Anniversary is a real show stopper
HELD at the Concordia Theatre, Hinckley, The Pat Barker Academy of Dance celebrated their 35th Anniversary with a polished, professional and perfectly executed show.
Reflections looked back at some of the dances performed over the years with some new and exciting additions.
Students from two and a half upwards delighted and dazzled audiences with a wide genre of dances.
The show opened with a Bollywood number which set the stage for an unforgettable show. This was followed by Junior Jazz performing confident, girl power!
The delightful Preparatory Tap charmed the audience with Moana and the Grade 1 Ballet enchanted us with their character dance - Gone Fishing.
As an inspiration for the title of the show Grade 3 gracefully danced a lyrical to Reflections. The Senior pupils then gave us an upbeat contemporary to Heaven by Emeli Sande.
The Babies Class was ever popular receiving a chorus of “aahs” and lots of applause as they took us underwater for Bobbing Along.
Fans featured in the Spanish dance, on pointe, performed with elegance and charm. Acro B class gave some exciting moves to music from Tarzan. Dynamic next describes the next number. All in black the Grade 6 class went back to “Druidic Times” creating an electric atmosphere.
The audience was then transported to the Orient as the Inter-Foundation Ballet class demonstrated elegance and skill in a Japanese dance. The Sorting Hat was then used as Build-up Ballet showed an excellent character dance from Harry Potter. Tapping to Don’t Let Me Down the Pre-Inter tap class beat out some intricate rhythms. To close this section, there was a beautiful and very competent ballet from the Primary Class.
Things then went very upbeat with Grade 2 performing Don’t Stop Moving and Grade 5 and Inter-Modern closing the first half with a stunning and breath taking modern Because we Can.
The second half was opened with an amazing and energetic tap dance by the Seniors. Following this the Grade 2 Ballet Class showed some very promising technique and characterisation with Waltz of the Flowers. The Intermediate RAD Ballet Class then executed a dramatic dance Chess. Following this was a special tribute to Pat to mark the 35th anniversary. Past pupils travelled from far and wide to perform together a mesmerising contemporary lyrical choreographed by Rachael Groocock.
Stillness settled over the audience as the Grade 5s gave a sophisticated performance of their dance Jaws. The stillness was followed by rapturous applause for the Grade 1 Modern class as the danced to Black Magic. Keeping to the black theme, Build-up Tap took us to America to dance as secret agents from the film Men in Black.
The audience showed its appreciation to a talented PrePrimary Class who danced as gorgeous Matadors and delightful Bulls to Tommy Steeles Little White Bull.
A cute Primary Tap class showed some excellent tap from ones so young with Trolls. Next, the audience was treated to a dazzling Acro dance by the more senior Acro pupils which certainly lived up to its title Explosive.
Next up was a fast and energetic Beginners Jazz dance, Girlfriend. This talented little group certainly know how to move!
A spellbinding Tap to Michael Jackson’s Smooth Criminal by the talented Grade 5 class followed. The atmosphere changed it built up to the end of the show with a lively tap number to Bang Bang - a very entertaining number.
A very proficient Senior Jazz class brought this section to an end with Justin Timberlake’s Like I Love You.
As the end of the show approached, the audience eagerly awaited the iconic adult dance. They were not disappointed as Michael Flatfoot and his Trickle-dancers took to the stage amid the usual cheers and wolf whistles!
The overwhelming impression throughout the show was of elegance, poise, athleticism and perfect timing. These young dancers did Pat and her hard-working staff proud on this, their 35th anniversary show.
Show Performance Awards went to the following students:
Outstanding Senior Performer - Mia Downes, Lia Lewis, Carrie Rackyeft, Anna Thomas.
Runner up Outstanding Senior Performer Molly Granger, Chloe Grantham.
Outstanding Junior Performer Emme Barker.
Runner up Outstanding Junior Performer Ava Hayward, Ruby Stratford
Teacher’s award for commitment & technical improvement Georgia Hollws, Caitlin Smith, Lucy Saunders.
Senior Personality Olivia Donnelly, Nik Powell, Bryony spink, Eloise Thompson, Gemma White.
Intermediate Personality Charlotte Ashton, Millie Barnett, Lucy Gibson, Izabella Groocock.
Junior Personality Daisy Elleman, Erin Hook, Reine Letts, Sayvie Meah, Scarlet Paterson, Darcy Rymell.
Classes held at PB Studios, Parsons Lane, Hinckley, LE10 1XT. Website: www.patbarkeracademyofdance.co.uk
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