3 minute read
International dance opportunities
Alex Bailey
This year three of our very talented dancers, Olivia Blanchard, Alex Bailey and Jessy Berman, were offered ‘the dream’, after some initial disappointments.
At the beginning of the year, Year 12 student Alex Bailey was accepted into a four-week Professional Division Summer Intensive Programme with the Alberta Ballet School in Canada. This is a highly prestigious and internationally recognised school, and an impressive achievement for any dancer. Unfortunately, due to COVID-19 travel restrictions, Alex was unable to take up this opportunity. But the good news is she recently found out that she has been accepted into their full-time dance programme! As Canada has reopened boarders to international students, she will be off as soon as her visa comes through. Alex will continue her academic studies while getting firstclass dance training.
Year 13 Dance Captain Jessy Berman has been accepted into the prestigious Brent Street Academy 2021 Performing Arts Programme. This academy has been leading the way for more than 35 years, creating Australia’s most employable and versatile performers. industry and Jessy can’t wait to start and make her mark in the world of dance.
And here’s what Olivia Blanchard (Year 12) had to say about her awesome offer: “Back in February 2020, I attended an in-person audition in Auckland with the Artistic Director of the Rambert School of Ballet and Contemporary, London. I was subsequently offered a full-time place in the school’s three-year Bachelor of Arts (Hons) programme, receiving one of only 12 places available to international students following auditions in the USA, Japan, Australia and New Zealand.
Olivia Blanchard
“But as the world went into lockdown, I gradually realised the possibility of this dream might have to be put on hold. Swallowing my disappointment and knowing that all the normal dance competitions and events nationwide had been cancelled, I looked to Zoom for ways to keep dancing.
“I undertook a Zoom audition class with the Artistic Director at the Joffrey School of Ballet in New York and following the class, was offered a full-time place and a merit scholarship in Joffrey’s Bachelor of Fine Arts programme specialising in jazz and contemporary dance.
“Despite these opportunities, the uncertainty of COVID means that I have decided not to commit to anything just yet. In September I finished my final dance exams by sitting my last Royal Academy of Dance exam, concluding 11 years of ballet exams, as well as completing Solo Seal for Contemporary.”
For all three dancers, the culmination of so many years of hard graft and intense rehearsal schedules have made them strong and resilient. As ambitions for so many young dancers around the world are now on hold due to the pandemic, these offers are a dream come true. We wish them all the very best on their dance journeys.
Jessy Berman
Olivia Blanchard
AUCTIONEER COMPETITION
Congratulations to Pippa Morris who won the Auctioneering Competition held on the last day of Term 3. Rosie Leishman came second, with Phebe Mason in third place. These girls, along with three other students, took part in the REINZ National New Zealand Championships during the recent school holidays. All six students received ‘highly commended’ for their performances. Pippa Morris won the only place offered in the professional competition as a novice auctioneer. She will be competing in November.
DRAMA
Congratulations to Anisha de Silva who won a place in the exclusive Shakespeare Globe Centre New Zealand National Shakespeare Schools
Production this year. Only 48 students are chosen each year from over 2000 top actors and directors.
The students spent half of each day doing workshops with high calibre tutors, and the other half rehearsing a 40-minute scene from a Shakespeare play. From being cast on their first day, they had just five half days of rehearsals before their public performances!
Anisha performed in King John and was highly praised for her talent and commitment to the work by the directors and CEO Dawn Sanders.
