What s On At Mt Martha School of Dance!!! We hope you enjoy this publication of What s On. Many events have taken place over the past 3 terms in the School and we would like to share this information with all of our families. We have had R.A.D Classical Autumn and Winter Holiday Classes, Open days for Pre school classical students, Junior Jazz students, Internal Jazz and Classical exams, Mid Year Display, VCE Workshops, Dance Party and more! Mt Martha School of Dance Promotional Campaign: You have probably noticed that we have a new promotional campaign including: flyers, posters, banners, and an updated website As the school is in its 27 th year it was time to modernise the brand and make sure that Mt Martha School of Dance is able to continue into the future providing quality dance education. I have attached the new flyer for those familles who have not viewed the new design and artwork. I thank the following people/businesses for assisting in this promotional campaign: Redwood Limited: for all printing (this is Sally Rackham s family business) and they offered the school a competitive rate for printing which I am extremely grateful for. They always produce quality work. 95875122 Mystery Media: Tim Burnett has done a wonderful job with designing all products and creating a modern brand 0418337185 mysterymedia.com.au James Bugg Photography: Thank you to my son James for the beautiful photos used in the products jamesbuggphoto.com Styro Art: producing banners and signs Factory 3/82 Watt Road 59 770266 Chloe Arnott: Thank you to Chloe for performing in the shots and being so skilful in the wonderful action shots. Also thank you to any students who appear in the campaign photos.
Mid Year Display 2014 At the end of Term 2 all of our Intermediate to Senior Classical, Jazz and VCE students performed at our annual Mid Year Display held at the Peninsula Community Theatre. The performance was once again entertaining and we were very proud of the student s efforts. The students displayed routines in the styles of Contemporary, Jazz and Classical. The display also gave our VCE students the opportunity to perform their solos and small group works which they had choreographed and is a major part of their coursework. The Mt Martha School of Dance Mid Year Display supports the Alice Sloan Trust. The trust provides support to disadvantaged children in a number of areas. Alice Sloan was a student of Mt Martha School of Dance for many years. Her life was tragically taken in 2005 when she was in Year 10. The school financially hosts the event and audience members may donate money on the day if they wish. We raised $570 for the trust which will go towards supporting the trusts priorities. We thank everyone for attending the event and supporting us in keeping Alice s memory alive. We also thank those parents who assisted with the afternoon tea. VCE News The VCE Students have been focusing strongly on theory over the past few terms. Elyssia Bugg and myself have tutored intensive Theory sessions for all Units which has assisted them immensely with their coursework. The areas of History and Art and their impact on Dance has been covered in these sessions. Unit ¾ s are preparing for their external practical exam in October. Unit ¾ students will perform in Melbourne in front of 3 external assessors. In November they will sit their theory exam. We wish Jessica Amor, Elise Thomas, Emma Rumian and Amy Williams all the best for these exams. Unit ½ students, Jordan Bartolo, Halle Taylor, Jessica Carter, Beth Scaunich, Abbie Owens, Grace Cooney, Sammy Nutt, Chelsea Luke, Sophie Peasley and Amelia Halmarick have also been working very hard on composition choreography and studying the spatial organisation and group structure of dances. They have also studied the cultural influences such as World War 1 which impacted on the choreographer s choice of expressive intention, movement vocab and production aspects in the dances that they are studying. Students rehearsing for Mid Year Display below VCE Students in theory class below
Australian Ballet Holiday Programs Minna Magliano and Mischa Kurzeme attended the Winter School Program, held by the Australian Ballet in which they participated in several styles of dance. Left to Right: Annalise Butler, Students who attended RAD Grade Awards, Australian Ballet Holiday Program students Mischa and Minna R.A.D Workshop The following students attended the RAD workshops held on two Sundays during Term 2. These classes were for Victorian students to attend and were taken by examiners. Grade 2: Poppy Cook, Gemma Dennison, Chloe McFarlane and Emmika Mummery Intermediate Classes were held in the April school Holidays. Well Done to Vanessa McCaull, Ella Guiney, Annalise Butler, Sophie Virgona and Athina Shutt for their dedication to their dance. Congratulations to Annalise Butler for receiving an Encouragement Scholarship at the Intermediate Autumn School. Grade Awards Five students attended the RAD Grade Awards program in September. These awards are of a high standard and students competed for monetary scholarships to attend R.A.D workshops in the future. Congratulations to Athina Shutt, Cate Quintarelli, Sophie Virgona, Annalise Butler and Bridget Lee for attending this event.. Professional Development: Hobart Conference New R.A.D Syllabus and Update to the Jazz Curriculum. In Term 2 2014 Paige and Vicki attended an intensive three day course in Hobart organised by the RAD to learn the new grades 4 and 5 RAD Classical syllabus. It was an intensive seminar and we were busy dancing all day every day, so not much sight seeing!! We have introduced this new syllabus this year and we are LOVING it!!! It is creative, challenging and definitely engages the children. The new Inter Foundation and Intermediate syllabus was introduced 2 years ago and similar to the new grades it has been a positive advancement for our students. As teachers we have to complete various courses each year in order to maintain our registration with the RAD. The Junior and Intermediate Jazz syllabus was updated last year, because we were able to include many of the exercises that had been in the old RAD syllabus under the contemporary section. This has broadened our Jazz curriculum in the area of free movement and increased technical skill. We continue to ensure students are progressing in all styles of dance.
