News and Events

(01/06/12) Written by Laura
In August I applied to be a part of the Olympics Ceremonies and in November attended a round of auditions in East London which involved a mixture of singing, acting and dancing. I was asked back to a role specific recall audition for dance. Then in January I was offered the part as a dance character role in the Closing Ceremony. The first rehearsal was in East London again and was a way of getting to know the other performers and to start teaching us the dance for the performance. So far the rehearsals have been lots of fun! I can't wait for the actual performance on 12th August and to be a part of this amazing once in a lifetime experience!

Turning Pointe teacher and past pupil, Naomi Giffen will also be appearing on your screens - she has been employed as an Olympic aerialist for 6 weeks of the games, so watch out for her performing mid-air on silks and trapeze.

GOOD LUCK to both of you.

(31/05/12)
We are thrilled to announce that Molly Walker has won a place on the Centre for Advanced Training Scheme at Laban - the world's largest purpose-built centre for contemporary dance. Molly successfully got through the first round of auditions, then a couple of weeks later attended an interview audition with her parents, before hearing a few days later that she had been awarded a place. Starting in September, Molly will travel up to London every Saturday and take part in intensive dance training sessions at the leading conservatoire for contemporary dance training.

Molly starred as Peter Pan in Turning Pointe's production of Peter Pan last year, and from an early age it has been clear that Molly has a bright career in Dance ahead of her, so many congratulations from all of your teachers and friends at Turning Pointe!

Molly joins fellow Turning Pointe pupils Megan Edwards, Lottie Chivers, Phoebe Head, Romalie Ford and Maya Luthra, all of whom are currently taking part in CAT schemes at Laban, The Place, and in Brighton.

(03/03/12)
It’s been quite a week! After Martha’s fantastic news, we have just heard that 10 year old Mirabelle Seymour has won one of 12 highly coveted places at the Royal Ballet School, White Lodge. Up to 1500 students apply for a place each year from 60 countries worldwide, so it’s been a nail biting wait to hear the news.

Mirabelle started ballet classes with Miss Canneaux aged just 3, but it was clear from the very first day that she had the potential to become a very special dancer. Those of you who saw her dance the part of Tinkerbell in Peter Pan will have seen that she has a rare quality on stage, but may not have seen her determination and dedication in class and at home.

Mirabelle will join Turning Pointe pupil, Matthew Keller at the school in Richmond Park in September. Both pupils were junior associates at the Royal Ballet School – Mirabelle travels to Eastleigh every Saturday to do a 2 ½ hour intensive ballet class, which will continue until July. In the meantime, she will take her RAD Grade 5 Ballet exam this term, Intermediate Foundation next term, take part in a performance at All Saints and join us at Spring Workshop – so a busy time ahead.

CONGRATULATIONS MIRABELLE - we are all so proud of you!

(26/02/12)
Many congratulations to 11 year old Martha Gardner who has been offered a part as a ‘Ballet girl’ in the musical 'Billy Elliot' in London. Martha got through 3 days of auditions over a 3 week period, before getting the final call back and then hearing that she had won a part. She was inspired to audition after watching a performance as part of a Turning Pointe school trip in November, she knew it would be tough – the minimum requirement is Grade 4 Ballet and Tap, but Martha is full of spirit and, currently in Grade 6 Modern and Grade 5 Ballet and Tap, and she can sing and act, so not short of talent - we knew she could do it!

Rehearsals begin in a couple of weeks and her performances will be 3 times a week from May to November, so once she has settled in to her part, we hope to plan a school trip to the Victoria Palace Theatre in London to go and support her - Good Luck Martha and Break a leg!

(12/12/11)
Matthew Keller aged 11, has won a coveted place (1 of 12) at the world famous Royal Ballet School. Matthew had been a pupil of Turning Pointe for 3 ½ years when he heard that he had been picked from hundreds of applicants to train full time at the boarding school in Richmond Park.

Matthew started classes with us aged 8. Within a fortnight he began coaching for his first Ballet exam and was asking to audition for the Royal Ballet School. A few months later he was offered a place as a junior associate in London, taking Saturday classes in Covent Garden, rubbing shoulders with the stars of the Ballet world. Matthew has already performed numerous times on the stage of the Royal Opera House, performing in Sleeping Beauty and Cinderella with the Royal Ballet Company. This season he will be on stage again as a soldier in the RB's production of 'The Nutcracker'.

Joining the school in September, Matthew is having a fantastic time, though he misses his friends at Turning Pointe. Coincidentally, his new Ballet teacher, Miss Keelan was Miss Canneaux's teacher at the Upper school all those years ago. So when Miss Canneaux was invited to White Lodge in October to watch Matthews classes it was a lovely reunion.

(28/03/12)
Last Sunday a group of us headed up to London to take part in the dance festival, MOVE IT. We had a very exciting day seeing performances by judges and finalists from programmes such as Britain’s Got Talent, Got to Dance and So You Think You Can Dance and other dance professionals. We were also lucky enough to meet some of these celebrities and enjoyed watching a number of interviews with these dancers and choreographers including Arlene Phillips and Adam Garcia. Not only did we get the chance to meet some of the famous dancers there but we also took part in 2 of the many brilliant dance classes on offer at MOVE IT. The first was a contemporary class lead by Got to Dance finalists Alleviate which included a balletic routine which we loved learning and dancing. The second class was a lesson in Unique Street lead by the winners of last year’s Got to Dance, Chris and Wes. The ‘teachers’ made the class very entertaining and we also liked the challenge of trying a completely different style of dance. Overall the day was a huge success and all the girls thoroughly enjoyed the day.

By Jessica Brierley (Grade 6 ballet and modern)

(11/02/12)
Some of our senior students will be performing for the second time with the Sussex based classical ballet company.

'The Enchanted Mirror' is the story of a young girl's adventure which begins when she steps through the mirror into an enchanted world beyond. The Ballet will be performed at the Connaught Theatre, Worthing, at 4pm and 7.30pm on Sunday 26th February.

Update
Congratulations to: Holly Dunkley, Siobhan Culley, Libby Mills, Grace Hicks, Jessica Brierley, Holly Mason, Isobel Moors and Sophie Palmer, who all performed beautifully.

Pupils from Turning Pointe were invited to dance at Western Road School's annual fair. The weather was kind to us and 24 pupils put on a spectacular display of dances including Ballet, Street Jazz, Modern, Contemporary, Charleston and Character styles in groups, solos duets,trios and quartets.

As requested they arrived looking immaculate and danced beautifully, clearly enjoying the chance to dance in the open air. Well done and many thanks to all of you.

Pictured: Jane Simmons, Ivy Spencer, Rob Japes, Nessa Saar-Zook, Sophie Hyde, Tom Japes, Holly Bellack, Alexandra Clark, Ben Bishop and Rosie Hall. For more photos please go to the gallery.

(11/12/11)
All Intermediate and Intermediate Foundation Ballet students are invited to join two masterclass sessions before term begins in January. Miss Nisa Davies will be coaching each 2 hour session of the new RAD syllabus to help students who wish to be considered to take the vocational exams in 2012 at our own studios.

Tuesday 3rd January @ Plumpton village hall, large studio
4.30 – 6.30pm Intermediate Foundation
6.30 – 8.30pm Intermediate

Friday 6th January @ Plumpton village hall, large studio
4.30 – 6.30pm Intermediate Foundation
6.30 – 7.30pm Intermediate