Spotlight on performers autumn term 2015

We always knew we were a fantastic Performing Arts College but now it is official! We are extremely proud to announce that we have been deemed by Ofsted to be Issue 2 ‘OUTSTANDING’ in all areas. Performers College was inspected for two days on the 14th/15th October 2015. Ofsted makes five key judgements; Overall Effectiveness, Effectiveness of Leadership and Management, Quality of Teaching, Learning and Assessment, Personal Development, Behaviour and Welfare and finally Outcomes for Learners, inspectors judged all of these areas to be outstanding.

The pressure leading up to an Ofsted Inspection is huge and we are thrilled with our report which recognises the hard work of the staff and students. Parents also had the opportunity to comment by completing the on line questionnaire and Ofsted had a phenomenal positive response. We were particularly delighted to receive individual emails directly from parents prior to the inspection which included comments such as ‘The college really do care about the young people who attend, not only their achievements and their ability to learn and develop within the highly competitive world of performance but as young independent people. They care about ensuring each young person is well rounded and cared for and that is something that is very special about Performers College’.

The Inspectors noted that ‘Senior leaders have an ambitious vision’ and ‘Highly skilled teachers, with current industry expertise, ensure that students enjoy their training and develop high levels of artistic and technical skills’. ‘Visiting professionals provide an excellent programme of workshops and mock auditions which contribute to students developing high levels of confidence and their ability to progress into the industry’. They were also extremely complimentary of the employment records of our Performer’s College Graduates who nearly all gain employment in Dance or Musical Theatre soon after completing their course, with an increasing number securing long term or continual employment.

We currently have graduates involved in West End shows such as Wicked, Kinky Boots, Beautiful, Memphis, Miss Saigon, the Bodyguard and Charlie & the Chocolate Factory to name but a few. Some can also be seen dancing on the X Factor! This Christmas season we also have 48% of our current Year 3 students appearing in Panto all around the country and they won’t even be graduating until summer 2016! This is an invaluable experience, standing them in good stead for a career in Performing Arts’.

The full Ofsted report can be found by clicking the Ofsted logo in the Links section, under the News & Events Heading on our website at www.PerformersCollege.co.uk .

Performers College, Southend Road, Corringham, Essex, SS17 8JT - 01375 672053 - www.performerscollege.co.uk

It seems a lifetime ago now, but the end of year show 2015 ‘Shake, Break, Bounce’ and our Graduation Ceremony were actually only five months ago, such a shame we could not feature them in our first edition of Spotlight on Performers but due to the print deadline it was impossible. However, the four shows played to a packed house every time at the Towngate Theatre in Basildon and the applause brought the house down! The talented students from all year groups were amazing. Guest choreographers included Douglas Mills ‘The Duel’, Paul Roberts ‘Elegy for Dunkirk’ and Kendra J Horsburgh ‘The Reign’ whose pieces were simply stunning.

Euphoria - Mark Webb

The last performance on 11th July proved to be very emotional, from staff and parents to family and friends as the realisation dawned on our Year three students that this was the final time they would all dance together.

Flowers and gifts just kept arriving and the front of house staff at the theatre did a fantastic job ensuring these were delivered back stage before the shows began.

Disportment - Ian Parsons Carousel Prologue - Ian Parsons

Bills Bills Bills - Eilidh Ross

Photography by David Batholomew

Graduation Day followed the next day, with a champagne Reception at the Mirren Theatre in Basildon, with special guest Bonnie Langford presenting the certificates and offering words of wisdom. There were plenty of opportunities for the ‘Cap & Gown’ photographs with family and friends and again quite a few tears as their hard work and determination to succeed over the last three years came to fruition. Their talent shone through and many of them are already working in their chosen field, whether it be dancing, singing or musical theatre and we wish them all the best for a successful career. If that wasn't enough for one day, they had about an hour to change out of their graduation outfit to something a little more glamorous, as their graduation prom took place at Three Rivers Golf Club, where they partied the night away in style. More tears, more goodbyes and big wide world here we come! Well done to Stuart Rouse, Heather Lamb, Emma Bolton, O’Brian Broomfield, Laura Kate Thomas and Katy Woodley who organised this years prom.

Make a date in your diary as our end of year show 2016 entitled ‘Souled Out’ will take place between 79th July, with Graduation Day on Sunday 10th July 2016.

Congratulations to Naomi Cox one of our 2014 graduates who has just signed her second contract with Benidorm Palace in Alicante Spain. The Palace is an iconic theatre that offers a stunning show and dinner dance 5 nights a week. Featuring fabulous dancers and glamorous costumes it is the best variety show in Europe. One of her routines is to ‘Up Town Funk’ and dressed in a black suit, she is the only girl in a line up of seven and a brilliant fast paced piece. The show is altered on a nightly basis so visitors don’t see the same show twice, more work for the cast but fabulous if you want to go more than once. Sue & Mick Stephens, two of our Directors at Performers College saw the show a few weeks ago and loved it.

They met up with Naomi afterwards and she is so happy living her dream in Spain.

The Year three Musical Theatre students performed their show on 12th & 13th November, directed by Heather Stodter and Kayleigh Cook.

