Hayward Dance Academy

Founded in 2000 the ‘Hayward Dance Academy’ has grown in reputation and stature with students enjoying success in examinations, national competitions

Classes at the Academy

All classes at the Academy are split into groups according to ability and genre. The age of a child is not the most important or relevant factor to be considered when the child is placed in a particular class. Some children are taught elsewhere before attending classes at the Academy and although it is ideal to place children with children their own age children are placed according to their ability and not their age, as this is more conducive to dance training.

Enrico Cecchetti

Enrico Cecchetti was born in Italy in 1850. At the height of his career as a dancer he migrated to St Petersburg, where he joined the Imperial Russian Ballet and created the virtuoso role of the Bluebird and the mime role of Carabosse in the premiere of the Sleeping Beauty in 1890. As well as dancing with the Imperial Russina Ballet Company, Cecchetti also taught the class of perfection in the school.

He also taught many Maryinsky dancers, including Pavlova, Karsavinaand Nijinsky. In 1909 he joined diaghilevs’ Ballet Russe as a teacher and mime artist. His pupils included Alicia Markova, Ninette De Valois, Marie Rambert and Leonide Massine.

Cecchetti trained under Lepri, a pupil of the great Carlo Blasis who codified the technique of Classical Ballet in 1820. His ideas were developed further by Cecchetti who grouped the Classical vocabulary into six sets of exercises, one for each day of the week. This work was recorded and published in 1922 br Cyril Beaumont, assisted by Stanislas Idzikowski and Enrico Cecchetti himself. Further volumes were compiled by Margaret Craske and Derra de Moroda. Then in 1923 he returned to Italy and accepted the post of Director of The Ballet School in La Scala in Milan. He died there in 1928.

CLASSICAL BALLET (Cecchetti Method)

The Cecchetti method of Classical Ballet offers a complete and well structured system of training which caters for the small child through to the professional dancer and the future teacher.

Enjoyment is of prime importance for the young child beginning to dance and the class examinations and performance awards provide ideal opportunities for those attending classes for recreational purposes on a once a week basis. For children wishing to study in greater depth, there are the more technically demanding Grade Examinations. In all the children’s work a steady build up and safe practise are of great importance.

POINTEWORK

More advanced students who have achieved a good mark at examination level Grade five, are then able to progress to dancing on their toes in hardened shoes called ‘Pointe shoes’. This is seen as a great achievement by all students and something all ballet students aspire to.

MODERN THEATRE DANCE

Modern theatre dance is a rhythmic dance style which originated in America before travelling to the rest of the world. It is seen on the stages of musical productions and is known for its theatrical qualities. The style uses travelling steps, high kicks, leaps and turns which all need strength and flexibility. This is a high energy dance style.

TAP DANCE

This has evolved as an American form, popularised throughout the world, with debate about its origins coming from African dance, Irish dance and or clog dancing. The dancer uses their feet to strike the floor, beating out different rhythms, with dancers wearing tap shoes which have small metal plates on the toe and heel to give a distinctive sound. Tap dance is a theatrical art form often seen on stage in musicals.

STREET DANCE

Street dance is a relatively new style of dance originating in America in the late 1970’s. In the ghettos of America young, predominantly black youths would dance in groups and engage in battles of skill, timing and rhythmic interpretation of rap or hip hop music. These groups would be known as a ‘Crew’. The styles of dance they performed are what we recognise today as Street dance, Break dance and Body popping. This dance style grew in popularity throughout the world when it was performed in the films ‘Flash dance’, ‘Electric Bugaloo’ and ‘House party’ and influences many of the popular music videos which are current today.

PRE-SCHOOL BALLET CLASS

Children can engage in dance based activities whilst at a very young age. In the pre-school ballet class, children are encouraged to interpret various pieces of music with dance movement, mime, poetry and song. The class lasts for 45 minutes and is an enjoyable introduction to ballet and dance for ages two and a half years and over. Pre-school ballet children are invited to participate in the Academy’s annual performances and this is upon the understanding, that constant parental supervision during performances of this length and magnitude is essential for children of this age.

When a child has reached a competent level of co-ordination and concentration they will be able to make the smooth transition to proceed to the next level of training. Children are usually aged between four and four and a half years old before they move up into the Primary ballet class. Parents are notified by Miss Hayward as to when their child is ready for this more formal and structured dance class which lasts for one hour.

UCAS POINTS

The ISTD’s Level 3 Graded and Vocationally Graded dance examinations have now been awarded UCAS points. For further information regarding dance examinations on the tariff, please visit the UCAS website: http://ucas.com/students /ucas_tarriff /tarrifftables / #dance