Lockdown three is most definitely not the start to 2021 that we wanted. Obviously we would rather be dancing altogether ‘in person’ at Bowmansgreen but once again we are thankful to the technology that enables us to carry on teaching our classes online.
The students have been amazing during this lockdown term and have been a pleasure to teach online. The performance students have started learning fantastic new choreography for their new repertoire which we intend to film socially distanced again when we return to normal classes and once again create exciting performance films for our YouTube channel and website.
During this term our younger ballet students have had great fun using costume props whilst working towards taking a medal online. Our younger jazz students have also been busy making a film of this term’s jazz routine which we will share once we have edited it altogether.
As we all know schools will not have students returning until March 8th and only then if the government data allows. At this point we don’t know when children’s extra curricular activities will be allowed back to ‘in person’. As soon as we know we will let you know but our hope is that it won’t be too long after schools get back. Fingers crossed!
It will have been nearly a year since the Covid crisis started and it has changed everything we took for granted. It has been a tough year for all of us in lots of different ways. There is light and hope at the end of the tunnel through vaccination and it can’t come quick enough. Life will get back to normal one day but until then we must carry on doing what we can to combat the spread of this virus and remain positive.
Term dates
This term finishes on Saturday 13th February. We then have a week off over half term. Classes resume on Monday 22nd February – Saturday 27th March.
2020 Show Update
As you all know our 10th anniversary show ‘Excelebration’ should have taken place in May 2020 but was postponed due to the pandemic. The choreography was almost completed, most costumes had been delivered and fitted, and we were just about to start giving out the costumes when we were thrust into lockdown last March. We had hoped that we could reschedule the show for February this year but then as time went on it became obvious that this was not going to be possible due to the restrictions.
We were then holding out hope for May/June this year. However, with the current Covid situation, it is with great sadness that we also have to cancel the show for this year too.
As you can imagine we are bitterly disappointed by this decision but we know that the restrictions are there to save lives. Obviously people’s health is far more important and protecting the NHS is vital.
However we also know the annual Excel show brings so much joy and happiness to our students. The childhood memories that are made during show week are precious. So we know the students will also be as disappointed as we are.
The good news is we have booked the theatre for May half term 2022 and our 10th anniversary show ‘Excelebration’ will have to wait until then. And what an AMAZING special show that will be!
IDTA Exam update
We had planned two exam sessions with the IDTA in March 2021 for the ballet and tap students. Exam classes were due to start in January but with the current Covid situation as it is and the fact that we are in lockdown, it is unfortunately not going to be possible for the March exams to take place. We are determined to do all that we can to enable the students to take their IDTA exams before the summer so we have rebooked two more exam sessions with the IDTA for Sunday 4th July and Sunday 11th July. Please put these dates in your diary if your child is in one of the classes that were due to take exams in March. When we return to ‘in person’ classes we will put a plan together for the exam classes and let you know the dates for your diary.
In the meantime we are continuing to work towards these exams and when we feel that students are solid with their work we will start to introduce them to some of the new steps from the next grade up.
Excel Show Favourites
You will know if you follow us on social media that we have been delving into the Excel show archives from the last nine years and showing whole show numbers from start to finish on our website and YouTube channel. This has been part of our #throwbackthursday series and we have had great fun getting people to vote which show number they would like to see again.
It has also reminded us how much we miss the theatre. Theatres and performing arts have been hit hugely by the pandemic and a world without the performing arts is inconceivable. We therefore would like to thank you again for supporting our performing arts school during the pandemic and look forward to when we can once again enjoy the thrill of live theatre. #savethearts
And Lastly…….
Have a lovely half term and a rest from home schooling.
