February Half Term Round-up

21 February 2024

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Last week, The Countess of Wessex Studios hosted a range of half term courses for young people aged 4 to 16. Central welcomed many familiar faces and lots of new ones, across three days packed with dance and heaps of fun! The short courses are designed to suit all levels of ability, developing valuable skills such as confidence, creativity, and stamina.

The week started off with two Ballet intensives, 8-10 years, and Central’s 14-16 years Audition Preparation Day. The participants were taught by a range of Central’s artistic staff and worked incredibly hard on their performance and technique. The Audition Preparation Day is a fantastic opportunity for young dancers seeking to apply for vocational schools to gain an understanding of how to make the best impression at auditions, and specifically to learn what Central looks for in prospective students. The day included Ballet class, coaching and improvisation, followed by a Q&A with our Executive Director, Mark Osterfield.

The second day of the half term courses continued with the 11-13 years Ballet Intensive, as well as a 4-7 years Ballet and Arts & Crafts day. The 11-13 years Ballet intensive presented young dancers with the opportunity to develop their artistry, learning repertoire from Giselle, and taking part in Ballet, pointe and creative choreography classes. The Arts & Crafts participants brought immense energy to all their classes, ending the day with a sharing of their work. The theme was Charlie and the Chocolate factory, and whilst exploring the factory and finding the Oompa Loompas, they worked up the appetite for a sweet treat!

The final day of February half term courses featured Central’s Dance Around the World, a magical opportunity to experience new styles of dance and music from expert teachers. The day provided classes in Ballet, Authentic Jazz, Contemporary African and Street. From barre work to the Charleston, African rhythms to popping, participants were introduced to a variety of new dance vocabularies and techniques.

Central would like to thank all the participants, and hopes that everyone enjoyed the range of classes on offer. Half term courses will return in May, after the Spring course takes place at Easter. The Spring course is available to aspiring dancers aged 11-16, looking to experience a taste of full-time training at Central. Applications are open and will close on 25 March 2024.