They decided on the theme of ‘7’ based on the music by Sting. Taking inspiration from the topical content of Sting’s music, words that stood out to them were loneliness, desire, euphoria and social pressure and expectation. ‘7’ explores the lives and stories of ordinary people, who can be surrounded by others and yet may still feel isolated. One song in particular they liked was ‘Seven Days’ which gave them the idea of seeing life in one place over the course of one week. As they were developing their ideas they began to discuss Shakespeare’s ‘7 Ages of Man’ speech from ‘As You Like it’; Organisers for the evening as follows:

‘All the world’s a stage, And all the men and women merely players, They have their exits and their entrances, And one man in his time plays many parts, His acts being seven ages’. (Shakespeare)

Choreographers - Frazier Beckles, Sarah Brown, Ellen Budd, Nicole Thorpe, Joey Goodwin and Chris Jones with special thanks to Musical Director Michael Robinson (Singing Dept Co-ordinator) and Michael Gyngell (Musical Theatre Co-ordinator).

The students did a brilliant job. It's hard enough to stage and perform a new musical revue but to create one from scratch is very tough. They pulled it off and in the process learnt how much work you have to put in to tell a story through song. The evening was great, with songs by Sting in abundance but with a Performers twist!

Back in July the Brit School held a careers day and invited our faculty member for PreVocational Course and Musical Theatre Vanessa Leagh Hicks to lead a Chicago based workshop. Vanessa has actually played the lead role of Velma in the West End version of Chicago and she was assisted by Performers College Graduate Kyle Seeley (who is currently appearing in Memphis). The workshop was a joy to do and they loved meeting such promising new talent.

Since graduating from Performers College in 2004, Simon Lee Hardwick has been working non stop! His first job was in Germany working on AIDA The Musical. Which was closely followed by Ensemble and various covers in the stage version of High School Musical at the Hammersmith Apollo in London, then Chistery and Ensemble in the original UK cast of Wicked. This was followed by Ensemble and cover for Sonny & Eugene in Grease at the Piccadilly Theatre in the West End and the UK Tour of Footloose as Ensemble and cover for Chuck. 2012 saw Simon returning to Germany for The Who’s Tommy musical as Dance Captain and The Lover. Back in the UK for the last few years he has been in Chicago, A Chorus Line, and now Miss Saigon as Dance Captain and Swing. In between Simon has also managed to fit in working for The McOnie Company as assistant choreographer and performer at various UK venues and a few films - Sophies Fortune, Moments and The Caretaker! No matter when they left us, we just love seeing our Graduates continue to succeed!

On Thursday 19th November twenty one Performers College students entertained guests at the testimonial gala dinner for cricketer Tim Murtagh which was held at the Grange Hotel in London. With prestigious guests from the world of sport, this event raised a considerable amount of money for Antony Nolan, PCA Benevolent Fund, Cardiac Risk in the Young and Shooting Star Chase, our students were delighted to attend and help these worthy causes.

They performed three completely different routines during the evening accompanied by a live band and singers.

Sarah Faith Brown Annabel Ennals Charlotte Howes Kayleigh Cook

Janine Cook

Josie Camble

Louis Gaunt

Shane Scarth

Jae Lempriere

Shauna Olley

Lucy Palmer

Claire Lander

Joey Goodwin

Mitchell Eley

Joshua Jung

Chloe Gunn

Nicola Thorpe

Helayna Liviero

Lauren Blanchard

Megan Spiers

Nikolai Hepp

Dress rehearsal at College

The ‘Spirit of the Dance’ tap routine, complete with Irish costumes, was choreographed by Sue Talbot, Producer and Director of Spirit Productions who visited the college to teach them the dance, which they actually learnt in just one day! This was followed by ‘I Feel for You’ choreographed by Artistic Director Chris Baldock and finally ‘River Deep Mountain High’ a fast pace dance with a rock n roll vibe, which was choreographed by our very own College Director Brian Rogers .

On 14th November Principal Tracey Lee together with six members of staff, held auditions in Glasgow at the Dance School of Scotland, Knightswood. This is an annual visit, where students from dance schools all over Scotland can audition for a place at Performers College. We have built an excellent reputation and are always kept extremely busy on audition days. Over the years we have welcomed many Scottish based dancers to study with us and auditioning them closer to home makes perfect sense. Ken Burke the Artistic Director at Dance School of Scotland always makes us feel at home and we look forward to our talent search in Scotland every year. Many thanks to tutors Eileen Thorogood, Sandra Madgewick, Tony Parrie, Vanessa Leigh Hicks, Mikey Robinson and Physiotherapist Nicola Stephens for assisting with the auditions. We look forward to a few more Scottish dancers joining us in September 2016.

On Tuesday 3rd November Year 3 students took part in a choreographed fashion show, in Studio 3. The Dance Theatre students took centre stage first in front of staff and the Musical Theatre students. They sashayed down the runway in various outfits chosen from their own wardrobes, ranging from lingerie and day wear to both a 60’s and an oriental theme. The Christmas themed finale was performed to ’Having a wonderful Christmas time’ and added a bit of extra sparkle to the event.

Congratulations to Ellen Budd who sang ‘It’s a mans world’ surrounded by 4 male students modelling around her and stayed completely focused!

In the afternoon, the roles were reversed and it was the turn of the Musical Theatre students to take to the stage, with a completely different choreographed fashion show. Their fashion trends included winter wear, sports wear with some fantastic gymnastic and skateboard tricks, lingerie, club wear, men in suits and a finale with a ghoulish zombie theme. Each show was perfectly executed with excellent choreography by Joanne Darnell and Tony Parrie.

