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Dance Challenge™ News --------------------------------------- 2010 NEWS ---------------------------------------‘Be yourself’ - Inspire your students List of our Choreographers for 2010 Flawless’ manager in search of Dance Challenge™ ‘Cinderella’ Attending our FREE training is paying dividends! UK Finals - Winners | Saturday 3rd July | 7.30pm UK Schools - Winners | Saturday 3rd July | 1pm SCHOOLS AND GROUPS GOING THROUGH TO THE UK FINALS SO FAR... DANCE CHALLENGE™ RBKC WINNERS AS PROMISED... FREE TICKETS GIVEAWAY WORTH £15 EACH FOR THE UK FINALS DO WE BRING THE SAME DANCE TO THE FINALS? UK GROUPS WINNERS - 17 JUNE 2010 - 7:30PM SOUTHWARK WINNERS - 17 JUNE 2010 - 1:00PM WHAT AN IMPRESSIVE START TO THE COMPETITION... GUEST ARTISTS ANNOUNCED FOR DANCE CHALLENGE™ 2010 2010 JUDGES ANNOUNCED 2010 JUDGES BIOGRAPHIES SOUTHWARK – LIST OF TEAMS (1:00PM, 17 JUNE 10) UK GROUPS – LIST OF TEAMS (7:30PM, 17 JUNE 10) KENSINGTON & CHELSEA – LIST OF TEAMS (7:30PM, 28 JUNE 10) UK SCHOOLS – LIST OF TEAMS (1:00PM, 3rd JULY 10) HAVE YOU EDITED YOUR MUSIC? WHICH GROUPS ARE GOING THROUGH TO THE FINALS? DESIGNING AND MAKING YOUR COSTUMES 1400 DANCERS – A RECORD NUMBER TICKETS ARE NOW ON SALE FOR THIS YEAR'S EVENTS ONLY A FEW PLACES LEFT TO - DANCE CHALLENGE™ --------------------------------------- 2009 NEWS --------------------------------------- WORLD CHAMPIONS – ‘TABOT’ AFTER APPEARING AT DANCE CHALLENGE™ DANCE CHALLENGE™ UK WINNERS 2009 DANCE CHALLENGE™ SOUTHWARK WINNERS 2009 LIST OF OUR CHOREOGRAPHERS TICKETS SOLD OUT - DANCE CHALLENGE™ UK WATCH THE LIVE RECORDING OF 1st JULY SHOW FINAL LIST - DANCE CHALLENGE™ UK 17th July 2009 7:30PM (SBC) KENSINGTON & CHELSEA WINNERS - 1 July 09 LIVE WORLD BROADCST - KENSINGTON & CHELSEA SHOW 1 July 09 THE COUNTDOWN HAS BEGUN! - FINAL CHANCE - REGISTER BY 30/6/09 AUDIENCE VOTE! HOW DOES IT WORK? - (June 09) TRAINING DAY FOR RBKC GROUPS, 28/2/09 - (Feb 09) DANCE CHALLENGE™ 2008 ON YOUTUBE - (Jan 09) --------------------------------------- 2008 NEWS --------------------------------------- Dance Challenge™ Kensington & Chelsea 1 July 2009 date for your calendar Free Dance Course: October Half-Term DVD now on sale! At Wembley Arena (again) - Dance Challenge™ groups at Culture8 Festival Dance Challenge™ 2008 Winners - £150 cash voucher training Tomorr Kokona interviewed on BBC London 94.9FM! Dance Challenge™ 2008 Launch Party Report The BIG ISSUE sponsors Dance Challenge™ 2008 ENO Opens Its Doors For Our Launch Party Cash Prizes For The First Time At Dance Challenge™ 2008 Dance Challenge™ And Big Dance --------------------------------------- 2007 NEWS --------------------------------------- 6th Dance Challenge™ - 18th July 2007 - record numbers Dance prodigies - audition dates set - open call! --------------------------------------- 2010 NEWS ---------------------------------------
‘Be yourself’ - Inspire your students An interview with James Wilton, one of our professional guest artists As a teacher or group leader you are often asked by your students about the best way to pursue their dancing career. Questions such as: What should I do with my life? When is the best time to start the dance training? What are the highlights? What are the pitfalls? These and many other questions linger in the minds of young people and whilst you may not have all the right answers, your daily commitment and passion is the best advise you can give to them. We at the Dance Challenge believe that role models are one of the best ways to inspire young people. Therefore we we caught up with professional dancer and choreographer James Wilton, who performed at this year’s Dance Challenge™ as a Guest Artist. Read more below... Q: How old were you when you started dancing? A: I was 15 when I started dancing. Q: Where did you do your dance training and what styles did you train in? A: I trained at London Contemporary Dance School where I studied ballet and contemporary. I have always been most interested in choreography and so have studied that throughout my career. Q: Is there a style of dance you wish you were trained in? A: I wish I had better break dance skills. I’m not really into the foot work and image of break dance but I love the energy of the power moves like windmills, air flares etc. I’m trying to develop contemporary equivalents of a lot of the moves and incorporate them into my choreography. Q: If you weren’t dancing, what do you think you’d be doing? A: I think I would be studying philosophy. Or maybe something to do with film. I can’t say for definite as there is so much that I’m interested in. I’ve got many goals outside of dance that I’m still hoping to go and do. I don’t see myself being a dancer forever. Q: What do you like the most about what you do? A: I like the freedom. I work as a freelance teacher and choreographer and so I’m my own boss. I also like being in the studio, or on stage and being really physical and throwing myself (and other people) around. Q: What do you like the least about what you do? A: There isn’t much I dislike. The occasional early morning is about as bad as it gets. About dance in general I dislike the fact that 90% of dancers spend more time working non dance jobs than doing what they love because there aren’t enough jobs. Q: What advise would you give to young people wanting to pursue dance? A: Be realistic. Be open minded. Work HARD! Be yourself. Remember the people who help you when you are on your way up as they will be the people you’ll turn to if you are ever on your way back down. Enjoy what you do. Performing can be a short career so make sure you make the most of it. Be determined and learn from everything! Q: Have you got any performances coming up? A: I don’t have any performances coming up at present but I have been selected for the Sadler’s Wells “Global Dance Contest”. If I win that then my company will get to perform at Sadler’s Wells as part of Sadler’s Sampled which would be awesome! I’ve always wanted to perform there and so I am desperate to win! For more information visit www.globaldancecontest.com and if you would like to vote for me I’d really appreciate it! I’m also hoping to begin touring my work “The Shortest Day” around the U.K. and Europe over the next couple of months. Take a look at James’ website: www.jameswiltondance.org.uk You can also see his work online at: www.youtube.com/jameslwilton Do you want to give your students the opportunity to see professional dance artists like James perform live on stage? Register your group to dance at Dance Challenge™ 2011. Visit www.dancechallenge.co.uk and click ‘register’. List of our Choreographers for 2010 If your school or group won 1st Prize at Dance Challenge™ this year, you are entitled to three hours of FREE dance training. Below are a list of choreographers and artists who you may choose to work with. Once you have made your selection, please email: admin1@dancechallenge.co.uk or call: 0845 539 0014 to arrange a time and date. You must make a selection by 31st July 2010. James Wilton Style: Contemporary Originally from Cornwall James began his choreographic career during his training at London Contemporary Dance School where three of his works (Drift, Threads and Familiar Tones) were toured both nationally and internationally with LC3 (London Contemporary Dance Schools 3rd year touring company). Since graduating from LCDS James has received numerous commissions including remaking his work Drift for Scottish Dance Theatre for touring throughout 2010/11. James was also the Sadlers Wells, East London Dance and London Youth Dance Blueprint Bursary winner. With this he created 'Forest' for touring throughout London. Dee Spencer Style: Hip Hop/ Street Dance / Commercial Dance Dee has been dancing since she was 15 years old and started teaching street dance at 17 for a franchise company called Footloose. She currently manages group DNA Dancers, who recently appeared on Sky 1's Got to Dance. Matt Walker Style: Hip Hop/ Street Dance/ Jazz/ Contemporary Trained at The Urdang Academy of performing arts in musical theatre and professional dance. His recent artist credits include Gary Go, GFresh, Dotstar, Mariah Carey, Chris Brown and Cheryl Cole and he has performed at the UK movie premieres of High School Musical 3 and Adam Sandler's Bedtime Stories. Matt is the Director of Ombrascura Dance who are performing on July 3rd at this year’s dance challenge as guests and as a street dance/contemporary company we perform in videos and at events all throughout the UK. Matt is the co Founder and Director of The Urban Dance School - running 25 classes a week across