Alta End of Term Newsletter

Autumn Term 2022 Newsletter

We’ve come to the end of another long, busy and successful term! We welcomed many new students and their families this term as well as teacher, Miss Siân. Last week saw the culmination of weeks of hard work by those who took their RAD ballet exams. Well done to everyone for your continued progress!

Student Updates and Successes

Following on from last term’s wonderful student news, we are delighted to report on more student successes over the last few months. Congraulations to you all!

Zak won the Frank Freeman Cup for his self choreographed solo which he performed as part of National Youth Ballet’s choreography competition. He was also runner up in his section of the competition.

We hope to see him perform this solo in the future!

Following successful auditions earlier this term, Bella and Marcus have both been offered places in London Children’s Ballet touring company for the 2023 season. From the 500 dancers who registered to audition, just 48 young dancers were invited to form LCB’s touring companies.

Marcus is also a Mid Associate at The Royal Ballet School.

Lois and Matilda successfully auditioned for Central School of Ballet Associates last term and started the programme this term. Both received very good first term reports.

In addition, Matilda successfully auditioned for Classical Ballet Associates at Tring Park School for the Performing Arts and she performed earlier this term with the Brighton Theatre Group in their production of Grease along with fellow student Abi.

Following Marla’s summer intensive at Ballet Boost, she successfully auditioned for their year long Associates programme which started in September.

Sophia and Luciana also attend Ballet Boost Associates.

Charlotte (picture above left) had an incredible opportunity to dance on tour with Vincent Dance Theatre this term.

Alta teachers, Miss Emily, Miss Vikki and Miss Deborah enjoyed watching Zak perform in National Youth Ballet’s Gala at Sadlers Wells in early September.

Get In Touch

You can keep up to date with all our news and student updates throughout the term by following us on social media (see below for the links). Please let us know of any performances / shows that you may be involved in.

If you are interested in applying / auditioning for vocational courses or Assoicate programmes, we can provide advice and guidance. These courses are a wonderful way to supplement your dance training with Alta Academy. Many require photographs or videos which we can help organise for you.

Dance Photoshoot

On the subject of photos, if any dancer would like to book a dance photoshoot, English National Ballet School graduate and budding photographer, Anya Mercer is currently in Brighton. Please enquire here for pricing and availability.

Royal Academy of Dance Exams

Our RAD ballet exams took place on Friday 16th December. It was the first time we had students taking the Solo Performance Award (SPA) exam. This exam focuses on performing syllabus and non syllabus dances and can be costumed.

Well done to everyone for working so hard and now fingers crossed for results!

Other News

Results From Last Term’s RAD Exams

Congratulations to all those who took exams in the Summer Term both at the RAD studios in London (vocational levels) and Brighton.

There were some excellent results including distinctions for those who performed the male syllabus for Grades 2, 3 and 4.

Active & Applied Learning

We have introduced notebooks this term for Grade 3 and above and are actively encouraging students to take responsibility for their learning.

Picture here are some Grade 3’s and Grade 5’s taking a moment in class to make some notes, be it ballet terminology, corrections, tasks and homework.

Summer Show Filming

We still have Summer Show DVD’s and USB’s if you would like to purchase for a gift or to keep for yourself. Please contact us for details.

New Classes & Other Dance Genres

NEW Contemporary Classes

We are very excited to introduce Junior and Senior Contemporary classes next term on Mondays with Lucy Nelson.

Lucy trained at Rambert School and has worked professionally as dancer and choreographer. She has been teaching both ballet and contemporary dance for many years and is a tutor for trainee teachers at Dance2Advance.

Lucy is looking forward to introducing her passion for contemporary dance to Alta Academy - her classes combine fun and creativity with the techniques of Graham, Cunningham and Release, and incorporate the ISTD Contemporary syllabus.

Jazz Classes

Our Jazz classes on Wednesdays with Miss Sam are popular and great fun. Students learn different styles of dance movement from lyrical to musical theatre and commercial. Students will also learn routines from well known shows.

PBT & Conditioning Classes

Our PBT (Progressing Ballet Technique) and Conditioning for ballet (and pointe) classes on Tuesdays and Thursdays are proving to be very effective. These classes are a wonderful supplement to dance training. They not only develop greater strength but also a deeper understanding how to activate different muscle groups.

Adult Classes

As well as after school and evening classes, we also run daytime ADULT CLASSES on a drop in or block booking basis. Click here for more information.

Please contact us on info@altadance.co.uk, call or text 07876 492899 if you would like to sign up for any of the classes above or have any questions and suggestions for future classes.

Our Sustainably Sourced Uniform

As you may be aware, we provide a full uniform service. We have partnerships with a number of UK dancewear suppliers and have recently teamed up with Dansez, a dancewear company producing sustainable dance clothing.

We are proud to be aligned with companies and brands who are doing their bit to reverse climate change and who repurpose waste into high quality dancewear. Dansez is the first dancewear producer to use ECONYL® regenerated fibre, transforming nylon waste into new clothing.

Ivy, one of our Pre-Primary dancers is modelling the new Pre-school / Pre-Primary / Primary leotard with skirt and matching wrap cardigan.

We also provide matching skin tone tights and shoes and can advise on pointe shoe fittings.

As well as leotards, tights and shoes, we have our smart Alta Academy of Dance jackets, which are perfect to wear in colder weather, or to wear to and from class.

You can use the ordering page on our website or email us.

Keep Us Updated…

Contact Details

Please keep us updated of any changes to your contact details - address, phone, email, so we have the most up to date information in the event of needing to notify you of any class changes (e.g. a venue change) or other important updates.

Spring Term 2023

The website has now been updated with the Spring term timetable (click here to view). Please note classes are subject to change depending on numbers. Invoices will be sent out shortly.

For reference, the Spring Term Dates 2023 are as follows:
Wednesday 4th January to Saturday 1st April.
Half term week: Monday 13th February to Sunday 19th February.

AND FINALLY…

From all of us at Alta, we thank you for your continued support and wish you and your families a lovely Christmas and best wishes for the New Year. We look forward to seeing you all next term!

We sign off with some lovely pictures from our watching week.

photo credits: Anya Mercer