The purpose of this annual event is for students to learn to ‘walk the walk’ particularly in heels and to remain focused while working in such close proximity to an audience. It can be very difficult for dancers to slow things down and hold a pose, as they are so used to being on the move, so it’s a great experience for them, and they certainly entertained the audience.

At the end of November all students in Year 1, 2 and 3 had a wonderful theatre trip to London to see In the Heights, which was thoroughly enjoyed by all. The trip forms part of their course and a contextual review of the show must be submitted afterwards. The show focuses on Washington Heights, where life is a struggle but the streets are jumping to the irresistible rhythms of love, passion, hopes and dreams. This smash hit, Tony Award winning musical is a joyously uplifting tale of young love and friendship in a community on the brink of change, set in one bustling neighbourhood where everyone knows everybody and the breeze carries sweet sounds of three generations of music. Pippa Stefani, one of the ensemble dancers is a Performers College graduate which really inspired our current students. It was a fantastic evening of unforgettable songs and amazing choreography infused with scorching rhythms and vibrant energy, so an absolutely perfect experience for our students and they loved it!

As part of their course and in the final year, Year 3 students have to devise, choreograph, organise and star in a show, inviting family, friends, staff and fellow students. This is an intimate event in one of the studios which means they are in extremely close proximity to the audience with limited dance space, all this must be factored into the choreography. On 5th & 6th November the Dance students were first with a theme of a ‘Night at the Movies’, directed by student Shauna Olley with Assistant Directors Corinne Swallow and Charlotte Van De Peer. Wow what an amazing job, from the atmosphere, back drop, costumes and props to the dancing, it was truly an action packed two hours, watching our talented stars of the future!

Choreographers for the evening were as follows: Shauna Olley & Natasha Richardson - Hairspray

Claire Lander - Happy Feet Charley Howes - Romeo & Juliet Alice Porter & Alice Preston - James Bond Caroline Wilde - Karate Kid Jaimee Welsh - Disney Nikolai Hepp - Schindlers List Megan Spiers - The Great Gatsby Shauna Olley - Burlesque Georgina Temple - Titanic Jae Lempriere - Sinister Charley Howes - The Hunger Games Georgina Fricker - The Impossible Jade Dee Stevenson - Adulthood

Cerissa Frostick who graduated from Performers College this summer is loving every minute working for Warner Leisure at Alvaston Hall in Cheshire.

Cerissa is performing five shows a week, singing and dancing in the Welcome Show, Curtain Up which focuses on musicals, Piano Legends, Swing Thing and Jingle all the Way, as well as playing Dandini in their panto version of Cinderella.

Congratulations to Stuart Hayes former Graduate of Performers College who won the Carl Alan Award for Dance on 10th October in Blackpool. This prestigious award is the equivalent of the Oscars in the dance world and we are delighted for him. Stuart is now a renowned Show/Fashion Choreographer, Teacher of Dance and Head of the Jazz Dance Department at Masters Performing Arts College.

An annual event on the Performers College calendar is the Year 3 Cabaret evening, which is attended by staff and fellow students. The studio is arranged with tables & chairs, drinks and snacks to replicate a club atmosphere. Both Dance and Musical Theatre students are literally under the ‘spotlight’ with songs of their choice, ranging from Whitney Houston classics and top 40 hits to musicals. We even had music written specifically for the show! Marthilia Svarna penned a beautiful ballad in memory of the terrible terrorist attacks in Paris, which she performed alone whilst singing and playing the piano, you could have heard a pin drop during her set. Heather Stodter penned and performed a hilarious and up beat song for the finale about life at Performers Collage over the past three years and was accompanied by a group of fellow students the ‘Basildon Babes’, brought together specifically for the occasion and it literally brought the house down! We have no doubt that song will be sung a few more times before they leave us next summer! It was a great evening, with their talent shining through.

Many congratulations to the following summer 2015 graduates who have successfully passed their entire ISTD DDI qualification, certificates will be in the post shortly! Jacqui Barnes is one very proud teacher!

Ellen Bleasdale, Emma Bolton, Frances Dunham, Hanna Mariee Huggett, Anna Pinter, Nicola Rowe, Alexandra Zibisow, Ludovica Zulli and Francesca Caviglioli.

Further congratulations are in order for the following current students and graduates who passed their DDI Modern Exams earlier this year.

Rhiannon Bennett

Chloe Gunn

Lucy Plamer

Emily Scott

Georgina Temple

Jaimee Welsh

Ellen Budd

Sarah Hanly

Millie Penny

Sophie Seal

Ashley Townsend

Rebecca Wood

Kayleigh Cook

Alison Head

Tiffany Wells

Alexandra Zibiscow

Janine Cook

Amy Lucas

Alice Porter (& Tap) Daisy Smalley-Nicholson Alice Preston

We love it at Performers College when former graduates call in and see us and we were delighted to catch up with Nicola Milford in October. Nicola graduated in 2005 and has not stopped working since, she now lives in Berlin and speaks fluent German. After leaving us Nicola’s first role was ensemble and 1st cover for ‘Frenchie’ and ‘ChaCha’ in the UK Tour of Grease, followed by Swing on the Producers UK Tour. Her first job in Germany was in We Will Rock You as Swing whilst also taking on the cover for ‘Teacher’. She has not lived in the UK since then as the roles just keep coming in

Heather Stodter

Brooke Wells

Germany! Next came Cats with a promotion to Swing Dance Captain and a role in the summer production of Kiss Me Kate, followed by Lead Singer on the cruise ship MS Europa 2. Thereafter it was Singing in the Rain in Nuremberg and Linz in Austria, returning to another stint in We Will Rock You and then a new role in the Summer Production of Cabaret, PHEW! Nicola loves a new challenge and she has been selected to join the Party Band on the cruise ship MS Europa. This band have been put together specifically for the cruise and Nicola is looking forward to exciting times ahead which will include singing acoustic in the main bar! In between rehearsals she has even squeezed in an audition for A Chorus Line in Austria, which we wish her every success for. Die besten wünsche für die zukunft!

