Academy of Dance showcases its
PAT Barker Academy of Dance was delighted to be back on stage in their 42nd year, with three performances at Lutterworth College.
‘Welcome to the Dancefloor’ was the perfect first show title for Principal Miss Rachael who has been leading the school over the past two years. Over 90 students performed a variety of dances including ballet, tap, modern, commercial, contemporary and acrobatic arts.
The audience were welcomed to an energetic Jazz number performed under a disco ball to ‘Canned Heat’ by Jamiroquai. Full of rhythm and soul, the funky jazz opening set the tempo high, with dancers wearing disco style, sequined costumes.
The opening number was performed by a combined group of dancers from Junior through to Senior Jazz classes. Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory was next, with the ever-gorgeous Grade 1 Ballet chasing the golden ticket.
Dancers wore bright pink ballet dresses as they danced around Willy Wonka enacting the story of their love for chocolate.
Wearing royal blue, contemporary dresses, Inter dancers Ella Richings and Courtney Pook performed a self-choreographed piece to music by James Bay, demonstrating their contemporary and acrobatic moves with skill. Next, the Polish Mazurka folk dance from the popular ballet Coppelia was performed.
This character dance featured 20 dancers from RAD intermediate foundation and build-up ballet. Wearing traditional character skirts and shoes, it was the third time in the history of the dance school that the Mazurka has been performed therefore making it a lovely tradition for the dancers to uphold.
The audience showed their appreciation for our babies and pre-primary ballet group who took us on an enchanting trip to a secret mermaid cove. For these little ones, some their first performance on stage, they demonstrated the very beginnings of their dance and ballet journeys in beautiful shimmering turquoise tutu’s.
Four of our older dancers supported on stage and we’re always proud that our older dancers continue to inspire and help our younger ones. Grade 6 then performed a ballet with elegance and grace to the exciting classical version of Titanium by ‘The Piano Guys.’ Wearing beautiful long black ballet skirts, with contrasting white flowers, they demonstrated excellent ballet technique. Lots of energy bounced onto the stage next with grade 2 modern wearing electric blue leotards, spreading sun, fun and happy vibes as they performed to the club classic Sweet Lovin’ by Sigala. The dance showcased the student’s strong technical ability developed through studying the IDTA modern syllabus. The heartache of break-up was then performed by Grade 5 ballet through the beautiful melodies of Emelie Sande’s suitcase, telling the poignant story of love and loss.
Wearing maroon lyrical dresses, the dancers used a suitcase prop to enhance the story telling.
Our Senior Jazz dancers intoxicated the stage as they mesmerized the audience with their sassy spins to the iconic song Toxic by Britney Spears. Wearing abstract blue and white fitted dresses they performed this commercial jazz with a modern display of attitude and sass to perfection. Fast-paced and thrilling Grade 3 tap, wearing bright red jackets and a black hat set the standard to beat it, Michael Jackson’s 1983 hit. Incorporating signature Michael Jackson moves the dancer’s energy could not only be seen but heard. The ever-popular anthem, firework, by Katy Perry, unraveled before the audience as junior jazz exploded onto the stage in bright red leotards and skirts that they even spun out of to represent fireworks. Grade 5, intermediate and advanced tap combined, to dance with diamonds in their shoes to Faith, the Stevie Wonder song featuring Ariana Grande. Wearing gold sparkly costumes their strong tapping ability was sustained throughout.
The audience were then transported to the jungle as Grade 1 modern, wearing leopard print unitards performed a lively number to music from the Broadway hit Tarzan. The last dance before the interval saw our acro classes combine under the code name 007 with 35 dancers showcasing a fusion of dance technique, acrobatics and gymnastics to a medley of songs from the popular bond movies. This show-stopper was the perfect way to end the first half leaving the audience in a rapturous applause. A short interval followed enabling the audience to catch their breath!
The second half of the show started with our build up tap class performing a dazzling number to ‘Shut up and Raise Your Glass’ from the popular west end show Moulin Rouge.
Wearing red sequined costumes and bringing the showgirl pazazz with style, this number included lifts and perfect tapping synchronization. Grade 2 ballet portrayed a charming dance depicting ice skating, wearing blue ballet dresses, adorned with white sequins and leg warmers. The performers really enjoyed getting into character for this dance with 10 out of 10 awarded by the judges as part of the dance! Our senior intermediate and advanced students then took to the stage in sleek leotards and wrapped skirts for their sultry modern ballet, Undisclosed Desires by Muse. Inter
Jazz incorporated black bowler hats into the choreography whilst performing a sophisticated musical theatre style to ‘Stop this Flame,’ a firm favourite from other students watching in rehearsals.
Grade 3 ballet danced beautifully together in the magical lyrical, ‘Somewhere Only we Know’ by Lily Allen, this dance has been known to make those watching cry happy tears. Followed on stage by our very popular contemporary class, wearing deep forest green mesh, they performed a dynamic contemporary to Revelry by Kings of Leon to show the grounded technique they have been developing through the use of floorwork. The dance also