I am confident they are capable. Entries do need to be in 8 weeks before though so I will be deciding quite soon and will let you all know once a date is confirmed. More information will follow.
TAPATHON – on Sunday 17th November the Adult tap class and some of the senior tappers will be taking part in the world record attempt Tapathon for Children In Need. If your child would like to join us and learn the routine they should come along on Thursdays – children aged 10 plus at 6.30 – 7pm. Cost to enter is £10.00 which will buy you a commemorative t shirt- there is no other fundraising to do. Adults on Wednesday from 8.15pm.
ABD CONGRESS/ DAY OF DANCE
The ABD will be running their annual congress in Birmingham on Sunday 29th September at the Forest Arts Centre Walsall west Midlands. Classes are open to Student teachers – 9.30 Contemporary gd 5 & advanced foundation syllabus 11.00 – Modern Jazz – Grade 5 syllabus, 13.00 – Tap workshop with James Doubtfire from Tap dogs &Tap Attac, 14.30 – Jazz/ Commercial with Vivian Gayle, West end dancer / BBCs strictly come dancing. ABD Paid up Student members are free (those that have taken an exam above grade 5 and become members) other students are £25.00 but need to be grade 5 and above in standard. You can find out full details on www.abdance.net. I will be attending the day.
UNIFORM ORDER
Abd exam uniforms and class wear can now be purchased online from www.dressedfordance.co.uk by clicking on Dunmow Theatre dance school. There is also an option to order shoes and tights, socks, leggings, basically anything you may need for an exam. The shoes and accessories are only one choice of many, you are of course able to choose other makes of your own preference from other sites as long as they meet the criteria for exams. Other DTDS uniform ie Hoodies and t shirts should still be ordered through myself.
EMERGENCY CONTACT FORM
Please ensure I have all correct and up to date contact and medical information, if you have recently changed mobile number or email address don’t forget to let me know. Most correspondence will be conducted via email.
FINALLY
May I remind you that fees are due upon receipt of invoice especially as the halls now require full term payment in advance! If you have any problems meeting the fees please don’t hesitate to talk to me confidentially.
As always if you have any questions please contact me. Do you use Facebook? We have two DTDS pages a public one and a private members only page, which pupils and parents can join. You need to send request to join if you would
as I cannot add you unless you ask me to.
Please make sure your children know NOT to contact me on social media/private messenger as I will not respond.
If you know of anyone that would like to come along to class or try a lesson, please tell them to contact me as now is the perfect time to join.
In the case of extreme weather or should class need to be cancelled for any reason I will do my best to contact you all via text message but will also post on both face book pages and email. If you are unsure, please do not hesitate to contact me. Finally I have attached a current timetable of classes for you to remind you of class times, if you are unsure which is the correct class please contact me