On Monday 19th October we welcomed renowned Choreographer Kendra J Horsburgh back to Performers College where she auditioned our third years girls and all the boys for the piece she is creating for our performance at Move It in March 2016.

Congratulations to the following students who will have the honour of working with Kendra and representing Performers College at one of the biggest events in any dancers calendar!

Amy Hopkins

Amy Lucas

Corinne Swallow

Jade Dee Stevenson

Sarah Faith Brown

Kayleigh Cook

Laura Sandell

Tiffany Wells

Shauna Olley

Josie Camble

Charlotte Howes

Claire Lander

Hannah Sharpe

Natasha Richardson

Jessica Clarke

Ellen Budd

Liam McHugh

Mitchell Ely

Shane Scarth

Jae Lempriere

Jack Willmore

Dale Moran

Harry Morley

Ross John

Nikolai Hepp

Louis Gaunt

Mason Boyce

Ben Rutter

Jordan Jules Stock

Joshua Jung

Emma Rogers resident Choreographers at Performers College will be creating a piece for the Move It event 2016. This dance extravaganza is only held once a year at the Excel Centre in London and features performances from dance schools and colleges from all over the UK. With over 20,000 visitors who enjoy a totally unique dance experience; from taking dance workshops, shopping, watching all manner of dance genre performances to talking to current musical theatre/dance students for a real insight into life of a trainee in this industry. Emma has cast the following students for her piece: Christopher Jones

Ross John

Joshua Jung

Jordan Rose

Mason Boyce

Joey Goodwin

Ben Rutter

Jack Willmore

Jae Lempriere

Will Trafford

Nikolai Hepp

Louis Gaunt

Ashley Townsend

Dale Moran

Liam McHugh

Mitchell Eley

Jake Patten

Declan Morgan

Sarah Faith Brown

Claire Lander

Lauren Kelly

Josie Camble

Nicole Thorpe

Megan Spiers

Kate Robinson

Shauna Olley

Megan Bew

Hannah Sharpe

Natasha Richardson

Jade Dee Stevenson

Mollie Thorpe

Alice Porter

Corrine Swallow

Kirby Sztanko

Jaimee Welsh & Chloe Evans

Nikki O’Hara, Head of Contemporary Dance at Performers College will be choreographing a Contemporary piece for Move It 2016 that will feature boys from across all three year groups:

Joshua Piper

Joshua Jung

Christopher Jones

Joey Goodwin

Ben Rutter

Jack Willmore

Nikolai Hepp

Louis Gaunt

Ashley Townsend

Mitchell Eley

Harry Morley

Declan Morgan

Thomas Mann

Harvey Dorling

Callum Bowman

Tom Forder

Mason Boyce

Liam McHugh

Charles Lowe Riddle

Christopher Gopaul Jordan Jules Stock

Jordan Rose

Dale Moran

Jae Lempriere

Shane Scarth

Gregory Cox

On Saturday 10th October we held a ‘Boys Day’ at Performers College giving boys aged 13 and over who are interested in a Dance/Musical Theatre career an opportunity to sign up for a full day of classes.

Enrolment was free and classes incorporated Hip Hop, Contemporary, Gymnastics, Musical Theatre and Singing.

We had some excellent guest tutors and the boys were delighted to be working with such experienced professionals.

Performers Graduate Oliver Metzler took the Musical Theatre class. Oliver is a talented upcoming choreographer/creative director on the entertainment scene and after working in all fields of the industry (TV, Film & Theatre) he was excited to be bringing his incredibly creative ideas to life.

Working with such artists as Kylie Minogue, Rihanna, Jay Z, Coldplay, Jessie J, One Direction as well as performing in Singin’ In the Rain and being the Dance Captain for Wicked West End, Oliver understands the importance of being versatile in the industry and likes to bring that aspect to his choreography. Always up to date with current styles and music as well as drawing inspiration from old school musicals Oliver had a variety of ideas for our boys day of dance.

For the Contemporary class we welcomed back Georges Hann who began his training at the Swindon Youth Dance Academy, Centre for Advanced Training. He moved to London to continue his training at The Rambert School, graduating in 2013 with a First Class BA (Hons) degree. As a dance artist Georges has worked with choreographers including Henri Oguike, Itzik Galili, Kerry Nichols, Mark Baldwin, Dam Van Huynh, Kenneth Tharpe and Holasz. In 2014, Georges joined the cast of Punchdrunk’s ‘The Drowned Man: A Hollywood Fable’.

As a choreographer, Georges has collaborated with designers at Central St. Martins as part of Design for Dance, had work performed at The Lilian Baylis Theatre and has returned to SYDA to create a piece on their current students. In 2013, Georges was a finalist in the prestigious New Adventures Choreographer Award.

Ken Lewis, a Faculty member at Performers College taught the Gymnastics and Body Conditioning classes.

