Sunday 7 February 2010

Audrey Sawyer



Having spent many years teaching all ages within our school Audrey now concentrates on teaching adults Ballroom and Latin American. She teaches in Effingham and also gives private lessons in Bookham.

Audrey is qualified with the IDTA as a Licentiate in Ballroom and Latin American.

She was on the committee of the South East Area of the IDTA 1995 to 2010 and has served as Minutes Secretary, Vice Chairman and Chairman.

Audrey was an active member of the team and assisted at numerous South East Area festivals. For many years she was responsible for organising the adjudicators' timetable and was always willing to turn her hand to the needs of the day.

Within Dancetime Audrey has trained many pupils for various medal tests and assisted in the organising and running of many different displays.

Audrey loves to dance and enjoys teaching.

Assistants


Roz and Tina

Our Dancetime assistants are invaluable.

They ensure the smooth running of the classes and help teach.They are on hand to answer queries, sort out uniform, tend to the poorly and carry out a multitude of other tasks. We couldn't do without them.

Dancetime assistants are always happy and keen to join in. They create a lovely friendly atmosphere which pupils warm to. No one is left out - parents and children are welcomed equally.



Roz, Tina, Becca, Ellie, Kirsty and Esme

Our assistants' help at displays and medal tests is much appreciated by all. Their knowledge of procedures at these events guarentees success. A friendly face is very reassuring before and during such events and our pupils benefit from being known personally.
 

Jo and Kirsty

 

Wedding Dances


WEDDING DANCES




Choreography for your special dance is provided through private lessons at The Studio in Ockley.

Once you have chosen your music we work together to create a dance you are happy to perform in front of your guests. The routine is tailored to ensure you will feel comfortable and confident.

You may wish just to dance some basic steps in, for example, the waltz or the rumba or you could learn some more intricate figures to suit your chosen song.


Routines may be based on either Latin American and Ballroom dances or choreographed to any chart music using freestyle or line dance moves. Often the routine will incorporate a combination of styles.


If you are undecided on a track we can assist with ideas which would suit many different styles of dance.


The Studio


On average 3 or 4 lessons are sufficient to achieve the desired result.

No previous dance experience is necessary to learn for your wedding.



Tuesday 2 February 2010

Dancetime Annual Display


Line dance.

On Saturday 30th January 2010 Dancetime pupils danced the afternoon away in front of their parents, relatives and friends. Youngsters aged between 3 and 18 demonstrated their expertise in a variety of dance styles taught in class.

The show, videoed by Mr Paul Filnlayson of Surrey Video Services, captured a moment in time to be remembered by all. Our dancers will enjoy watching their performances and sharing them with friends for years to come.

Pupils danced with confidence and flair throughout their performance.


We're next.

Each year the display takes place without a proper rehearsal. Dances are learned in class (many only two weeks ago!) and pupils are told how the afternoon is supposed to go. There is no rehearsal of order of dances and many pupils are dancing with people they have never seen before. It aaways amazes me how everyone copes.

The hall is also an unknown - it is very different dancing in the safety of class in a recognised hall to dancing in a strange environment in front of an audience and a video camera! It is especially hard in dances that turn as facing new walls within a dance is very disorientating.

Dancetime assistants do a marvellous job of getting everyone in the right place at the right time wearing the correct clothing for every dance. This is an extremely pressured job made harder as the assistants do not know members of class groups they do not teach! FANTASTIC job  - Thank you to Tina, Ros and Jo.

Thanks also to Kirsty and Esme who learned the dances for the younger children in order to guide them through their steps during the display.

Each group of dancers performed brilliantly and conducted themselves well whilst waiting patiently for their next dance.



We began with all participants on the floor demonstrating a line dance to "In the navy". This dance was a lovely opener to our show.

Next up was a freestyle dance by our youngest classes - the Wigglers and Jigglers. Many of these pupils had not long joined Dancetime and Emma is only 3 years old! What courage they had to dance in front of everyone.

Then the Twirlers and Springers mixed together to dance a tricky line dance involving weight change followed by the Steppers who demonstrated a complicated dance to a Michael Jackson song.

After such a good start the display just got better and better.


The tango.

Ballroon and Latin American dances were performed brilliantly by each group. We enjoyed the Samba, Tango, Mambo and Rock 'n' Roll.

Twirlers and Springers entertained us with two dances using poms which is always popular.

Lucy performed perfectly her solo dance which had originally been created as a duo.

Jessica, Bea and Carla were excellent as they showed the dance they choreographed last term.

Ellie and Kirsty jointly choreographed their dance over two weeks which Ellie is using for her G.C.S.E. exam and as always executed an amazing performance.

The Steppers rose to their annual line dance challenge. The dance "Devils' Beat" was taught for a total of 20 minutes in the week of the display. The girls then had to turn it round the walls on Saturday. Very well done Steppers - you did it!


Rosie collects her award.

Medals were awarded to successful pupils who took their exams in November. The medals were presented by Mrs Audrey Sawyer who is qualified as Licentiate in Ballroom and Latin American with the IDTA. She is an active member of The South East IDTA Area.

The show ended with some partner fun dances and everyone left smiling!

Congratulations to everyone concerned for creating a wonderul display!