Tuesday 29 June 2010

Inspirational Dance from Strode Students

Strode Dance and Performing Arts students took their audience on an inspirational dance journey recently as they showcased their talents to a packed and appreciative audience at Strode Theatre.

The show, which featured students studying A Level Dance and National and First Diplomas in Performing Arts, demonstrated the variety of dance styles explored at Strode.  It also featured music composed and performed by some of Strode's music students.

There was a packed programme for the night with seventeen different dances taking the audience through a variety of styles, music, set design and moods.  Hard work and excellent training shone through as the show moved from the adrenaline fuelled contemporary piece exploring the rush of free falling, to the lively musical theatre group numbers including 'fame' and 'Rock 'n' Roll', street dances full of attitude and more subtle and emotive solos.

Highlights of the show included Rosa Manzi Reid from Shepton Mallet who is studying AS Dance.  She performed a well crafted and creative solo immersing herself in the music as she explored the passing of time using images seen from a train window.  Max Ives from Westbury Sub Mendip and Lewis Edge from Wincanton gave energetic and physical performances in the lively group dance based on the film 'The Matrix'.  Daisy Rendell from Glastonbury and Chloe Murray from Bruton gave a great rendition of a classic fifties rock and roll dance.


Becky Evans, Dance Lecturer at Strode said: "The show was a celebration of the students' hard work and achievement.  Our Dance and Performing Arts courses are innovative, diverse and challenging and this inspires our students to go on to further study.  Many of the students who performed in the show are hoping to follow in the footsteps of former students who have moved on to prestigious institutions such as the Northern School of Contemporary Dance, Bath Spa University, Stella Mann College and Dartington College of Arts."
Sue Cooke who lives in Shepton Mallet brought her neighbour and their daughters to the show.  She said: "The choreography was excellent, the lighting, design and moving backdrops complemented the performances brilliantly, and the variety of moods and music was really great.  Our eleven year old girls were clearly inspired and talking afterwards about joining a dance class.  Who knows, we might see them in seven years time on the Strode Theatre stage!

Photos: (Above left) Strode street dancers - back row left to right: Roxy Bennett, Chris Mason. Becky Pett, Amber Gray, Maia Pelham-Greene, Sophie Rissotto, Josh Duck, Katrine Walters, and front row left to right: Lucy Sanger, Vicky Batley, Kahli Davis, Katrina Sheldon.
(Above right) Rosa Manzi Reid from Shepton Mallet immersed in the music.
(Top) Dancers in freefall (from left to right): Georgie Underwood of Wells, Megan Leigh of Ilchester, Tiphanie Bintcliffe of Somerton and Carys Smith of Gurney Slade.