the greater London area for anyone wishing to get involved in hiphop styles of dance. Emma Annetts Style: Contemporary Emma has an extensive International CV, her credits include working with Celine Dion, Elton Jonh, Justin Timberlake, Oprah Winfrey, Ellen Degeneress and Jay Leno. She has also been involved in the recent television show 'So You Think You Can Dance'. Marsha J Carrington Style: Commercial Street / Musical Theatre/ Lyrical The talented Choreographer Marsha J Carrington started dance training at the age of four at a west London dance school, Marsha then earned a place at the famous “Sylvia Young Theatre School. By the age of 16 Marsha studied performing arts at the School of respected industry Choreographer, “Brian Rogers”; before travelling to America to teach dance. Upon her return to the UK, Marsha capitalized upon her growing reputation by working as a professional dancer and then quickly established a niche for herself as a choreographer.In May 2006 Marsha founded her own performing arts School “Pinnacle Performing Arts” (PPA) Akosua Boakye Style: African Akosua began her dance training at Laban and in 1994 transferred to Roehampton Institute, graduating in 1997 with a BA combined (Hons) in Dance Studies and Social Policy and Administration. During her dance training in London she regularly travelled to Ghana taking classes in West African traditional dances. In 2005 Akosua became head of Dance Studies at Kensington and Chelsea College where she teaches Contemporary and African dance. In May this year Akosua became curriculum leader for performing Arts at Kensington and Chelsea College. She is currently further developing her own style and movement vocabulary in African Dance and pursuing her final year of her PGCE. Tanya Anderson Style: Commercial/Street Tanya’s career is undeniably diverse – she has choreographed for Dwayne and KMD – D&K Skank on their music video and has worked with groups who performed at the Queens Jubilee. She has also been a dance instructor for Carlton TV’s Dial A Date, a choreographer for established brands such as Cadbury's and events such as the Clothes Show live. Most recently, Tanya choreographed, performed and supplied dancers for the X Factor tour – supporting Lucy, Rachel and Ricky from 2009’s X Factor. She has also appeared in Britain’s Got Talent, supplied dancers for mega star Missy Elliot in concert and has danced with mega stars including Boy George, General Levy and Apache Indian. In 2009 Tanya founded Fierce Productionz, the all female dance agency that supplies professional dancers and choreographers to the commercial and corporate industry. She currently represents dancers who have performed for Katy Perry, Pink, Whitney Houston and Pixie Lott and constantly supplies dancers and choreography for Award Shows and Music Videos. Kieron Providince Style: Street/Hip Hop Kieron providence now 23 started dancing at the ripe age of 17. Since finishing his training at the urdang in the 2008 Kieron has added credits such as dancing for Alexandra Burke, JLS, Paloma faith and Whitney Huston, aslso featuring in a black berry commercial as well and playing an ugly sister is the award winning show into the hoods which is coming back this July. Kieron also teaches at the London metropolitan university and for the urban dance school, and choreographers for Ombrascura. He also choreographed the 2006 six show ignorance is bliss put on at Catford Broadway, and assisted the hypnotic show put on at Hoxton hall! Please note: more choreographers may be added to this list, but your voucher must be redeemed by 31st July 2010. Flawless’ manager in search of Dance Challenge™ ‘Cinderella’ The managers of renowned Hip Hop Crew Flawless (the runner up of Britain’s Got Talent) attended the Dance Challenge™ Finals last Saturday 3rd July, and was highly impressed with the quality of performances and the event itself. He identified a young male dancer and gave him his business card, however he has not heard anything from him yet... Are you the Dance Challenge™ Cinderella? This is a great opportunity for you to be managed by one of the leading dance agents in the country. If it was you, contact us at the office so we can put you in touch with the agent. Attending our FREE training is paying dividends! 45% of people who attended the Dance Challenge™ Training Day won an award This year, 45% of people who attended the free Training Day won an award at a Dance Challenge™ event. Throughout the year, Dance Challenge™ offer FREE Training Days, with the aim of giving group leaders and participants the chance to hone their skills in choreography, lighting, costume, music and props. It’s a great chance for you to ask any questions you may have, and we’ll also talk through how the day will run, to ensure you are fully prepared for a fun, enjoyable day. By attending the training day, you will be better informed and in tune with what the judges are expecting of your performance. Hence giving you a better chance to win and have a high quality performance. ‘At the Training Day we got lots of ideas on props, levels and formations, which really enhanced our dance’ (Group Leader, Parlaunt Park Primary School, Awarded 1st Prize at UK Schools and 2nd Prize at the UK Finals) Everyone is welcome to attend the Training Days, whether you are entering Dance Challenge™ or not, so if you have friends who you think may benefit, tell them to get in touch. Call: 0845 539 0014 or email dance@dancechallenge.co.uk. Our next Training Days are to be confirmed, so keep checking the website and your email inbox for details. UK Finals - Winners | Saturday 3rd July | 7.30pm Primary Schools 1st Prize: Our Lady of Victories Primary School 2nd Prize: Parlaunt Park Primary School 3rd Prize: Maple Walk Primary School Special Prize: Ivydale Primary School Secondary Schools 1st Prize: Finchley Catholic High School 2nd Prize: City of London Academy Islington (Cola-I) 3rd Prize: Fully Charged Dance Company Special Prize: Kingsdale Foundation Community Groups 1st Prize: The O’Brien School of Irish Dancing 2nd Prize: Spirit 3rd Prize: Innovate Special Prize: Gotitas de Sabor UK Schools - Winners | Saturday 3rd July | 1pm Primary Schools 1st Prize: Parlaunt Park Primary School 2nd Prize: Maple Walk Primary School 3rd Prize: Kensal Rise Primary School Special Prize: Bure Park Primary Secondary Schools 1st Prize: City of London Academy (Islington) 2nd Prize: Finchley Catholic High School 3rd Prize: Fully Charged Dance Company Special Prize: Carr Manor High School SCHOOLS AND GROUPS GOING THROUGH TO THE UK FINALS SO FAR... The UK Finals are being held on 3rd July at 7.30pm. To buy tickets call 020 7730 4500. The groups going through to the finals are: Primary Schools 1. Ivydale Primary School 2. Oliver Goldsmith Primary School 3. Our Lady of Victories Catholic Primary School 4. Servite RC Primary School 5. TBC 6. TBC 7. TBC Secondary Schools 1. Kingsdale School 2. City of London Academy 3. NFP 4. Chelsea Academy 5. St Charles Sixth Form College 6. TBC 7. TBC 8. TBC Community Groups 1. Innovate 2. Prodigy 3. Gotitas De Sabor 4. Palm Tree Dance Academy 5. Spirit 6. The O’Brien School of Irish Dance 7. Protocol 8. Mini Masters 9. Aaron Crosbie Academy of Irish Dance 10. Sion- Manning Dance Academy Watch this space as six more schools will be added! DANCE CHALLENGE™ RBKC WINNERS Once again, the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea saw a rainbow of dance styles last night. 300 young dancers accompanied by over 40 choreographers, teachers and group leaders had opportunity to showcase their talents at Cadogan Hall, Chelsea. We are proud to announce the winners from last night... Primary Schools 1st Prize – Our Lady of Victories Catholic Primary School 2nd Prize – Servite RC Primary School Secondary Schools 1st Prize – Chelsea Academy 2nd Prize – St Charles Sixth Form College Community Groups 1st Prize – Aaron Crosbie Academy of Irish Dance 2nd Prize – Sion- Manning Dance Academy AS PROMISED... As promised... not to be missed... feast your eyes on dance in the midst. Guaranteed.. never to fail, a plethora of talent who dare not to bail. Here they are, don’t miss your team Come show your support as they fulfill their UK dream. Dance Challenge™ Finals, Cadogan Hall, Chelsea 3rd July 2010 @ 7:30PM Don’t miss the opportunity to see the underdogs of dance, book tickets now: call 020 7730 4500. By Dance Challenge™ Team FREE TICKETS GIVEAWAY WORTH £15 EACH FOR THE UK FINALS Dance Challenge™ are giving away five pairs of FREE tickets for the UK Finals on the 3rd July 2010 at Cadogan Hall, 7:30PM. To be in with a chance of winning, make sure you complete your Audience Survey Form when you come to the following events: Dance Challenge™ Kensington & Chelsea | Monday 28th June | 7.30pm Dance Challenge™ UK Schools | Saturday 3rd July | 7.30pm Don’t forget to write your name and number so we can contact you if you’re successful. DO WE BRING THE SAME DANCE TO THE FINALS? Some groups who have gone through to the finals have asked a few questions here are the answers: 1. Can we bring a new piece to the finals? No, you cannot bring a new piece. You have to bring the same piece with which you entered the Dance Challenge eliminatory. 