Dance News

Many students are attending more than one class over the course of the week. Our ballet classes offer the opportunity to do pointe work, we have a number of contemporary and lyrical dance classes, a number of tap classes, as well as offering dance for musical theatre and jazz. The boys’ company Vortex goes from strength to strength and boys are offered their own class to bring up their strength and technique. A Gifted and Talented class runs on a Tuesday evening to really help to develop higher level skills. The programme is evolving constantly and looks like it will increase and improve next year too. There were two dance shows this year, one in the Theatre and one in Great School and audiences commented on the quality and breadth of styles on show. We are looking at the possibility of collaborating with other departments to produce creative work and to perform in unusual places. Very exciting times for Dance at Lancing College.

Nicholas Beeby Director of Drama and Dance

It was incredibly exciting for the new dance style classes to be implemented into both the sport and activities programme. There is now more of a variety of styles and the dance community at school has grown much larger. The dance shows in May were a huge success and each piece was emotive but also still fun and exciting. I took part in most of the contemporary pieces, a ballet piece, and a jazz piece. It was exhausting but worth all the time and effort. I had amazing teachers and an amazing group, which I have grown really close to. Especially with contemporary, there is a need for closeness and trust, which I found quickly with the girls I was working with. Every Dance teacher at school has been working incredibly hard and developing the most beautiful works of choreography. I would like to thank them and Mr Beeby for making the shows possible because they were an incredible experience to showcase something I am passionate about and something that is a huge part of who I am. Dance has taught me to be confident and expressive, which is something that I think is so important for those growing up. The showcases depicted so many styles of talent and have inspired much more to join in. The dance community is growing and it’s for the best!

Lana Morrison, Lower Sixth