OCTOBER INTENSIVE FEATURED IN THE PRESS
Budding dancers have been put through their paces this week in an intensive training course by some of the very top professionals in the field.
Students at Swindon Dance Youth Dance Academy, one of only nine [Centres of Advanced Training] around the country, have been put to their limits with a leading choreographer in a bid to boost their career prospects.
Russell Maliphant, who trained at the Royal Ballet School before going on to set up his own company, has been exposing the ambitious youngsters to some of his experimental techniques over a high intensity week.
He has been joined by Carys Staton, 23, a former student with Swindon Dance, who is touring with him as part of the company. "I was on the same [Centre of Advanced Training] as these students when I was here" she said. Swindon was the pilot scheme, and when I finished I trained for three years [at Rambert] before joining Russell.
"Everything we are doing is new to them, and we are really pushing them to explore new things. That is a pretty scary prospect for some of them, but they have really grabbed the opportunity. We are working through a series of workshops which focus on unique ways of thinking about anatomy and the body."
That is a pretty scary prospect for some of them, but they have really grabbed the opportunity. We are working through a series of workshops which focus on unique ways of thinking about anatomy and the body. "We work a lot with improvisation, and Russell has a knowledge of anatomy I have delved into. We have seen a real improvement in the last 5 days. I think the really brilliant thing about Swindon Dance is that it gives young people the opportunity to work with such a breadth of people who are making a living out of this. They give you a great foundation to open your eyes to what you can make out of yourself when you leave."
Sharol Mackenzie, 17 of the Exeter [Contemporary] Programme, was selected for the intensive...ahead of auditions for dance schools around the country. " I have always loved dance, but I wasn't really aware I could do it as a job, so it was never an aspiration" she said. "But when I came here they showed me I could go to dance school and it could lead to a career. It has been really amazing, and has really made me think about broadening my improvisation skills."
Jodie Evans, 18, of Swindon Dance said she found the week very rewarding. "I do the full-time programme, so I a here from Wednesday to Saturday every week" she said. "it is more like a second home to me, and I hardly ever in my own house. I did not realise just how difficult it was until I came here. It is very hard, and not as pretty as everyone thinks. The training and techniques I have learned are really helping me to progress as a dancer."
Marie McCluskey, Director of Swindon Dance, said "Dance is just another way of learning , so they get into careers they may never have thought of as a result. The funding we receive from the DfE means people from any background can access dance at this level. Students who may live in rural areas can ave their transport paid for. We have an excellent team of dancers based in Swindon, because it creates the jobs to attract them here. That way we are able to bring in the equivalent of the top paid footballers in the world in terms of experience."
Taken from the article by Dominic Gilbert: http://www.swindonadvertiser.co.uk/news/10777857.We___re_head_over_heels/