2. Can we make changes to the existing piece? No major changes are allowed. You may of course try to improve it, but it must be the same piece. Understandingly, some minor aspects of movements may change/ be altered e.g.: the levels or dynamics may change, but essentially, it should be the same routine. 3. Can we bring more dancers, or can we change them? You may not bring any more dancers than you originally had. You may bring less dancers if some cannot make it to the Finals. However you cannot bring new dancers to the piece. UK GROUPS WINNERS - 17 JUNE 2010 - 7:30PM 1st place: Spirit 2nd place: The O’Brien School of Irish Dance 3rd place: Protocol Special Prize - Mini Masters SOUTHWARK WINNERS - 17 JUNE 2010 - 1:00PM Southwark Primary Schools 1st place: Ivydale Primary School 2nd place: Oliver Goldsmith Primary School 3rd place: St Francis R.C. Primary School Special prize - Dulwich Hamlet Junior School Southwark Secondary Schools 1st place: Kingsdale Foundation School 2nd place: City of London Academy 3rd place: NFP Special prize - Harris Academy Southwark Community Groups 1st place: Innovate 2nd place: Prodigy and Gotitas de Sabor 3rd place: Palm Tree Special prize - Gotitas de Sabor WHAT AN IMPRESSIVE START TO THE COMPETITION... On Thursday 17th June 2010, Cadogan Hall opened its doors to hundreds of eager dancers excited by their opportunity to shine and perform on a professional stage. The audience and judges alike were blown away by the level of talent and focus shown by the young competitors this year. Dance Challenge™ 2010 kicked off with the Southwark eliminatory rounds at 1pm, where two primary schools, three secondary schools and four community groups were put through to the UK Finals. In the evening at 7.30pm, groups from across the UK came to compete in the UK Groups eliminatory rounds of Dance Challenge™. The dancers battled it out and showcased their best moves as the audience cheered and clapped along in amazement and excitement as each group dazzled and left lasting impressions on all who witnessed the show. Our panel of professional dance judges then had the tough job of deciding which groups would go through to the UK finals, to be held on 3rd July 2010, 7.30pm, Cadogan Hall. The competition was intense and each year here at Dance Challenge™ we see the level of professionalism and talent grow amongst the young people who compete. Next up is the Kensington and Chelsea eliminatory rounds on 28th June 2010. Anticipation continues to build here at the office as everyone is wondering who will be crowned Well done to all those who have taken part in Dance Challenge™ 2010 so far. GUEST ARTISTS ANNOUNCED FOR DANCE CHALLENGE™ 2010 Here at Dance Challenge™, we are proud to announce the Guest Artists for 2010. All Guest Artists are extremely talented in their genres, which range from hip hop and street dance, to contemporary and ballet. Some have appeared on dance television shows such as Sky 1’s Got to Dance, whilst others have appeared in films such as Street Dance 3D. Want to know a little more about each guest artist? Read on... DNA DNA are a crew based in Shropshire. They are a street/hip hop crew and are the current World Street Dance Champions, they stormed in to the semi-finalists of Sky 1’s “Got to Dance” earlier this year. They are former UK Hip Hop Champions and have represented the UK in the World Hip Hop Crew Championships for the last 5 years. BEYOND REPAIR DANCE Beyond Repair Dance are a funky and futuristic contemporary dance company with unique styling. BRD are passionate about bringing cutting edge contemporary dance to larger audiences. BRD recently appeared as semi-finalists on Sky 1’s “Got to Dance” OMBRASCURA Ombrascura Dance are based in Staines but features dancers from all over England. They are a contemporary/street dance based company who also put strong training focus on partner work/duet as well as classical dance and hip hop styles. They have performed in music videos and festivals throughout the UK and have performed at Dance Challenge™ for three consecutive years. ANTIQUE DANCES Antique Dances was founded in 2009 by London based dancer, choreographer and teacher Holly Noble. Antique Dances is a Contemporary based dance company with a strong classical basis and influence. We are a collaborative led company working with new and innovative choreographers, musicians and artists as well as working within education, the community and youth dance. RACE & RHYTHM Race and Rhythm are a versatile dance company with ""Flamenco Accent"" based in London. They are lead by Miriam Faura who has recently performed in London’s Paco Pena festival as well as gracing stages such as The Royal Albert Hall and the Royal Opera House. She is also resident choreographer for opera UK. KENSINGTON & CHELSEA COLLEGE The group are students from the Performing Arts dance course at Kensington and Chelsea College in West London. They are currently studying BTEC Certificate and BTEC National Diploma at Levels 2 and 3 in dance. They study Contemporary, Ballet, African and Contact Improvisation. They also learn choreography, voice and performing arts business as part of their studies. RECYCLED TEENAGERS The Carl Campbell’s Recycled Teenagers Dance Theatre was established ‘, to ‘lively up’ the creative lives of Southwark’s older community by working in schools, youth clubs, elderly and community centres. The group have since appeared on ‘BBC Newsroom Southeast’, ‘Channel 4’s Peckham Tales , ‘New Paul O’Grady Show’ and Dance Challenge 2009. STATUS Status are the current UK Street Dance Champion, they were recently semi-finalists on Sky 1’s Got to Dance contest and in July they will represent the UK in the world Hip Hop Championships in Las Vegas. They also appear in the recently released film “Street Dance 3D”. The group is based in South London and the average age of members is 19. JAMES WILTON AND DANCERS Originally from Cornwall James began his choreographic career with three new works (Drift, Threads and Familiar Tones) which toured both nationally and internationally. James has received numerous commissions including remaking his work Drift for Scottish Dance Theatre for touring throughout 2010/11. James was also the Sadlers Wells, East London Dance and London Youth Dance Blueprint Bursary winner. CLASSICALLY BRITISH Classically British offers children in the Portobello area affordable dance classes. Wesley Branch is representing Classically British for Dance Challenge™ 2010. For more information go to http://www.portobellodance.org.uk/ 2010 JUDGES ANNOUNCED Here is a list of the judges announced for each show. However, please listen out on the day for special announcements. THURSDAY 17TH JUNE | 1PM | SOUTHWARK EVENT James Wilton Matt Walker Natasha Evans THURSDAY 17TH JUNE | 7.30PM | UK GROUPS Dee Spencer Emma Annets Matt Walker Aksoua Boakye-Nimo MONDAY 28TH JUNE | 7.30PM | KENSINGTON AND CHELSEA Akosua Boakye Matt Walker Ryan Jenkins SATURDAY 3RD JULY | 1PM | UK SCHOOLS Katarina Kamieniecka Beyond Repair (Jane/ Matthew TBC) Marsha J Carrington Tanya Anderson SATURDAY 3RD JULY | 7.30PM | UK FINALS Katarina Kamieniecka Miriam Faura Akosua Boakye 2010 JUDGES BIOGRAPHIES James Wilton Originally from Cornwall James began his choreographic career during his training at London Contemporary Dance School where three of his works (Drift, Threads and Familiar Tones) were toured both nationally and internationally with LC3 (London Contemporary Dance Schools 3rd year touring company). Since graduating from LCDS James has received numerous commissions including remaking his work Drift for Scottish Dance Theatre for touring throughout 2010/11. James was also the Sadlers Wells, East London Dance and London Youth Dance Blueprint Bursary winner. With this he created ""Forest"" for touring throughout London. Matt Walker Trained at The Urdang Academy of performing arts in musical theatre and professional dance. His recent artist credits include Gary Go, GFresh, Dotstar, Mariah Carey, Chris Brown and Cheryl Cole