Term 2: Progress Report

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.

 

We’re Moving!!!

Starting on the 7th 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

Showcase

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!

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Acro

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.

GDA_Acro

Dancer

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.

Summer School 2017!

We are so excited to announce our Summer School 2017!

After the success of last year we are back with another great week.

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Each day students will participate in a range of dance, drama and singing classes, leading up to a showcase at the end of the week. Classes will be taught by a range of professionals currently working within the industry.

The emphasis is on having lots of fun! Everyone is welcome – GDA Student or not. No prior experience necessary.

PROMOTION: Book two kids and get 20% off!

PLACES LIMITED

Dates Monday 31st July – Friday 4th August
Times 9am-3pm (8.30am early drop off)
Ages 3+ (classes will be split by age)
Cost £150 (Promotion discount – 20% off if two kids booked – £120.00)
Location Partick Burgh Halls, 9 Burgh Hall St, Glasgow G11 5LW 

Katie: Our Newest Member of Teaching Staff

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.

Katie

The Nutcracker!

Glasgow Dance Academy is excited to announce that we’ll be partnering with the Russian State Ballet Company to produce a joint ballet production of The Nutcracker for our Christmas show. This is an incredible opportunity for the students, giving them a unique opportunity to dance alongside the professional ballet dancers of such a prestigious company.

The students will attend Masterclasses held by the Artistic Director and Stage Producer – Vitaly Akhundov, who will be managing the full production of The Nutcracker.

The show will be on Saturday 12th November at 7pm, doors open 6:30pm. We ask that you support us and spread the word – we are aiming for a sell out show!

The Russian State Ballet theatre has remained one of the leading Russian ballet companies for the past 20 years. Their repertoire includes masterpieces of the classical repertoire and the best samples of modern choreography. The primary task of the “Russian State Ballet” is to preserve the heritage of the Russian and West-European choreography alongside seeking newer forms of dancing.

The Russian State Ballet are seeking new opportunity by establishing links away from home.  Their goal is to make ballet accessible to all young people by engaging them in projects such as the one Glasgow Dance Academy are to undertake. We are thrilled to be joining the company in this years production of The Nutcracker and cannot wait to get started!

 

Nurcracker 104 photo by M.Logvinov 1.12.11

GDA Summer School

What a week!

The GDA summer school was a huge success. The students took part in a range of classes taught by current industry professionals from Hip-Hop and Ballet to Musical Theatre and Jazz. The students threw themselves into every class and ended up with over fifteen numbers to perform at the showcase on Friday afternoon. Friends and family were more than impressed and students were signing up for next year. Check out our social media for all the pictures and videos from the week.

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The biggest difference however, was in the students confidence. From the Monday morning to the showcase on the Friday afternoon the students had completely transformed. It is extremely rewarding to see young people grow and build their self-esteem through challenge and participation at GDA. It is at the heart of everything we strive for.

We can not wait to welcome all the new students (and the old) on Saturday 20th August after a long summer break at our new premises – Notre Dame High School. We have some very exciting announcements to make over the coming weeks so stay tuned…

 

GDA SUMMER SCHOOL

GDA SUMMER SCHOOL

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We’re Moving!

Glasgow Dance Academy are going to be moving to a bigger premises when we return in August.

From Saturday 20th August we will be holding class at Notre Damn High School, which is just off Byres Road near Botanic Gardens.

Notre Dame High School
160 Observatory Rd
Glasgow
G12 9LN

The timetable will not change, however the change in location will give students much more space, changing rooms and a car park for parents.

The high school is only a 5 minute drive from the church we have been using so I hope the change will not be too disruptive for anyone.

We have lots of exciting things planned for next term and are looking forward to starting work on our Christmas show.

We are so excited about the new venue and look forward to seeing you all there.