All posts by freya

Baby Ballet and Modern

During this term in Baby Ballet the children have been improving on there mime skills and musicality to help create a more impactful performance. They have also been exploring dance skills and expressive movement, assisting them in becoming more graceful and coordinated. Their basic technique and core skills have greatly improved this term and we hope to see them further refine these skills next term.

Junior Ballet and Modern

We have been preparing the Juniors to sit their Pre-Primary ISTD examinations next term. They have been learning about exam technique to provide them with the opportunity of sitting the exam. They have been working on their exercises and choreographed pieces in Ballet and Modern. Both classes have been solidifying core skills such as basic technique and expression.

Pre-Intermediate Ballet and Modern

The Pre-Intermediates are also working towards sitting their Primary exam next term which consists of basic technique, rhythm and a choreographed dance. They are currently improving on core skills, such as step ball changes, runs, pliés and dégagés. They have also been learning basic rhythmic response to improve musicality.

Intermediate Ballet and Modern

Intermediates are to sit their Grade 1 exam in the new year. The ballet exam is composed of  barre – pliés, tendu; centre – port de bras; adage – arabesque; allegro – jetés, pas du chat; along with a choreographed dance. In Modern there is a focus on travel such as step ball change, turns and kicks along with a rhythm section where they mark and clap the assigned rhythm. This helps to develop their understanding of music and improve musicality.

Senior Ballet and Modern

The seniors are aiming to sit their Grade 4 examination next term. The ballet exam involves barre, centre, allegro, travel and a dance. They’re expected to know all exercises and french ballet terminology such as pliés, tendu, chassés, sautés, jetés, gallops and pas de chat in order to complete free work successfully in their exam. In Modern, the exercises focus on strengthening core, spine and hip loosening, leg exercises and isolation to test coordination and control. The students will also sit a rhythm section too and perform a choreographed dance piece.

Acro

In acro there is a focus on five sections: flexibility, strength, balancing, limbering and tumbling. In flexibility we are working on our splits, needles and shoulder flexibility to assist in our tumbling and limbering. In limbering we are working on bridges with waves and retirés. In tumbling the girls are working on ariels, back walkovers and front walkovers.

Starting on the 7^th of October GDA will officially be operating from Kelvinside Academy which is situated only five minute from where we are currently based. The entrance is on Kirklee Road. Not only will we be running on a new timetable but senior classes have now changed to Thursdays. We hope this is of no inconvenience and look forwards to seeing you at our new base as of this week! Times are as follows:

Saturdays-

Baby Ballet – 9:30 – 10:00am

Baby Jazz – 10:00 – 10:30am

Junior Ballet – 10:00 – 10:45am

Junior Jazz – 10:45 – 11:30am

Pre-Inter Ballet – 10:45 – 11:30am

Pre-Inter Jazz – 11:30 – 12:15pm

Inter Ballet – 11:30 – 12:15pm

Inter Jazz – 12:15 – 1:00pm

Thursdays-

Acro – 6:00 – 7:00pm

Senior Ballet – 7:00 – 7:45pm

Senior Jazz – 7:45 – 8:30pm

We are excited to announce that next Saturday we will be showing all of our work from the past half a year! The whole of GDA has been working immensely hard to pull this off and we can’t wait for parents, grandparents and whoever else may come, to see all of our children’s work. If you have all children there by 10 am at the latest, the show will commence at roughly 10:30 am. We hope to see you all there!

GDA is excited to announce that we now have a new class! We are now offering Acro classes on Wednesdays from 5:30 till 6:30, £5 a class. It is open to both Seniors and Intermediates but spaces are going quick, so make sure to come along this Wednesday to get a space!

A little bit about Acro:

Acro has five divisions: flexibility, strength, balancing, limbering and tumbling.

Flexibility is the range of movements a person can make, often including bending or stretching. Strength is your physical strength. Balancing is your steadiness. Limbering is warm-up preparation to loosen muscles. Finally, tumbling is preforming acrobatic feats such as somersaults and handsprings.

Why you should come along:

It’s a step-by-step class, tailored to the individual to help them improve their flexibility, strength and body awareness which will help them to become more coordinated and able dancers, improving their musicality, emotional expression, line and extension. It will take your child from being unable to do forward rolls to managing to do an effortless summersault, helping them to become more mature and impressive dancers.

A new movie will be hitting cinemas soon called Dancer. Dancer offers a uniquely personal portrait of a most singular man and dancer. Blessed with astonishing power and poise, Sergei Polunin took the dance world by storm and became the Royal Ballet’s youngest ever principal. At the peak of his success, aged 21, he walked away, driven to the brink of self-destruction by stardom – his talent more a burden than a gift. It’s a truly fascinating and inspirational film which shows the struggles and victories a professional in dance can endure. It’s a brilliant movie showing in cinemas throughout Glasgow, bringing a great opportunity to inspire and motivate all our members at GDA.

As of November, GDA has had a new member in the teaching staff; Katie. Katie teaches all of the ballet classes at GDA and junior jazz too. She’s a highly valued member of the GDA community. Here’s a little about Katie:

Katie trained at Rambert School of Ballet and Contemporary dance. Upon graduating she danced with Rambert Dance Company as part of the Comedy of Change Tour. Following this she worked throughout the UK with companies and artists including The London Ballet Company, National Theatre Scotland, Rosie Kay Dance Company, Scottish Opera and Company Chordelia. She has also taught extensively throughout the UK and is excited to be a part of Glasgow Dance Academy.