and he has performed at the UK movie premieres of High School Musical 3 and Adam Sandler's Bedtime Stories. Director of Ombrascura Dance who are performing on July 3rd at this year’s dance challenge as guests and as a street dance/contemporary company we perform in videos and at events all throughout the UK. Co Founder and Director of The Urban Dance School - running 25 classes a week across the greater london area for anyone wishing to get involved in hiphop styles of dance. He is excited to be judging for the 3rd time at dance challenge as the standard always improves. Natasha Evans Currently working for T-mobile Big Dance 2010, Natasha is proud to be part of this fantastic initiative promoting dance across the UK. Dee Spencer Dee has been dancing since she was 15 years old and started teaching street dance at 17 for a franchise company called Footloose. She currently manages group DNA Dancers, who recently appeared on Sky 1's Got to Dance. Emma Annets Emma has an extensive International CV, her credits include working with Celine Dion, Elton Jonh, Justin Timberlake, Oprah Winfrey, Ellen Degeneress and Jay Leno. She has also been involved in the recent television show 'So You Think You Can Dance'. Aksoua Boakye-Nimo Akosua began her dance training at Laban and in 1994 transferred to Roehampton Institute, graduating in 1997 with a BA combined (Hons) in Dance Studies and Social Policy and Administration. During her dance training in London she regularly travelled to Ghana taking classes in West African traditional dances. In 2005 Akosua became head of Dance Studies at Kensington and Chelsea College where she teaches Contemporary and African dance. In May this year Akosua became curriculum leader for performing Arts at Kensington and Chelsea College. She is currently further developing her own style and movement vocabulary in African Dance and pursuing her final year of her PGCE. Ryan Jenkins Underwent training at the Bird College of performing arts. He has since work as choreographer, director and dancer in various shows: Cabaret, Wicked, Grease, Swan Lake and Phantom of the Opera, to name a few. Maria Christopher Currently working for T-mobile Big Dance 2010, Maria is proud to be part of this fantastic initiative promoting dance across the UK. Resi Malko Resi is from the Canadian National Ballet School and is an ex-soloist of the Albanian National Ballet. Resi has a vast experience in performing some of the most prestigious ballets including Sleeping Beauty and Swan Lake. Marsha J Carrington The talented Choreographer Marsha J Carrington started dance training at the age of 4 at a west London dance school, Marsha then earned a place at the famous “Sylvia Young Theatre School. By the age of 16 Marsha studied performing arts at the School of respected industry Choreographer, “Brian Rogers”; before travelling to America to teach dance. Upon her return to the UK, Marsha capitalized upon her growing reputation by working as a professional dancer and then quickly established a niche for herself as a choreographer. In May 2006 Marsha founded her own performing arts School “Pinnacle Performing Arts” (PPA) Tanya Anderson Tanya’s career is undeniably diverse – she has choreographed for Dwayne and KMD – D&K Skank on their music video and has worked with groups who performed at the Queens Jubilee. She has also been a dance instructor for Carlton TV’s Dial A Date, a choreographer for established brands such as Cadbury's and events such as the Clothes Show live. Most recently, Tanya choreographed, performed and supplied dancers for the X Factor tour – supporting Lucy, Rachel and Ricky from 2009’s X Factor. She has also appeared in Britain’s Got Talent, supplied dancers for mega star Missy Elliot in concert and has danced with mega stars including Boy George, General Levy and Apache Indian. In 2009 Tanya founded Fierce Productionz, the all female dance agency that supplies professional dancers and choreographers to the commercial and corporate industry. She currently represents dancers who have performed for Katy Perry, Pink, Whitney Houston and Pixie Lott and constantly supplies dancers and choreography for Award Shows and Music Videos. Miriam Faura Miriam Faura was born in Madrid, Spain. At the age of five she started training in Flamenco, Classical Spanish and Ballet. Here in London she studied Contemporary dance, Jazz, African, Hip Hop and Salsa while working as a Flamenco soloist performing her own choreography with different groups. She completed a Theater access course at Hoxton Hall and with a scholarship from the EU she gained a BA in Performing Arts at Middlesex University where she created her first two pieces ""Oceano"" and ""Agresion"". Miriam combined her studies while working as a professional performer in different styles and events from small productions and venues like La Pena Flamenca to large-scale events at The Royal Albert Hall and The Royal Opera House. SOUTHWARK – LIST OF TEAMS (1:00PM, 17 JUNE 10) PRIMARY SCHOOLS Comber Grove Primary School Dog Kennel Hill After School Club Dulwich Hamlet Junior School Heber After School Club Lyndhurst After School Club Ivydale Primary School - Ivydale Street Dancers Oliver Goldsmith After School Club St. Anthony's RC Primary School St. Francis RC Primary School SECONDARY SCHOOLS 3 Plus 1 CoLAMoTIoN Globe Academy Harris Academy at Peckham; Ghost Kingsdale Foundation School NFP COMMUNITY GROUPS 3Dom Entertainment Palm Tree Dancers Harris Academy- Illmanor Salmon Youth Centre Gotitas de Sabor Prodigy UK GROUPS – LIST OF TEAMS (7:30PM, 17 JUNE 10) Ambition Big Deal The Courtney McMahon School of Irish Dance D-Youngaz (DY) Dance Crew Dancemode Essex Elisabeth School of Dance Gemstarz Dance Troupe Fusion Little Wotsitz Persuasive Protocol Mini Masters New Directions ROYAL 3L3M3NTS Street Tag Crew The Movement Academy The O'Brien School of Irish Dancing Turbelles's Performing Arts Unique Dynamites Cheerleaders KENSINGTON & CHELSEA – LIST OF TEAMS (7:30PM, 28 JUNE 10) PRIMARY SCHOOLS Barlby Primary School Fox Primary School Servite Primary School Bousfield Primary School Our Lady of Victories Catholic Primary School St Cuthbert with St Matthias Primary School St Clement & St James Primary aka Dynamic Edition St Thomas’s Primary School Thomas Jones Primary School The Christ Church Kani kani (Dance in Maori) Group SECONDARY SCHOOLS Chelsea Academy Sion-Manning RC Girls School St Charles Catholic Sixth Form College COMMUNITY GROUPS Aaron Crosbie Academy of Irish Dance (Celtic Fusion) Capoeria Canal Rough Diamonds Sion Manning Dance Academy UK SCHOOLS – LIST OF TEAMS (1:00PM, 3rd JULY 10) PRIMARY SCHOOLS Bowes Primary School Bure Park Primary School Kensal Rise Primary School Maple Walk Primary School Parlaunt Park Primary School SECONDARY SCHOOLS Acton High School Cophenhagen School/ Kids Company Collaboration Bosworth Community College Carr Manor HIgh School City of London Academy Islington (COLA-I) Finchley Catholic High School Fully Charged Dance Company Sharnbrook Upper School) Langley Park Girls School Pipers Corner School Lollipop from St Michael's Catholic Grammar The Norwood School HAVE YOU EDITED YOUR MUSIC? The countdown has begun! With just over a week to go until our first Dance Challenge™ event of the summer, now is the time to get editing your music if you have not done so already. Please remember that your music must be provided as a single track on a CD and it is very important that you remember to bring two copies of the CD on the day of the performance, with the name of your group clearly labelled on both. For free music editing software you can download a great programme called “Audacity” at the link below: http://audacity.sourceforge.net/ Using this programme, you can copy and paste different tracks together (if you are doing a mix) or slow something down or speed it up if the speed is not quite right. If you want to get adventurous, you could even add some sound effects! WHICH GROUPS ARE GOING THROUGH TO THE FINALS? Recently we received an enquiry about the number of schools/groups from each event going through to the finals show on the 3rd July 2010, 7:30PM. Here is a detailed explanation: There will be 25 schools/groups in total going through to the finals from different eliminatory events as described below: Southwark event on 17th June at 1pm: (nine schools/groups in total) - Two PrimarySchools - Three Secondary Schools - Four Community groups UK Groups event on 17th June at 7.30pm: (four groups in total) - Four Community groups Kensington & Chelsea event on 28 June at 7:30pm: (six schools/groups in total) - Two Primary schools - Two Secondary