Ken is a highly qualified physical training specialist with over 25 years experience in gymnastics, acrobatics, weight training, body conditioning, martial arts and sports massage. He has performed in a Hapkido Martial Arts display team, as an acrobat in Circus Senso and in the Zig Zag Dance Company. He also participated in gymnastic displays as well as performing with The Gymnastics Dance Theatre Company. Ken has attended workshops and seminars at The Royal Academy of Dance in Jazz, Ballet and Contemporary dance. He also instructs a number of private clients which include circus performers, martial artists and dancers.

Over thirty boys thoroughly enjoyed all the masterclasses and we hope to see some of them returning for college place auditions in the near future.

Performers College is extremely proud to announce that Kacy O’Sullivan a member of our Junior Performers Dance School is currently dancing in the internationally award-winning Billy Elliot the Musical. Kacy O’Sullivan recently joined the West End show as Alison Summers, the smallest ballet girl who dances alongside the central character of Billy Elliot in Mrs Wilkinson’s ballet class. Mrs Wilkinson’s ballet girls feature throughout the show as the children’s ensemble, accompanying Billy on his dancing journey.

JUNIOR PERFORMERS

Ryan Moore, Manager of Junior Performers said ‘We are very proud of Kacy, she has worked so hard to achieve her dreams and goals and we wish her every success in the show’.

Ten year old Kacy who is from Basildon is not a stranger to being on stage as last Christmas she appeared in the Pantomime Cinderella at the Towngate Theatre. Kacy said ‘It has been my dream to be on a West End stage and now my dream has come true. The feeling of performing in Billy Elliot is incredible!’

Kacy is not the only dancer from Junior Performers experiencing a live audience at the moment. On 28th November 24 students from our Junior Performers Dance School were given the fantastic opportunity to perform at Twickenham Stadium, the home of English Rugby, and more recently the Rugby World Cup too, in front of a crowd of up to 82,000 people.

The students were involved in the pre-match entertainment at the Rugby Double Header for the Saracens vs. Worcester Warriors match.

Rehearsals took place over the October half term where they had to perfect two routines in just four days ready for the performance last weekend. The routine went brilliantly and they all had a ball! Junior Performers holds classes for all ages in Ballet, Tap, Modern, Jazz Street Dance, Musical Theatre and Singing at Performers College which has the best performing arts facilities in Essex and a highly talented and experienced team of tutors. For more details please call 01375 672053.

Congratulations to our new Year 1 Student Representatives Akeem Hyman and Isabelle Hetherington who have recently been elected and to the following who will continue to fulfil their role at Performers College: Dance Theatre Yr 2 Ben Rutter & Helayna Liviero

Dance Theatre Yr 3

Musical Theatre Yr 2

Musical Theatre Yr 3

Nikolai Hepp & Alice Porter Rhian Bennett & Tom Mann

Tom Forder & Harriet Bacon

A huge thank you to Layla Ellison for delivering a high energy commercial workshop to our lucky 3rd years on 29th September, they thoroughly enjoyed it and had the opportunity to gain lots of industry tips from the Q&A session afterwards!

Layla Ellison has worked for over 13 years as a dancer and choreographer for music videos, television, commercials, concert tours, and fashion shows. She has worked with artists such as Rihanna, Kylie Minogue, Leona Lewis, and Black Eyed Peas. Her corporate clients include Nike, Levi, Top Shop, McDonald's, and T-Mobile. In 2012, she served as Dance Captain at the Olympic and Paralympic Games in London and assists Paul Roberts with One Direction.

2015 Graduate Alexandra Zibiscow modelled at the 33rd ‘Alternative Hair Show’ event in aid of Fighting Leukaema at the Royal Albert Hall on 11th October 2015.

Every year, this colourful, passionate and emotional event continues to thrill, inspire and entertain the global audience, in an evening of spectacle and vision. This year’s show was fantastic on many levels. Colourful, creative and exciting, it kept the audience wanting more and raised a whopping £201,000 for the charity!

Performers College Graduate Lucie Campbell, who left us in 2014 has been working solidly with AIDA Cruises as a Lead Vocalist on their Sphinx class ships (largest ships currently in their fleet). Travelling from the Arabian Sea to the Baltic and lots of different places in between and loving every minute! With an average of 8-12 different shows per contract and performing two large scale shows a day, followed by band slots and spontaneous appearances in the bars and clubs aboard the ships.

Lucie told me ‘I am in the perfect job, travelling the world and enjoying all the places I get to visit, while performing to a packed theatre every night, twice a night’! Congratulations Lucie, it sounds amazing.

Performers Graduate Adrian Gas has had a versatile career taking him around the world and working for artists such as Take That, Rihanna, Jessie J, Cold Play, Michael Buble, Leona Lewis, Katherine Jenkins, Pixie Lott, Darcy Bussel, One Direction, Kylie Minogue, Olly Murs, Sir Cliff Richards, Little Mix, Kelly Clarkson, Tom Jones and Robbie Williams on stages like The X Factor, The Voice, Children in Need, The Brit Awards, The Royal Variety, The Diamond Jubilee Concert & So You Think You Can Dance. We love it when Adrian returns to Performers College as a guest choreographer and we get a chance to catch up on his many successes.

Last Night a DJ Saved My Life is a new musical starring David Hasselhoff and a cast of 18 performers and musicians. Our Artistic Director Chris Baldock has been busy choreographing this amazing show with some fabulous Performers Graduates in his cast. Hannah Veerapen as Dance Captain together with Josie Scamell, Hannah Bodenham, Barney Hudson and Stuart Rouse.