R.A.D Classical Holiday Classes with MMSOD New R.A.D Syllabus and Update to the Jazz Many students attended our RAD holiday classes taken by Chloe Arnott during the Winter school holidays. The students found the classes very beneficial and gained confidence in their exam work. We thank the parents and students for supporting these classes as the improvement and increase in confidence was very evident in those students who attended the sessions. Students in action: Holiday classes, Internal Exams, RAD Exams and Creative students Major R.A.D Exams 2014 Inter Foundation and Intermediate students are able to complete their exams at Mt Martha. Here are some of the Intermediate Foundation students warming up in the new studio at Mt Martha House. Congratulations to all of the following students for reaching this high level of dance. Intermediate Foundation: Shannon Pitschlitz, Viola Wright, Minna Magliano, Zara Cooney, Mischa Kurzeme, Mia Farish and Georgia Musgrave. Intermediate: Cate Quintarelli, Sophie Virgona, Athina Shutt, Vanessa McCaull, Ella Guiney, Annalise Butler and Bridget Lee. RAD Exams 2014 The RAD Classical exams were held on August 15 th, 16 th and 18 th. In preparation for these exams students attended extra Thursday classes and holiday classes. These exams are of a technically high standard and the students worked very hard leading up to the special day. The students came out of their exams feeling positive and happy with their efforts. We congratulate all of the students for persisting and working to reach their personal best in order to reach the R.A.D International standards in classical ballet. Many students came out of their exam saying I want to do that again.
Internal Jazz Exams 2014 Once again we offered Jazz students from Grade 1 to Grade 4 the opportunity to participate in Internal Jazz exams. The response was fantastic! We were very proud of the student s behaviour and approach to the exams. Internal Classical Exams 2014 Students from Primary and Grade 1B Classical also had the opportunity to participate in Internal examinations. For classical students, the experience is wonderful in preparing them for future Royal Academy of Dance examination in Higher Grade levels. These exams were held during the last weeks of Term 2, All Students have received a report, Certificate and a Medal for their efforts. This experience is positive for students, as it encourages them to develop in the areas of technical skill, confidence, performance, discipline and etiquette. Congratulations to all students who participated in the exams. Below: Students on the day of exams Toorak College Gala Ball: This year we were asked to perform a Senior Jazz group dance in the theme of Gatsby at the Toorak College Gala Ball. Opening the evening, senior students performed their routine and it was a huge success!! Parents who attended the ball informed us of how wonderful the student were. The school was thrilled with the professionalism of the students and loved their routine. Congratulations to the following students and Paige for rehearsing the students and supporting them on the night: Olivia Tait, Georgia Musgrave, Mischa Kurzeme, Zara Cooney, Grace Cooney, Sammy Nutt, Sophie Peasley, Taylor Davies, Vanessa McCaull, Ella Guiney and Ellie Hutchinson.. Choreographic Display: Senior students are able to enter a Choreographic Display which will be held at PCT Studio along with the VCE students in Term 4. Students can choreograph either solos, duos and trios and performed their dances in front of an audience. All students receive a trophy for their effort and commitment. Pre School Open Day: Creative Dance and Beginner Ballet students enjoyed their Open Day in Term3. Family and friends attended the Open Days and enjoyed witnessing the students, drama, skill and most of all their enjoyment!! The students were fantastic! Beginner Ballet showcased their Wizardry theme and the Creative class demonstrated their Circus theme.
Dance Party 2014 The Dance party was held on Friday September 12 th. We offer this event to Jazz and Classical students from Primary to Senior Levels. The students had a wonderful time and enjoyed the event. It is a chance for the students to let their hair down and have a fun night of dancing and socialising with each other outside of the dance class environment. It is also our way of congratulating all of the students and thanking them for working well in class and those students who have completed Exams. The students had so much fun and loved having familiar faces in charge of the activities throughout the night. There was a lot of dancing and singing (karaoke) Many of the children loved the microphone: we could not get them off them!!! Thank you to Elyssia Bugg and Sammy Nutt who hosted the Junior Dance Party. them away from them!!!! School Aerobics: By Vashti Lane Congratulations to Vashti Lane and Matilda Jacoby. In May this year Matilda and I competed in the Dance section of the School Aerobics. Matilda did a contemporary dance that she choreographed. She got one shot at it and was beautiful. Placing 4th she was through to the state rounds in June. You compete against different styles of dance but you are marked on how well you perform/execute your style. In the second round Matilda did her best and was unsuccessful in going through to Nationals. I competed in the Auditions lyrical section. For this all of the girls in this section meet backstage 30 minutes before we went on to learn a piece of choreography that we would learn. We would then go on stage together and perform. We were given numbers and on you gothen go on stage together and perform. We were We were given numbers and on you go. Our choreographer in May has performed and choreographed all over the world. We did the routine over and over about 12 or more times, we were sent of stage and brought back on. It was hard work but I loved it. I was also lucky enough to be chosen to go to states and compete again in June. Both Matilda and I love the experience and will be doing it again.