schools - Two Community groups For the UK Schools event on the 3 July at 1pm, (six schools in total) - Three Primary schools - Three Secondary schools UK Finals event information The UK Finals event will run in the same way as your eliminatory event. If your group is selected to perform at the UK Finals event you will be required to: - Arrive at 3pm. - Technical rehearsals will commence at 4pm. The show will commence at 7.30pm and end at approximately 10.30pm. Those selected from the UK Schools event at 1:00PM should be prepared to perform again in the evening at 7:30PM. DESIGNING AND MAKING YOUR COSTUMES Now that you’ve begun choreographing your routine, here are some ideas on costume. Usually when we hear the word costume, we think costly and expensive thoughts! But your costume could be as simple as all wearing the same coloured trousers or wearing hats or having face paint. The most important thing to consider when choosing your costumes are: - Can dancers move easily and effectively? - If they wear accessories, will they fall off or hide their faces? - What do the costumes ‘say’ to the audience? The young people in your group will have loads of ideas for costumes so get them involved in the decision! Lastly, if you do decide that you need to buy costumes, don’t forget places like Primark, H&M, George at ASDA or charity shops all stock some lovely things for relatively cheap. 1400 DANCERS – A RECORD NUMBER We are delighted to see that a record number of 1400 dancers are registered to perform at this year’s Dance Challenge™ events. They will be competing in our four eliminatory events and 400 of them will be invited to compete for the National title on the 3 July 2010. As part of our agreement with Southwark and Kensington & Chelsea Councils we are visiting most of their groups to assess their work and find ways on how to support them. Watch this space for updates. We will keep you informed. TICKETS ARE NOW ON SALE FOR THIS YEAR'S EVENTS 6 May 2010 – News - We’re sure you and your group are rehearsing hard and looking forward to your chance to perform. Dance Challenge™ 2010 is almost here and tickets are now on sale - book your tickets by clicking at our ‘tickets’ page. Invite your friends and families to come and cheer you on as you dazzle the audiences with your skills. Last years’, event completely sold out and it looks like we’re going to have a repeat this year again. Tickets for the eliminatory rounds in Southwark and Kensington & Chelsea have already been allocated. With only a few tickets remaining this event promises to be even bigger and better than last year. We’re looking forward to seeing you and your group here!! ONLY A FEW PLACES LEFT TO - DANCE CHALLENGE™ 8 March 2010 - News - We are delighted to announce that Kensington & Chelsea event is now fully booked. However there are a few places left for the other events. 17 June 2010 @ 1:00PM – Southwark – (Places available) 17 June 2010 @ 7:30PM - UK Groups – (Places available) 28 June 2010 @ 7:30PM - Kensington & Chelsea - (Fully booked) 3 July 2010 @ 1:00PM - UK Schools – (Places available) If you have made a provisional booking but have not sent your payment you may miss this great opportunity. To fully register your team you now need to post a cheque for £60, payable to: CULTURE AND ARTS Address: Compass Theatre, Glebe Avenue, Ickenham UB10 8PD So hurry as there are only a few places left to take the Dance Challenge™ 2010. If you need further info please contact us. 0845 539 0014 or e-mail: register@dancechallenge.co.uk --------------------------------------- 2009 NEWS ---------------------------------------
WORLD CHAMPIONS – ‘TABOT’ AFTER APPEARING AT DANCE CHALLENGE™ times.series@archant.co.uk 30 September 2009 ‘Tabot’ dance group has been celebrating after being crowned Teen world champions of street dance. After appearing at Dance Challenge™ in July this year the Kilburn-based Kronik beat some of the best dance groups from all over the world to become the Under 14s champions at the 2009 United Dance Organisation World Street Dance Championship in Blackpool. The dance group represents the Tabot Mix Dance School, an urban street and hip hop dance company based at the Tabot Centre in Granville Road, Kilburn. Angela Moore of the Tabot Centre said:’We would like to show that our young people are award winners and are giving a positive representation of our area and of Brent as a whole’ The championship was held this year [on Sunday August 29] as a tribute to the late Michael Jackson and featured special guest stars including Britain's Got Talent Winners 'Diversity.’ Cllr Mary Arnold, Kilburn Ward, said: ‘I am delighted to see the Tabot has at last been provided with modern, spacious facilities that will continue to inspire the children who thrive in the after-school and dance, arts and media provision. ’In their state-of-the-art new centre, the Tabot is even more of an asset for Kilburn families and their award-winning street dance performance is now internationally renowned and a testament to the children's significant artistic abilities and the Tabot's achievement’ Footage of Kronik dancing can be seen online at www.youtube.com/kroniikman. We at Dane Challenge™ wish the group all the best. DANCE CHALLENGE™ UK WINNERS 2009 Community Groups category - Joint Place Aaron Crosbie and Status Primary Schools category Our Lady of Victories RC School Secondary School category St Charles Catholic Sixth Form DANCE CHALLENGE™ SOUTHWARK WINNERS 2009 Community groups category Progidy - Winner Primary schools category Ivydale Primary School – Winner Dog Kennel Hill Primary school (Area 3) – Runner up Secondary schools category Kingsdale Community College - Winner Globe Academy – Runner up LIST OF OUR CHOREOGRAPHERS Here is the list of our choreographers for Dance Challenge™ 2009 Winners The £150 cash voucher entitles the winning teams to receive up to three hours of dance training with one of the following dance artists. Akosua Boakye - Style: African/ Contemporary Head of Dance Kensington and Chelsea Performing Arts College. She teaches: Contemporary African, a highly energetic class which engages the whole body. Get ready to challenge your body in rhythm and dance Kasper Cornish - Style: Ballet Kasper danced as the Prince of Transylvania in the West End Production of ""My Fair Lady"" and as a freelance principal artist has danced famous ballet pas de deux all over the world. He has taught classical ballet, pas de deux and classical repertoire since 1995 for The Urdang Academy, The Italia Conti Academy, West London School of Dance, English Youth Ballet, Studio Petit Etoile – Japan and was Ballet Master for the European Ballet’s 1997 summer tour. SRISHTI - Style: Indian dance Your workshop with Srishti will be led by the Artistic Director, Nina Rajarani. Srishti creates and presents dance work that maintains the authenticity of Indian classical dance and music whilst presenting these forms in innovative ways and within contemporary contexts. The company has a passion for, and extremely in-depth knowledge of, Bharatanatyam (a south Asian style of dance) and Karnatic music, its natural accompaniment. Annette Brandanger - Style: Capoiera and Contemporary Annette is a London based dance artist. Apart from working with the Dance Challenge team she also teaches for the Royal Academy of Dance and the English National Ballet in Contemporary, Street and Capoeira style. Her creative work motivates strength, energy and technique. Her work has been shown at the Royal Albert Hall, Sadler’s Wells, Queen Elisabeth Hall and more. As a performer she has danced for Transitions Dance company, Influx Dance, Lee Anderson,TMV productions and she will appear in this years Dance Umbrella festival. Cindy Claes - Style: Krumping and Dance Hall. Cindy is the artistic director of East London Dance Youth Company she has worked along side Jonzi D as rehearsal director and as assistant choreographer for Mayhem Youth Theatre. Cindy is a world renowned krumping expert. She is a choreographer, a dancer, a dance teacher, to sum it up: a dance artist! She is totally unreasonable and crazily creative! Integrity, freedom and growth are the values who guide her through her work and the way she communicate with people. She has danced for MTV Bust a Move, Reebok, Dr Martens, Columbia, (UK and Europe) Matt Walker - Style: Street Dance and breaking style Matt Walker is the Artistic Director of The Urban Dance School. He will teach a workshop on street and breaking style and will be highly energetic and challenging. The Urban Dance School are highly recognised for street and breaking within