Company Chameleon Lead Associates’ Creative Choreography Day

Students on Central’s Associate Programme took part in a day of masterclasses from renowned guest teachers last Saturday as part of the annual Creative Choreography Day. The event is held each year exclusively for Central’s Associate students and provides the opportunity to work creatively with external dance companies to develop technical skills and artistry in a professional setting.

This year’s workshops were led by Manchester-based contemporary dance company, Company Chameleon. Company Chameleon tours internationally, staging over 50 indoor and outdoor performances every year. Gemma Nixon and David Colley, two of the company’s dancers, led workshops throughout the day introducing the Associate students to their dynamic style of dance and movement.

The Associate students also had the opportunity to learn a commercial routine from award-winning choreographer and movement director, Richard Marcel. Richard has previously worked with artists such as Madonna, Kylie Minogue, The Spice Girls, and Diana Ross. The opportunity to learn new dance styles is invaluable to the students and is key in developing skills to become versatile young dancers, ready to apply for full time vocational training.

Ballet classes on the Creative Choreography Day were led by Sayaka Ichikawa. As a member of Ballet Black, Sayaka has been a featured dancer in ballets by Jonathan Watkins, Henri Oguike and Martin Lawrance. In 2014 she created the role of Helena in Arthur Pita’s production of A Dream Within a Midsummer Night’s Dream.

“What Central’s Associate programme gives you is more opportunities. It’s great to meet new teachers and become more versatile dancers. It was also interesting to explore a new style and expand our horizons for what we can do in the future.” – Pre-Senior Dancer

Applications to join Central’s Associate Programme in September 2023 are open. You can find out more at centralschoolofballet.co.uk/associate-programme/