We cannot wait to see it! Curtain up began on 16th October 2015 in Blackpool and the last performance on 13th February 2016 will be in Bradford.

The Hoff plays Ross, a hilarious hedonist. He’s Ibiza’s top 80’s DJ who doesn't realise a new decade has dawned, disco is out and a new club scene is in!

He tries to keep up with the times and with Mandy, his new younger girl-friend (Kim Tiddy, from ‘The Bill & Hollyoaks’), but matters are complicated when his teenage daughter Penny (Stephanie Webber From TV’s ‘The Voice’) arrives to stay. Father and daughter haven’t seen each other for three years, since a messy divorce. No longer a demure school girl, but a wild child who quickly falls for Rik, the holiday rep (Shane Richie Junior).

It’s the story of two generations colliding, as a badly behaved parent, tries to control a wild child teenager! This hilarious hit fest is also a touching father and daughter drama, set against the holiday island background of Ibiza!

Take the ‘S Express’ and soak up the Ibiza sun, with foam filled finale megamix in the day when ‘The Only Way Way Is Up’! Songs by well known artists such as the Spice Girls, Rick Astley, Bryan Adams, Chaka Khan and Take That to name but a few are also featured.

Guaranteed to be a great night out, don’t forget to get your tickets!

Congratulations to Performers Graduates Sam Cox and Dom Le Brun who are in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, USA appearing in the winter holiday show ‘Christmas Wonderland’.

These guys only graduated this summer and are already working and enjoying every minute.

This is a delightful Christmas show featuring glittering costumes, memorable Christmas songs and the highest kicking chorus girls you have ever seen. Such a shame its so far away for us, we would have loved to support them! We hope to catch up with them in 2016 to hear all about it!

It was wonderful to see last years Performers Graduate Billy Sawyer as a guest choreographer at the college on 22nd September. He has been so busy since leaving us that we were lucky to snap him up for a one off visit! From working on the X Factor, dancing with Olly Murs on his recent tour to working in Holland for three months filming a new TV show called ‘Dance, Dance, Dance’ where celebrity couples recreate iconic dances from music videos, films and shows. He now has a part in a new West End show ‘The Illusionists’ at the Shaftesbury Theatre together with another Performers College Graduate Danielle Everdell, which features seven of the worlds most incredible illusionists This is the most successful magic show in Broadway’s history with mind blowing magic, jaw-dropping sleight of hand and acts of breath-taking wonder. They are delighted to be dancing in this blockbuster theatrical show that has shattered box office records around the world.

On Sunday 18th October seven Performers College students together with Principal Tracey Lee and Jazz Tutor Keeley East attended the Council for Dance Education & Training (CDET) Dance and Musical Theatre Careers Conference in Chester. Young visitors to the conference together with their parents gain an insight into what it is like to audition for a vocational college with mock audition classes in ballet, jazz, contemporary and musical theatre.

There was also a seminar on making informed choices when choosing a college, tips for auditions and what to expect during training. Keeley took a Jazz Masterclass and our students also performed a piece ‘Take me to Church’ choreographed by Emma Rogers. Many thanks to our students Claire Lander, Sarah Brown, Josh Jung, Nicole Thorpe, Ellen Budd, Mason Boyce and Jordan Rose who gave up their free time to represent Performers College and talk to the visitors about their experiences, training and life living away from home.

On Tuesday 20th October 2016 we welcomed students from West Herts College in Watford who are currently in their second year of studying a Level 3 Dance BTEC which incorporates Ballet, Contemporary, Jazz, Urban, Choreography and Performance genres. This was an ideal opportunity to learn about the Diplomas we offer in Professional Dance, Professional Musical Theatre in addition to the Performers College Diploma. After a tour of the college, gym, dance studios and witnessing some classes in progress, they also had a brilliant Jazz masterclass with our Head of Dance and Jazz/Tap Co-ordinator Tony Parrie. Tony has a wealth of experience in his field from appearing in music videos, major events such as the Brit Awards and now choreographing both nationally and internationally. As you can imagine, the visitors had a blast!

We currently have three former Graduates involved with the new hit West End musical Kinky Boots. Dominic Shaw is UK Associate Director, Robert Jones, Swing and Assistant Dance Captain and Emma Crossley Swing and understudy for Lauren.

Dominic has already been Associate Director on several other London shows including Beautiful - The Carole King Musical, Dirty Rotten Scoundrels and Legally Blonde. His Director credits include Silk Road and Get Got in Edinburgh as well as Fan Ficton in Reading.

Robert has also been part of the Ensemble and Under Study for Jack Scott in the UK Tour of High School Musical, Ensemble in We Will Rock You at the Dominion Theatre in the West End and Wicked at the Apollo in Victoria as well as Swing in Charlie & the Chocolate Factory at the Theatre Royal.

Emma’s theatre credits include Ensemble and Dance Captain in Oh What a Lovely War at the Theatre Royal Stratford and UK Tour, Sophie in Mama Mia at the Novello, Ensemble and understudy for Sophie and Ali in the West End show Mama Mia. Other shows include Jest End, Teen Queen and We Will Rock You as well as TV parts in Coronation Street, Unforgiven and My Spy Family. So all in all, a right Performers family affair!

We have recently welcomed back former Graduate Gary Wood as a guest tutor to take several acting classes.