Spelthorne borough and across Greater London. Matt Walker as a dancer and choreographer has worked with world famous artists including Mariah Carey, Chris Brown, Jennifer Ellison and most recently Fresh Entertainment. He has received 3 awards for choreography since turning professional at the age of 17 and has an incredible passion for all aspects of dance and performing shown by his versatility. TICKETS SOLD OUT - DANCE CHALLENGE™ UK We are pleased to announce that the whole 950 seats are gone. All tickets for the DANCE CHALLENGE™ UK, 7:30 Show are sold. The passion and excitement is palpable. Groups are ready to battle it on the Queen Elizabeth (South Bank Centre) stage. We at the Dance Challenge™ office are feeling the buzz… WATCH THE LIVE RECORDING OF 1st JULY SHOW Here is the link to watch the Dance Challenge™ live recording of the 1st July 2009 event at Cadogan Hall: http://www.dancechallenge.co.uk/gallery.php Then click in the link: Watch Dance Challenge RBKC 09 NOTE: You need to install flash player to watch the video. FINAL LIST - DANCE CHALLENGE™ UK 17th July 2009 7:30PM (SBC) PRIMARY SCHOOLS CATEGORY Kensal Rise Primary Park Walk Primary School Parlaunt Park Our Lady of Victories RC Primary Guest Artist 2 - Salsa – Almas Latinas SECONDARY SCHOOLS CATEGORY Bosworth Community College Finchley Catholic High School Langley Park Girls School MXT – Woodhouse College & Barnet College Queen Elizabeth Girls School Queen Park Community School Southgate St. Charles Catholic 6th Form St. George’s Catholic Thamesmead Norwood School Guest Artist 3 – Child of Zion COMMUNITY GROUPS CATEGORY Aaron Crosbie Acronikos Dance Alluminae Discipline Equilibrium Futunity UK Gemstarz Dance Troupe Genesis Guest Artist 4 – Laban Kronik Nicola School of Dance Status Swager The Company Bearfoot The Movement Academy Union Too Westminster Youth Dance Guest Artist 5 - Impact KENSINGTON & CHELSEA WINNERS - 1 July 09 Community groups category Aaron Crosbie Dance Academy - 1st Prize Community Thomas Jones PlayCentre - 2nd Prize Community Capoeira Canal Generation Girls Sion Manning Tap Primary Schools category Our Lady Victories - 1st Prize Primary Bousfield Primary - 2nd Prize Secondary Fox Primary Dance Club Maple Walk Prima Servite RC Primary The Clement & James Centre Secondary Schools category St Charles College - 1st Prize Secondary Sion Manning – Cheerleader - 2nd Prize Secondary LIVE WORLD BROADCST - KENSINGTON & CHELSEA SHOW 1 July 09 The first dance event of its kind to be streamlined live over the internet! For the first-time ever the exciting and successful Dance Challenge™ event will be broadcast live to an international audience, when it takes place on Wednesday 1st July at the prestigious Cadogan Hall in Chelsea. Funded by the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea, this is the first dance event of its kind to be streamlined live over the internet. You can join in the action and watch the event for yourself. Visit http://www.cadoganhall.com/whats_on_ch2.php and click on the Dance Challenge™ page. Viewers from around the world will be able to watch some of the boroughs hottest dance groups from schools and the community battle it out on stage, directly from their own computers. THE COUNTDOWN HAS BEGUN! - FINAL CHANCE - REGISTER BY 30/6/09 The countdown to this year’s Dance Challenge™ UK event has begun and groups are getting ready to battle it out on the prestigious stage at the Queen Elizabeth Hall! Don’t forget – you can support your favourite team - Reserve your tickets now! Confirmed groups so far include: YOUTH GROUPS CATEGORY: > Acronikos Dance Troupe - Lintons Youth Arts Centre > Alluminae > Equilibrium Dance Troupe > Gemstarz Dance Troupe > Genesis > Shooting Starz > The Company,Bearfoot > Union Too > Westminster Youth Dance Scene SECONDARY SCHOOLS CATEGORY: > Bosworth Community College > Finchley Catholic High School > Langley Park Girls School > St Georges Catholic School > Thamesmead Secondary School > The Norwood School PRIMARY SCHOOLS CATEGORY: > Aldersbrook Primary School > Kensal Rise Primary School > Parlaunt Park Primary School FINAL CHANCE TO REGISTER YOUR GROUP – DEADLINE 30th JUNE! - REGISTER ONLINE NOW! AUDIENCE VOTE! HOW DOES IT WORK? - (June 09) This year there is an added twist to the competition! The audience will be involved in determining the winners by being able to vote for their favourite group - every ticket sold will count as a vote! So how does it work? It's simple! - Once audience members have collected their tickets for the show, they will be given a voting token. - As soon as they receive this they can visit the voting area to drop their token into the box of the group they are supporting. - Votes must be cast before the show starts - The tokens will then be counted for each group and 10% of points will be awarded accordingly. Scoring 10% of the audience vote will be awarded in points. For example, if a group receives 60 votes then 6 points will be added to their final score! TRAINING DAY FOR RBKC GROUPS, 28/2/09 - (Feb 09) 9:30 – 16:00 Sion-Manning RC Girls School, 75 St Charles Square, London W10 6EL. Tube: Ladbroke Grove Dance Challenge™ training sessions help young people, teachers, social workers and youth group leaders to hone their skills in choreography, music editing and set design. The day is ideal if your group is planning to enter a Dance Challenge™ event or is choreographing a piece for any other forthcoming dance performance. Anyone and everyone is welcome to take advantage of our FREE workshops. Places are limited to 3 members per school/group (at least one adult has to be present from each team) TRAINING DAY CONTENT During the training day participants will get to work with professionals from the creative arts and media industry. You will receive specialist knowledge and advice, intended to inspire. These sessions will provide you with the tools and skills that you can apply to any creative project you engage in. The following topics will be discussed: - What is Dance Challenge™? How to enter, rules and general information - How to find inspiration and starting the creative process - Creating a concept - Planning a theme for your piece - Choreography - Sound and Music editing/production - Costume and set design - Networking Booking is essential! The training day is FREE and places are limited. 48 hours’ notice is required should you wish to cancel your place. Failure to do so will incur a £25 administration charge. Refreshments and biscuits will be provided. Each participant should bring their own lunch. For more information contact us: dance@dancechallenge.co.uk or call 0845 539 0014 DANCE CHALLENGE™ 2008 ON YOUTUBE - (Jan 09) DANCE CHALLENGE™ 2008 (JUNE – JUL) participating teams can be seen on Youtube.Below are the individual links. KENSINGTON AND CHELSEA BOROUGH (SCHOOLS AND GROUPS) Bousfield Primary School - http://www.youtube.com/v/ugEP1RKSb68 Marlborough Primary Group -http://www.youtube.com/v/B_vTEHJlBI8 Oxford Gardens¹ Dance Steppers -http://www.youtube.com/v/I2Z5H4-1aWc St. Mary¹s Abbots - http://www.youtube.com/v/ZRFnE1vX1lY St. Nicholas Prepartory -http://www.youtube.com/v/4qnosXLLZwA Sion Manning Tap Dancers -http://www.youtube.com/v/tNV86AMfQ6k Aaron Crosbie Irish Dance Academy -www.youtube.com/v/SHVofZpctYg Capoeira Canal - http://www.youtube.com/v/1jk12sgztzY Generation Girls - http://www.youtube.com/v/_PjlGHAD3bs Midaye Somali Dance Group -http://www.youtube.com/v/JJAuKcTU4HY Our Time - http://www.youtube.com/v/yUHkm4Z5MVg WESTMINSTER BOROUGH (SCHOOLS AND GROUPS) Hallfield Juniors -http://www.youtube.com/v/d-pd3Y2ERfE Hampden Gurney -http://www.youtube.com/v/3Grc_EZm89s Our Lady of Dolours -http://www.youtube.com/v/giqmzvVqqqg St. George's Primary School -http://www.youtube.com/v/PBVtkWh0Cjw Paddington Academy -http://www.youtube.com/v/ouffzFjsc5U Quintin Kynaston -http://www.youtube.com/v/Is8VWJwu2bY The Grey Coat Hospital -http://www.youtube.com/v/6M1uYtJ43As Paddington Arts Performance Group -www.youtube.com/v/anmZJYUnWDo Union Too -http://www.youtube.com/v/GQtERaWjbWA Unique Dynamites -http://www.youtube.com/v/kWpwTwKeVaY Westminster Youth Dance -http://www.youtube.com/v/sxRGcByOCpY LONDON WIDE (COMMUNITY GROUPS) Akhtamar Performance Group - http://www.youtube.com/v/rxrhGu6x6NU Angels Cheerleading - http://www.youtube.com/v/PoQNNomv4j4 Bearfoot Company -http://www.youtube.com/v/eouiVx0ww0A Calthorpe Allstars -http://www.youtube.com/v/L0MWVpmSz4I Caution -http://www.youtube.com/v/P0Lv8tVeSJA Cult Dance -http://www.youtube.com/v/4qcmEotqQuY CYPSEG -http://www.youtube.com/v/hNSYZHexatM Dancevibes -http://www.youtube.com/v/7xWmk2RfWyg Feltham Dance Company -http://www.youtube.com/v/qkzoRhsi3Ko Firestorm - http://www.youtube.com/v/k7RbTyJ02Ek Freedom of Dance - http://www.youtube.com/v/11LkpRxgHqo Spirit - http://www.youtube.com/v/Y9KfZMgxbGU Kronik - http://www.youtube.com/v/cDIX2riCios Ombrascura - http://www.youtube.com/v/9kfRw3yOs6E Protocol - http://www.youtube.com/v/rPYUXL-ANq4 Reminisce - http://www.youtube.com/v/G9Qjbs9kNMU Surge - http://www.youtube.com/v/QNMjsw318xI The Dark Elite - http://www.youtube.com/v/RfJ1Frcz5rw Movement Academy - http://www.youtube.com/v/u715tCG2kJA The Urban Dance School - http://www.youtube.com/v/fxthDRQjqCA Triveni Dance Company - http://www.youtube.com/v/frQApSdHGJQ Vortex - http://www.youtube.com/v/XwbEuBC2OqE Youthology - http://www.youtube.com/v/sgKCw_8At3c Abyss - http://www.youtube.com/v/jg8TR1fxjQ8 --------------------------------------- 2008 NEWS ---------------------------------------
