Alnwick dancers are shining stars

Once again, outstanding results have been received by many pupils in all dance examinations. Recently, some pupils performed in Newcastle with English Youth Ballet. They also participated in the regional MADD Ballet Awards in Stockton-on-Tees. Meanwhile, past students are continuing to succeed in the professional world in theatre and dance. In the Royal Academy of Dance Ballet examinations, pupils gained the following results: Distinctions: Cora Drummond and Hannah Breeze – Intermediate; Emily Breeze – Grade 5; Katie Barker – Grade 4; Sian Grimes – Grade 1; Isla Lewis, Harriet Oldfield, Kitty Oates and Elizabeth Hedley – Primary. Merits: Hannah Dawson, Lexy Bee and Gwen Ballard – Advanced Foundation; Victoria Robertson – Intermediate; Jemma Thew – Intermediate Foundation; Rachel Moloney – Grade 5; Ailsa Powell – Grade 4; Charlotte Hughes, Megan Park, Isla Hutton–Stott, Emilia Grimes, Emily Stevens, Kayleigh Ramshaw, Beth Carragher, Hope Vernon, Emily Pounder, Olivia Henderson and Sophie Mole – Grade 2; Annabelle Brookes, Callum Dawson, Eleanor Walklett, Freya Bridges, Freya Mole, Grace Stevens, Isobel Gray, Lana Ferguson–Wood, Lexie Slater, Tamsin Hutton –Stott, Lizzie Conn, Maddison James, Lyra Purvis, Morgan Duffy, Autum O’Hara, Lois Foster and Eve MacDonald – Grade 1; Cassie Morris, Charlotte Hoggarth, Stella Mickleburgh, Evelyn Pringle, Maisi Cowens, Phoebe Hughes, Bea Chinn, Ellie Kirk-Shell, Nell Garland, Jemima Woodford, Ruby Wilson, Imogen Foster and Hannah Gibbons – Primary. Pre-Primary Class Awards: Abigail Nicholls, Amelia Stewart, Annabel Powell, Anarosa Bennett, Ava Reynolds, Charlotte Brown, Isabelle Douglass, Olivia Blackshaw, Orla Metcalf, Maria Moore, Kahlan Gibbons, Harriet Mather, Eleanor Donaldson, Emma Davidson, Iona Mathieson, Jessica Foreman, Kate Deacon, Leah Pattinson, Rose Gillott, Xanthe Mawer, Chloe Hersey and Emily Holmes. l Imperial Society of Teachers of Dance examinations pupils gained the following: Distinctions in Modern Theatre: Gwen Ballard and Hannah Dawson – Advanced 1; Cora Drummond, Hannah Breeze, Ashley Hibbitt and Martin Latto – Intermediate; Georgina Rudd, Olivia Hodgson and Hannah Taylor – Intermediate Foundation; Ailsa Powell and Dhani Hooker – Grade 4; Megan Park – Grade 3; Sophie Johnston, Emilia Grimes and Isla Hutton-Stott – Grade 2; Hannah Dawson, Gwen Ballard, Lexie Bee, Cora Drummond and Hannah Taylor – Silver Jazz; Ailsa Powell, Helen Morgan, Martin Latto, Joe Bennett and Ellie Cameron – Bronze Jazz. Distinctions in Tap: Hannah Dawson, Maya Woolfrey, Victoria Robertson and Gwen Ballard – Advanced 1; Hannah Breeze – Grade 5; Sophie Green, Holly Robinson, Liliy Davis-Branch and Martha Embleton – Grade 3; Lizzie Conn, Callum Dawson – Grade 1; Hannah Gibbons – Primary. Merits in Modern Theatre: Ellie Cameron, Helen Morgan – Intermediate; Lily Davis-Branch, Eve Horsman, Sophie Green, Holly Robinson, Millie Pentleton and Maddie Clements – Grade 4; Beth Carragher, Emily Stevens and Amy Edminson – Grade 3; Charlotte Townsend – Grade 2; Billy Swan, Jessica Swan, Rebecca Roskilly and Emma Forsyth – Silver Jazz. Merits in Tap: Sophie Walker – Advanced 1; Rachel Moloney – Grade 5; Eve Horsman, Hope Vernon, Emily Gray and Anna Morris – Grade 3; Thea Davis – Grade 1; Kahlan Gibbons – Primary. l Isla Hutton-Stott, Katie Barker, Jemma Thew, Victoria Riley and Cora Drummond all performed in Giselle with EYB in September, with Cora Drummond being awarded the Senior Ballet Award by EYB founder Janet Lewis. Sophie Johnston, Katie Barker, Emily Breeze, Hannah Breeze and Hannah Dawson all performed in the Memorial Awards Dance Day in September. Former students of the school are continuing to succeed in the profession. Lily Horgan completed her three-year training with Laban Contemporary in London in July and is now a professional contemporary dancer working with Awake Dance Company. David Brewis is currently in the Royal Caribbean Production of We Will Rock You, understudying the lead role Galileo aboard Anthem of the Seas. Dan Hope has now moved from performing in London’s West End show Wicked to the critically-acclaimed show Matilda at the Cambridge Theatre London. Jack Greaves continues to perform in Germany in Starlight Express, now performing the lead role – Rusty. Kristin Thompson and Helen Morgan are now studying full time in dance, teacher training and musical theatre at The Centre Performing Arts College in Kent. Students will again be at the Alnwick Playhouse in April performing in their Easter show – All About An Egg! The school currently has classes in Alnwick, Amble and Rothbury covering ballet from aged three, modern theatre and tap from four, street dance from six, jazz from eight and contemporary from 10. Details of all classes and venues can be found on Alnwick-Academy.co.uk, the Alnwick Academy of Dancing Facebook page or by calling 01668 213231.