AUGUST 2008

Welcome back. The Directors and staff hope you have all enjoyed a good summer break and are looking forward to the term ahead.

At this time of year we often need to say goodbye to some of our senior students who are ready to move onto university and we wish them well in their chosen courses. We also have a number of students who are continuing with their dance careers and have been accepted by the following dance schools throughout the UK - Central School of Dance, Rambert School of Ballet and Contemporary Dance, and the Northern School of Dance.   Congratulations to them all and we look forward to hearing of their progress. Three of our senior students took exams at the start of the summer break and we are delighted to congratulate Shinyin Tan, Rebecca Hopes and Marliese Perks who all passed their RAD exams with Merit.

Sadly we said goodbye to Miss Kirsten McQuillan at the end of last term but look forward to welcoming 2 new members of staff to our team this year, Miss Charlotte Nicholl and Mrs Alison Brown. Miss Bold will be returning this term after suffering from a leg injury and we welcome her back to our Saturday branch.

Miss Casey will also be returning in full capacity following her maternity leave last year in good time to cover for Mrs Smith's absence this year as she is expecting her first child in early December.

The staff have been busy this summer preparing for the term ahead by renewing their first aid certificates, and attending courses in child protection and first response.

As many of you will be aware 2008/2009 is our next show year and in June 2009 the senior school will be returning to the Churchill Theatre for their production. More information and dates will be available later in the year. The Junior School will perform in a Winter Production in December 2009.

The Galashiels branch will also perform their Senior Production in May 2009 followed by their Junior Production in the Winter Term. Venues and dates are yet to be confirmed.

Manor School of Ballet Scholarship classes will begin again on Friday 19th September and anyone of Grade 4 Ballet and above who is 10 years or over by this date are eligible to audition for these classes which are held on Friday afternoons at the Belgrave Branch in Corstorphine.

Auditions will be held on Saturday 6th September from 4pm. Application forms can be obtained from class teachers and must be returned no later than Monday 1st September with audition fees of £3.00.

We introduced some new classes to the timetable last year and there are still spaces in the following classes for anyone who is interested -

•  Highland beginners on Tuesdays (7 years upwards)

•  Singing class on Tuesdays (10 years upwards)

•  Adult Ballet beginners on Wednesdays (16 years upwards)

For the first 2 weeks of term and when Block Fees are due most of our branches will be staffed in order for fees to be paid and uniform ordered. After these initial weeks many of the branches will only be staffed on the first week of each month to allow orders for uniform to be taken. Please forward any other exam payments etc. directly to the office.

 

DATES FOR YOUR DIARY

Term 1: Monday 18th August - Saturday 13th December 2008

October Holiday week: Monday 20th October - Saturday 25th October 2008

Term 2: Monday 5th January - Saturday 4th April 2009

February Holiday week: Monday 16th February - Saturday 21st February 2009

Term 3: Monday 20th April - Saturday 13th June 2009

 

BLOCK FEES

Block 1: 18th August - 16th November

Block 2: 17th November - 8th March

Block 3: 9th March - 13th June

There will be an RAD assessment session in November this year for some of the Ballet Grade 1 and 2 classes.

For Jazz and Tap UKA exam sessions for this term will be held in October and December for the relevant grades.