Dance Challenge™ Kensington & Chelsea 1 July 2009 date for your calendar Dear All, I realise that deep into November it is difficult to remember what last July was like, let alone start planning for the next one, but it is with pleasure that I am able to confirm that we will be running Dance Challenge again in 2009 and to give you early notice that the showcase event will be held on the evening of Wednesday 1st July at Cadogan Hall. Last year Kensington and Chelsea’s Extended Services Team, in partnership with the independent arts organisation Culture and Arts, ran a Dance Challenge event at Cadogan Hall on the evening of 26th June. The event included play centres, primary schools, secondary schools and youth and community groups taking part who all received support to choreograph and rehearse an original dance piece over 14 weeks which they then performed, alongside five professional acts, at the showcase event. In 2008 Bousfield won the primary category, Sion Manning the secondary and the Aaron Crosbie Dance Academy won the community group prize; awarded by a panel of dance and industry professionals. In 2009 we will once again be working in partnership with Culture and Arts, along with the School Sports Partnership and the Arts Service, to support 16 groups (indicatively to be split as eight primary/play, four youth/community and four secondary/sixth form). We will be offering chorographical support on group by group basis and the competition will once again be combined with professional performances on the night designed to: Reflect the rich and varied cultural and community links to dance in Kensington and Chelsea by introducing young people to as many different forms of dance as possible Promote healthy lifestyles and positive attitudes to emotional and physical health by involving children and young people in an aspirational physical activity. Judging by last year's feedback it should be a wonderful evening so, whilst formal invitations will follow closer to the time, please mark us down in your diaries now. ‘I came expecting a school show, but this was of an amazing standard’ - ‘it showed a real sense of confidence within the community’ - ‘so many great performers; a really high standard of work’ - ‘inspiring’ - a ‘surprising amount of team spirit and commitment’ Yours, Anna Banbury Service Manager - Learning, Transition and Targeted Children's Support Family and Children's Services Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea Free Dance Course: October Half-Term Dance Challenge™ is offering a FREE DANCE COURSE during October half term primary school children in Brent Course details Dance style: Hip-Hop/Contemporary Dates: 27 – 30 October Times: 10:00 – 12:30 Venue: Gladstone Park Primary School (Sports hall) Participants: Primary school age students. Description: During this course students will be learning some of the latest techniques of hip-hop and contemporary dances with professional dancers provided by Culture and Arts. If you are interested in enrolling your child for this Free course you need to fill in and return the consent form to: Gladstone Park School ,Sherrick Green Rd, London, NW10 1LB Or call: 07961 433 042 By: Monday 20 October 2008 Places are limited to 20 students per course and priority will be given to Gladstone Park Primary School students. We operate on first come first serve bases. Please make the necessary arrangements for your child to be collected directly after the courses. DVD now on sale! Dance Challenge™ 2008 Finals DVD is now on sale. We have printed a limited numbers of this year’s Finals DVD’s which are for sale at: £8.99 + £2.90 (postage) = £11.89 each. If you are interested in getting a copy you can send a cheque (for £11.89) to: Cultural Awareness Ltd 11 Rosemont Road London NW3 6NG or contact us: dance@dancechallenge.co.uk to arrange your visit and collect the DVD in our office. Or contact Tomorr on: 07961 433042 At Wembley Arena (again) - Dance Challenge™ groups at Culture8 Festival This Sunday 28 September Unique Dynamites, Westminster Youth Dance Scene and Cult are performing at Culture8 Festival at Wembley Arena. Culture8 is a non-stop family festival of music, dance, sport, circus and street entertainment from West London’s best, welcoming the London 2012 Olympic Games and Paralympics Games. The diversity of styles in these three groups will bring to Wembley a distinct flavour of this year’s Dance Challenge™. Their pieces are a combination of jazz, contemporary, acrobatics, street and hip-hop techniques. Unique Dynamites brought something special to the Dance Challenge™ by combining cheerleading with hip-hop and street dance techniques, culminating with some mesmerising acrobatic elements. Westminster Youth Dance Scene made their debut entitled ‘CATS’ at this year’s event. Their well crafted piece was enhanced by the elegant costumes and dramatic make-up, and was topped off by an impressive performance of its members, whose ages range from 5 to 20 years. Cult was crowned the winner of Dance Challenge™ 2008 amongst 38 other community groups. Throughout the performance you feel as if you are transported into a virtual world where the characters have an ever-burning human soul. Behind each movement you can feel a strength of passion linking all the team towards a unique pursuit. Perhaps the search for the truth.… Their fast-paced movements will keep you wondering how do they do it. Where does the contemporary technique start and the street dance end? But moreover, it will leaving you wanting more. Dance Challenge™ 2008 was attended by over 1000 dancers from 63 different primary/secondary schools and community groups from across UK. They challenged each other with an array of dance styles at five different events alongside 12 guest artists making this year’s competition the biggest to date. Good luck to these three Dance Challenge™ champions. Tomorr Kokona (Artistic Director) Dance Challenge™ 2008 Winners - £150 cash voucher training Each winning team from the Dance Challenge™ Heats and Finals are entitled to receive a £150 cash voucher training with one of the following dance artists Choreographers’ biographies and styles Kasper Cornish - Style: Ballet Kasper danced as the Prince of Transylvania in the West End Production of ""My Fair Lady"" and as a freelance principal artist has danced famous ballet pas de deux all over the world. He has taught classical ballet, pas de deux and classical repertoire since 1995 for The Urdang Academy, The Italia Conti Academy, West London School of Dance, English Youth Ballet, Studio Petit Etoile – Japan and was Ballet Master for the European Ballet’s 1997 summer tour. SRISHTI - Style: Indian dance Your workshop with Srishti will be led by the Artistic Director, Nina Rajarani. Srishti creates and presents dance work that maintains the authenticity of Indian classical dance and music whilst presenting these forms in innovative ways and within contemporary contexts. The company has a passion for, and extremely in-depth knowledge of, Bharatanatyam (a south Asian style of dance) and Karnatic music, its natural accompaniment. http://www.srishti.co.uk/home.htm Hakeem Onibudo - Style: Street/Hip-Hop Hakeem is the artistic director of Impact dance and teaches the xpressyourself Street dance class at Danceworks, Central London. This year Hakeem’s Impact Dance was selected as one of six youth dance companies from the UK to work with Mark Murphy of DV8 on a new show for the Royal Festival Hall. Fran Barbe - Style: Japanese Butoh/Contemporary Fran is a trained ballet and contemporary dancer. For the past ten years she has focused on Butoh, Contemporary Japanese dance and has been working in Japan and across