Changing Steps Dance Spectacular
Posted on Tuesday 2 December 2008
Enrichment students delight audiences with journey through the History of Jazz and Modern Dance
From Jazz to Modern Dance
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Students from Farnborough Sixth Form College produced a thrilling Changing Steps Dance Spectacular in the Prospect Theatre last week. The performances, which were the culmination of only nine weeks of enrichment activities on Wednesday afternoons, brought delight from the audience and obvious enjoyment from the dancers.
The production was jointly directed by College dance tutors Sally Allsford and Emily Burke, who work closely with London’s Royal Academy of Dance. Speaking after the performance, Miss Allsford said, “The students have put so much effort and energy into their work this term and the range of dance styles has been really exciting; their performances have been driven by a desire always to improve their movement”.
The dance pieces ranged from the rhythmic drum beat of traditional African music, through fast-moving Charleston-inspired movement, to contemporary dance, from three different student dance companies, numbering over 80 performers in total. Performances included energetic break-dancing and Hip Hop, as well as Jazz-inspired pieces from Bond Girls to Disturbia, an interpretation of street dance which has dominated the commercial floor for music videos.
Although Farnborough Sixth Form College is one of the largest centres for A level dance in the country, the majority of students participating in this dance performance were not studying it as an academic discipline.
After the performance, College Principal Dr John Guy, said, "This has been one of the most enjoyable and professional dance presentations we have ever experienced at the College - demonstrating great skill and talent in the journey from Jazz to Modern Dance".
Dr Guy added, "People often ask me what is special about a sixth form college education. I think this evening indicates precisely the wide range of opportunities and the high quality of performance which can be achieved alongside advanced level study".