Gary graduated back in 2007 with a National Diploma in Musical Theatre and is now an experienced actor, singer and dancer.

Best known for playing Paul in the revival of a Chorus Line at the London Palladium and more recently Rashid in The Infidel - The Musical at the Theatre Royal Stratford East.

After he graduated, Gary immediately joined the cast of Wicked and therafter performed in shows such as 42nd Street, Hello Dolly and The King and I. He even had a Zombie part in Brad Pitt’s film World Ward Z. It has been great to catch up with him and bring his wealth of experience back to where it all began!

After a very successful UK Tour with Top Hat, Sam Humphries, 2014 Graduate is now playing Young Bernadette and cover for Felicia in Priscilla Queen of the Desert for cruise line NCL and is based in Tampa Florida.

Panto season is now in full swing and we are so proud to announce that 48% of our Year 3 students together with 12 students from Year 2 are treading the boards this Christmas and they haven't even graduated yet! Congratulations to you all!

Staying local at the Cliffs Pavilion in Southend are Christopher Jones, Corrine Swallow, Jack Willmore, Millie Penny, Claire Lander and Ross John who are preforming ensemble in Cinderella alongside Brian Conley and Lesley Joseph.

In Cinderella at the Millfield Arts Centre in Edmonton we have graduate Matt Powell together with Year 3 students Jordan Rose and Mason Boyce.

Joey Goodwin and Nikolai Hepp will be performing ensemble in Beauty & the Beast with Rav Wilding at the Playhouse Theatre in Epsom, Surrey.

Year two students Christopher Gopaul and Gregory Cox are performing in Beauty & the Beast at the Civic Theatre in Broxbourne, as part of the ensemble cast.

Cinderella seems to be very popular this year as The Pavilion Theatre in Worthing welcomes current students Liam McHugh, Alice Preston, Hannah Sharpe, Alison Head and Nicole Thorpe together with Performers College graduate Zac Watson-Smith. This panto features Camilla Dallerup from Strictly Come Dancing as the Fairy Godmother and Mark Read from boy band A1 as Dandini.

Another two students from the second year, Ashley Townsend and Charles Lowe-Riddle are appearing in Snow White at Oakengates Theatre in Telford.

Congratulations to Ashleigh Graham a Performers College Graduate from 2015 who has secured the principle role of Snow White at the Kenneth Moore Theatre in Ilford for the Panto season. As you can see Ashleigh makes a fabulous Snow White!

Joining her onstage as an ensemble dancer is current Year 3 student Jae Lempriere.

Sarah Hanly has secured the coveted role of Idle Jack in the panto Jack & the Beanstalk which will be touring Merseyside. May those magic beans bring you lots of luck, well done Sarah!

Thomas Mann and Manolis Georgio are appearing in Sleeping Beauty at the Marina Theatre in Lowestoft with TV Legend Rusty Lee. The boys from Performers College were really in demand this year, with two more from the second year successfully auditioning for Cinderella in Rickmansworth.

Congratulations to ensemble members Joshua Jung and Dale Moran.

Year 3 student Shauna Olley is performing at the Towngate Theatre in Basildon in Jack & the Beanstalk.

Current Year 3 student Tiffany Wells is starring in a Bill Kenwright Production of Cinderella at the Theatre Royal in Windsor. Tiffany is also understudy for the Fairy Godmother who is played by the Right Honourable Anne Widdecombe. Former Blue Peter presenter Zoe Salmon is Cinderella. Panto favourites Basil Brush as Baron Hardup and comic Kevin Cruise as the lovable Buttons are also in the cast.

Tiffany must have great fun going to work every night Boom Boom!

Alice Porter together with Declan Morgan, Jordan Jules Stock, Sarah Faith Brown, Amy Hopkins and Jade dee Stevenson are all spending the Panto season at the Pomegranate Theatre in Chesterfield performing ensemble in Snow White & the Seven Dwarfs. This panto stars Jonathan Ansell from X Factor group G4, Nicki French and Britains Got Talent impressionist Philip Green. Hi Ho Hi Ho its off to work they go!

Harry Morley is currently ‘walking the plank’ in Peter Pan at the Alban Arena, St Albans where he has also had some Fire Poi training! Captain Hook is none other than Jake Wood from Eastenders!

Shane Scarth and Benjamin Rutter are taking to the stage as pirates in Peter Pan at the Spa Theatre in Bridlington.

Josie Camble is in Yeovil, Somerset for the next few weeks performing ensemble in Sleeping Beauty at the Octagon Theatre.

Graduates Sophie Hind and Olivia Spooner are on stage with either Katie Price or Anita Dobson who will be sharing the role of the Wicked Fairy in Sleeping Beauty at the New Victoria Theatre in Woking.

Lucy Palmer, Ellen Budd, Charlotte Ridd, Grace Evans and Jessica Simmons are entertaining visitors to LaplandUK in Winkfield, Berkshire until Christmas Eve. Now in its ninth year, award winning LaplandUK has entranced and captivated thousands of young children receiving national and international acclaim together with royal and celebrity patronage for its unique Christmas experience. Guaranteed to get you on the festive mood!

Some of our students are touring the Uk in Panto this season, rather than being based at one particular theatre. Laura Sandell is touring the North West in the Snow Queen, Alice Morgan in Wales with the cast of Jack & the Beanstalk and Rhiannon Bennett, the North West of England in Beauty & the Beast.

