Performing Arts at Helenswood School
Click here for the Performing Arts, What's On 2009-10 Details
----------------- Holocaust Memorial Service – Legacy of Hope
& Chelsea Dance Festival – Brighton University ----------------------
Helenswood continues to develop its outreach programme across the community, participating in two significant events.
GCSE Dance students and two GCSE Music students took part in a Holocaust Memorial Service at St Marys in the Castle on Saturday 30th January.
The dancers performed a poignant piece based on human rights and Amnesty International choreographed by Dance Teacher - Elaine Vanner. The music students sung a haunting song written and composed by Performing Arts Director - Niall Whitehead.
The students were thanked by Reverend Christopher Sears MBE and Frank Millar for their professional contribution to this very moving event.
Also on the same morning, A Level, GCSE and Gifted &Talented dancers from Helenswood once again joined other schools in Sussex at the annual Chelsea Dance Festival at Brighton University to perform their work “Who am I” and “The Hum”.
The students as always showcased their superb talents and professionalism in both events.
------------------------- Arts Award Scheme! ---------------------------
At Helenswood some girls are currently participating in the arts award scheme. They are enjoying taking part in different activities including fun street dance and music workshops.
They have been invited to attend different shows such as Little Shop of Horrors at Tunbridge Wells and Snow White on Ice in Eastbourne.
The students take on the challenge of researching a practitioner they admire, share their skills with others and spend time improving their chosen art form. It is a fun and exciting lunchtime and after school activity where the girls can meet new people, share their experiences and grow and develop through the arts.
At each level the girls take on a new personal learning challenge and although I am only doing my Bronze award at the moment I am enjoying it enormously and cannot wait to move on to the Silver and Gold levels.
Written by: Cait Townsend 8KB
--------------- Helenswood Student in Dance Success! ----------------
Helenswood student, Aimee Wright has successfully qualified for advanced training from the prestigious London Contemporary Dance School!
After an intensive selection process with over 200 students auditioning, Aimee successfully qualified with only 30 places available. She will now have the opportunity to expand upon her talent with training from leading dance professionals to truly maximise her potential. Training will cover areas including contemporary and ballet techniques, repertoire, choreography and contextual studies (including anatomy, nutrition and injury prevention).
We would like to congratulate Aimee on this fantastic achievement and all wish her great success in the future!
------------ Helenswood Girls perform at the London Eye -------------
Helenswood were chosen from hundreds of schools to showcase their Year 9 performance of As You Like It at the London Eye on Tuesday 19th May. Niall Whitehead said "This was an amazing opportunity for the students to work on this iconic London attraction". Helenswood is working in partnership with the Shakespeare Schools Festival and the Building Schools for the Future initiative.
The performance was among a number of exciting activities planned to mark the launch of the Transformation Trust, which aims to provide every young person with opportunities and experiences that will help them fulfil their potential.
+Their vibrant interpretation of Shakespeare’s comedy featured cheerleading, basketball competitions and an up to the minute soundtrack.
Helenswood will be performing a new production as part of the Shakespeare Schools Festival at the Phoenix in October of this year and developing a performance festival with the Royal Shakespeare Company next spring.
Click here to view the photo gallery of the day.
------- Raising money for Demelza Hospice Care for Children --------
All students in Year 9 took part in a classroom project to raise money for charity through music. Tutor groups organised and gave concerts which included performances of songs written by members of each form. The concerts were a huge success, demonstrating the wealth of musical talent and strength of support amongst the students of Helenswood to raise funds to support others.
We were delighted to welcome Vicky Pickering of Demelza hospice care for children, who gave a superb presentation about the work of the hospice to a Year 9 assembly. Through this our students were able to gain an understanding of the sort of work carried out by the hospice and how much their support and fundraising are valued, as Vicky said, “every penny counts”. Alex Barry and Lottie Selmes of 9SW presented Vicky with a cheque for £143.21 which was raised through the Year 9 project and our spring concert. Many thanks to all the students and staff who supported the project and to Vicky for showing us the rewards of our efforts.
---------------------------- Dance Show 2009 ---------------------------
Students from Helenswood and local Primary schools wowed audiences at the Phoenix Arts Centre with a stunning variety of dance from the funky moves of the “Dance Off” to the contemporary work of GCSE and A Level Students.
Now in its 7th year this show has exceeded itself in becoming more professional in both quality and style.
Following the community work of the Performing Arts Status at Helenswood, guest schools included, Blacklands, Castledown, St Paul’s and Little Ridge. Each primary school showed outstanding commitment and enthusiasm in the production of their work.
During the interval the new Headteacher, Lucy Monk, presented Demelza House Children’s Hospice and Sierra Leone Friendship Link with cheques amounting to £14,000 which were raised from THE SHOW at the White Rock Theatre in July 2008 and other events.
Click here to view the full Photo Gallery
------------------------ Third Party Productions ------------------------
Helenswood was very fortunate to host Third Party Productions - an international touring theatre company based in Hastings and BordCadre from Paris - who co-produced a dual-language version of The False Servant by Pierre Marivaux, directed by Cecile Rist and John Wright (Trestle, Told By An Idiot).
This is a timeless comedy of deception and desire, double meaning and double crossing. The false servant dresses as a man in order to discover the true nature of her husband to be; is he driven by money or by love?
This event is part of Paris Calling (patron Juliette Binoche), the French government's celebration of Franco-British culture in 2009. It is supported by Arts Council England, France - North Region, Nord Pas de Calais, British Council Paris and the French Embassy.
The school is proud to support this international event. The show was a great success the reviews were excellent and feedback from all who attended was very positive.
We look forward to Third Party’s next visit to Helenswood.
------------------------- Chelsea Dance Festival ------------------------
Once again Helenswood attended the Chelsea Dance Festival in Eastbourne with pieces choreographed by Miss. Poole and Miss Vanner on Saturday 31st January. Helenswood produced two dance works, one entitled Fallen performed by the Gecko Gifted &Talented Dance Group which has expanded to over 35 students! This original work looks at all different aspects of the use of paper through movement and the dancers enhanced the work through their skilled performance.
The other piece was performed by the A Level Dance Group called Twos Company, Nines a Crowd. To the soulful sound of Bill Withers the A Level Dancers moved effortlessly across the space and its humorous content was appreciated by the audience. The Dancers are a credit to the schools performing arts status.
------------------------- 3 Fall Dance Workshop -------------------------
3 Fall Dance Workshop from the University of Chichester came to Helenswood to conduct a Dance workshop with Year 9 students.
The company comprised of two ex-Helenswood students Louise Fox and Laura Greenfield, who are both in their final year at Chichester University studying a degree in Dance.
The workshop theme was based on a piece of company repertoire on the ‘heart’ – the students learnt technical skills and applied them to choreographic tasks in groups.
The Year 9 group were completely engaged the whole time and really enjoyed the experience, especially when the company performed at the end of the session.
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