Europe. Now, based in London she has founded her own company Fran Barbe Dance Theatre which is highly theatrical dance style inspired by Japanese butoh. She runs workshops across London in Butoh and Suzuki (strong movement language) Tom Dale - Style: Laban technique Tom Dale graduated from Laban Centre London, he is currently based in London and has set up his own company which successfully tours around the whole of the UK. Tom’s choreography brings together dance and electronic music. His workshop will be based on the simple structure of the Laban technique. Annette Brandanger - Style: Capoiera/ Contemporary Annette Brandanger is a Laban trained contemporary dancer and caporistan from Capoeira Ceara London. She has choreographed for projects held at the Royal Albert Hall, Sadler’s Wells and Lyric theatre. As a performer she has danced in number of performances in London and across England and Europe. She held permanent residence with “Influx Dance Company” from 2003-2005. She now teaches workshops across London. www.constantmovement.co.uk Matt Walker – Style: Street/breaking Matt Walker is the Artistic Director of The Urban Dance School. He will teach a workshop on street and breaking style and will be highly energetic and challenging. The Urban Dance School are highly recognised for street and breaking within Spelthorne borough and across Greater London. Matt Walker as a dancer and choreographer has worked with world famous artists including Mariah Carey, Chris Brown, Jennifer Ellison and most recently Fresh Entertainmmet. He has received 3 awards for choreography since turning professional at the age of 17 and has an incredible passion for all aspects of dance and performing shown by his versatility. Tomorr Kokona interviewed on BBC London 94.9FM! The Mayor of London’s Big Dance festival fast approaches, and the London media are beginning to be interested. BBC Radio London 94.9 FM recently woke up to the news that dance is the fastest growing leisure phenomenon among young people in the UK, and decided that Dance Challenge’s own Tomorr Kokona was the person to speak to, to ask why. “Of course,” Tom – a classically trained dancer – explained, “I am Albanian, and in Albania dance is the national sport!” he joked. Seriously, though, he went on, dance is indeed one of the best “sports” you can do. It’s good for the health and the figure, but it’s also artistic and creative – not to mention “cool”. Tom explained that in schools where children begin to attend dance classes, truancy and delinquency rates plummet. It’s as if, believes Tom, that dance gives the young people a really constructive and positive outlook. They see it as a great form of self expression, and it fires their imaginations as well as physically energising them. You get less depression and dissatisfaction with school and life generally, believes Tom, and dancing MAKES the kids more optimistic and happy about life in general. So dance is therapy? No, Tom says, that’s not what it is designed to be, but dance catches the innate rhythms of life and makes you feel physically and spiritually connected to the world – and makes you feel your place in it has a purpose, and that life can be fun and even thrilling. You don’t need any special equipment, and you can dance anywhere. So what’s not to like? Get dancing everybody! Dance Challenge™ 2008 Launch Party Report The London Coliseum in St Martin’s Lane, home of the English National Opera, played host to the launch party of the 2008 Dance Challenge™. For the first and maybe the only time, the venerable building pounded to pop, rock and hip-hop beats as a special showcase performance by finalists and winners of last year’s competition performed for the assembled guests. There were inspiring routines by the Hallfield Primary Group (still dancing together even though they have now graduated to secondary school), by the Langley Park Girls’ School (or “LPGS” as they call themselves), and last but not least by the amazing Vortex, whose hip-hop-inspired routines impressed everybody, including the staff of the Coliseum - witty and inventive riffs danced to a medley of tunes that approached the status of dance theatre. The thoroughly entertaining performances were watched by a large cross-section of guests from the dance and arts world; the atmosphere was great, and it was a perfect launching pad for what promises to be the best and biggest Dance Challenge™ so far. If your group hasn’t yet signed up, then do so now: the lists are open and filling fast. The BIG ISSUE sponsors Dance Challenge™ 2008 We are proud to announce that The Big Issue are now the media partners for Dance Challenge™ 2008. Since it’s birth 17 years ago, The Big Issue has been at the forefront of addressing social problems and helping individuals to transform their lives. Vendors buy the magazine for 70p and sell it for £1.50. the independence gained and support given builds self-esteem and self-responsibility allowing homeless people to make a real change from your small change. The Big Issue said “We support the inspiring work of Dance Challenge™ and of the opportunity it gives to young people involved, many whom face challenges in their lives but tackle them with positivity and creative self-expression.” ENO Opens Its Doors For Our Launch Party We are happy to announce that the launch party for Dance Challenge™ 2008 has been confirmed for 16 May and will take place at the London Coliseum on St Martin’s Lane, home of the English National Opera. The event will be held in the Upper Foyer, and is strictly on an invite and RSVP basis, as space will be limited. Winners from last year’s Dance Challenge™ will perform live at the party, which will be a media opportunity not just for Dance Challenge™ but also for the Mayor of London’s Big Dance 2008 festival, which is taking place on 5-13 July, and with which Dance Challenge™ is collaborating (check it out on http://www.london.gov.uk/bigdance Cash Prizes For The First Time At Dance Challenge™ 2008 This year, for the very first time, winners of each category of every heat will receive not only the customary and much-coveted trophies but now also cash prizes. That means the winners of the primary and secondary schools, and of the Dance Challenge™ And Big Dance DANCE CHALLENGE™ is proud to announce our participation in the Mayor of London’s Big Dance festival, from 5-13 July 2008. http://www.london.gov.uk/bigdance/. We will be joining with other great partners of the festival – which aims --------------------------------------- 2007 NEWS ---------------------------------------
6th Dance Challenge™ - 18th July 2007 - record numbers The date of the 6th annual Dance Challenge™ is fast approaching, and we are thrilled to say it will now be - officially - an even bigger occasion than last year, with a record number of entrants now confirmed. Following the great success of the event in 2006, there has been an overwhelming amount of interest in this year's Dance Challenge™ - over 700 young people from more than 60 London Primary/Secondary Schools and Community Groups will display their individual creativity and talent on the world famous stage of Wembley Arena. We now have a provisional final roster of participating dance groups, and will publish the confirmed list within the next few days, so watch this space for a heads-up of who is taking part. The showcase starts at 2pm and finishes at approximately 8pm. Due to the exceptional number of dancers, we have decided to split the Challenge into two sections. London's finest Primary and Secondary schools will be competing in part one, followed by the Community groups who will take centre stage in part two. The best teams will be awarded prizes based on their talent and the quality of their choreography. Dance prodigies - audition dates set - open call! Culture and Arts is delighted to announce that auditions are soon to take place for the Dance Prodigies project. Dance Prodigies will create a mixed-age-group company composed of professional dancers and young people who have previously taken part in Dance Challenge™. They will work together intensively for several weeks before touring and performing at theatres, schools and community groups around the UK. A small group of between six and ten young people will be chosen on the basis of their ability and talent by the professional company members at open auditions. The date and place has now been fixed and interested graduates"""" of Dance Challenges past are warmly invited to come along. The date: July 2nd 2007 The place: Gladstone Park Primary School |
  
  
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