Jamiee Welsh is dancing her way to Chatham in Dick Whittington at the Brittania Theatre, appearing with Tina from S Club 7, the legendary Derek Griffiths and Paul Danan from Hollyoaks.

Charlotte Howes has relocated to the Midlands for the Panto season and is treading the boards in Aladdin at the Solihul Arts Complex.

Congratulations to former Performers Graduate Philip Joel, now an international Choreographer working in the UK and USA who has to say the least, been extremely busy over the last few months! Philip has been choreographing for the new UK tours of ‘Miracle on 34th Street’ and ‘A Christmas Cracker’ as well as the revival of ‘Closer to Heaven’ at the Union Theatre in London. A Christmas Cracker is the seasonal show featuring a star-studded team of singers and dancers direct from the West End as they come together to perform everybody’s favourite Christmas songs. The iconic Miracle on 34th Street comes to the stage in this dazzling new production perfect for all the family. Closer to Heaven is a musical written by Jonathan Harvey with music and lyrics by the pet shop boys.

Over in Taunton at the Brooke Wells is ensemble Brewhouse, in Cinderella at the Will Trafford is Assembly Halls Theatre in appearing in Merlin’s Apprentice, Tunbridge Wells. Cinderella telling the tale of young Arthurs rise is played by the famous from homeless orphan to King of all Tracey Beaker actress Dani England under guidance from the Harmer. legendary magician Merlin.

Once again, Performers College have graduates in the Christmas Spectacular at Thursford in Norfolk, the largest Christmas show in the country.

Congratulations to Ionna Kamenou, Holly Adams and Sorsha Talbot Hunt for joining the cast of 130 singers and dancers who will be performing in magical surroundings of mechanical organs and fairground carousels in a three hour extravaganza of non stop singing, dancing, humour and variety.

Summer School 2015

Our Summer School at the end of July was once again a very successful event, which saw over 40 young people from the age of 12 to 18 join us for a week of dance, drama and musical theatre. A full on week of hard work but also lots of fun, including a trip to the West End to see the blockbuster musical Memphis, an evening of bowling and Quasar and a mini party/show on their last evening. On the final afternoon before departing, parents, friends and family were invited to attend a performance showcasing all they had learnt over the week. Many thanks to Keeley East our Summer School Co-ordinator (pictured centre) and Faculty members who taught classes and chaperoned the trips. Our host families who looked after those who live too far to travel here everyday also did an amazing job and made them feel very welcome.

Current students made their debut in the world of advertising when they starred in the latest video campaign for French clothing brand The Kooples featuring their winter collection 2015/2016. Filmed in the Rivoli Ballroom in South London and choreographed by Performers College graduate Adrian Gas, a very exciting shoot was had by all, congratulations to the following students: Jae Lempriere, Dale Moran, Josie Camble, Tiffany Wells, Natasha Richardson, Imogen Joyce, Sarah Faith Brown, Jade Dee Stevenson, Amy Hopkins, Ben Rutter and Joey Goodwin.

On 9th November we were delighted to welcome guest dancer Carly Miles, fresh from the Dirty Dancing 2015 UK Tour, who hosted a Dirty Dancing Workshop at Performers College for Year 3 students. It was an absolute smash with everybody, the tweets below say it all!

Congratulations to graduates Sophie Hind and Joshua Ivey who had a ball filming the new House of Fraser Christmas Advert for 2015. The stores campaign which is called ‘Your Christmas Your Rules’ aims to offer a refreshing antidote to the festive norm with a message about challenging tradition and banishing the bland. Made with creative agency 18 Feet & Rising, the high energy , hip hop style advert is set to the track ‘You Don’t Own Me’, sung by up and coming artist Grace, featuring G-Eazy and is packed with some impressive dance moves! Available to view on line or just catch it on TV! Josh is now busy rehearsing for the West End stage show Thriller at the Lyric Theatre, where he will be ensemble and 1st cover for Michael Jackson!

Sophie Hind in the House of Fraser Xmas advert

Josh with Vanessa Leigh Hicks from Performers College Management Agency

Our resident Tap Teacher Eilidh Ross has been working with former graduates Philip Joel and Laetitia Dewhurst, bought together by TAG (Talent Artistic Group) to choreograph a show called 'Rock City' for Celebrity Cruises. It was pure coincidence that they are all Performers related!

Letitia was choreographing the aerial and speciality acts, as she has previously worked a great deal with Cirque de Soleil. Eilidh and Phillip worked with the whole cast. Laetitia returned to Miami to work on another show for TAG & Celebrity Cruises.

Eilidh has also choreographed a second show for them called 'Broken Strings'. Both Broken Strings and Rock City are now live on the Celebrity Solstice ship, sailing round Australia. Next up was to board the Celebrity Eclipse to install Rock City with the second cast! It was all go on the high seas!

Southend Road, Corringham, Essex, SS17 8JT

Musical Theatre : 3 Year Course Dance Theatre

: 3 Year Course

Pre-Vocational

: 1 Year Course

Easter & Summer Courses Audition dates for 2016 intake: 16th January 2016 19th - 20th February 2016

21st - 24th March 2016 Yr 3 Musical Theatre Show 6th & 7th May 2016 Yr 3 Dance Theatre Show 27th & 28th May 2016 Summer Show ‘Souled Out’ 7- 9th July 2016

Courtesy of Fiona Whyte Photography

Performers College, Southend Road, Corringham, Essex, SS17 8JT - 01375 672053 - www.performerscollege.co.uk