Settling In Evening...

Settling In Evening is when you present all of your routines that you have been practicing and learning during your first term at The Brit School. Each strand does this to show their parents and family what they have been doing over the past term within the dance studio.

We performed the styles of Contemporary and Jazz.

During both performances. I do believe my use of core strength wasn't used to its full potential. This was unabling me to keep balance in the leg kicks. I also could have used my core strength to control the rolling down movements to the ground as well as in Plié. By doing this, it helps with control, posture and balance within my routines and movements.

Whilst performing my Jazz piece, i did not produce an accurate Jazz Tondue. It was weak and did not look presentable however the technical precision of the placement of the tondue was correct in my opinion. I could of bent my knees a bit more and corrected the alignment if my knees to match the line of my ankle. 

The main thing that I know I have the capability to improve on is connecting with the audience a bit better. Eventhough there were know routines that I needed to show emotion throughout, the use of my eyes and smile could have been better. This will allow the audience to connect with me and make them interested in my dance piece and want to watch me. I did connect with them but not enough as my mum, who was watching, said as constructive criticsm. 

Overall I think that my performance during Settling In Evening was to the best of my ability except from a couple of technical issues that I need to work on to improve. The audience seemed to enjoy the show and I would say that next time I perform, I will have improved on everything I have spoken about. 

I really enjoyed myself and I'm looking forward to see what challenges that next term will bring.

Alleviate Performance Got to Dance Final

Their core control during the move where they fall to the floor in sync is well held.

Kimberly Wyatt - Performing Florence + The Machine's song (Live at Got T...

Focus of Training 1

Focus of Training 1

I wish to develop my timing better as i struggle with getting all the movements in whilst doing my best. This is because i seem to be getting the beats/moves in but its the quality and staying in time with the music that i need to improve on.

I can do this by listening to the music and feeling it through my body and projecting it out through my movements in my routines. I can also count in my head to keep in time e.g ‘1, 2, and uh 3 and uh 4, 5, 6 and uh 7 and uh 8’ By counting in my head, i can allow myself to keep in time and keep the quality of the movements flowing. I will practice this at home everyday with music and also in the dance studio during my dance classes at school.

Focus of Training 2

Focus of Training 2

An area i need to develop is leg alignment as well as core strength. My core strength is good but i know it is something i need to improve on as it will help me in my pirouettes and in retire position.

Improving on my leg alignment with help with making my movements look tidier and much more sleek. Also by keeping the correct alignment i am preventing knee injury as if you have a very bad alignment in your legs when dancing then you can be at risk of making your knees hurt when they shouldn’t unless you have an inaccurate leg alignment.

I improve this by always being dead straight in parallel, therefore my heels shouldn’t be seen and only my toes. This will also automatically correct my knee alignment although i need to be aware that my knees need to stay facing to the front and when i am bending over in rebounds or just stretching my hamstrings then my knees push out.

I need to be doing ab stretches everyday. This means crunches, sit ups whilst watching tv, crunches in second whilst laying on my back etc. This stretches will enable me to build up my core stability. Another beneficial stretch is doing plank for 1 min everyday whilst listening to music or watching the tv.

I will do this during every single dance lesson i have whether its during school or at my dance school.

Focus of Training 3

Focus of Training 3

The last area in which i need to develop is my flexibility. I am already quite flexible in my hips and legs however i need to develop it further so i can do the splits on my left leg and be able to do box splits.

These tricks take time and patience so i need to be stretching everyday, touching my toes in pike position on the floor and improving strength in my hips and hamstrings.

I will do these stretches everyday in order to keep the ability to do the splits. Another stretch that is useful and beneficial to do everyday in hamstring stretches such as touching toes or pulling toe back in the hamstring stretch position. I will also sit in the splits on the left and right side for 30 seconds each day to help me get to the ground more.

All of these stretching techniques will help me to become for flexible in my hamstrings as well as inner thigh muscles.

Lukas Mcfarlane - Got to Dance 4 Live Final.

Inspiration for contemporary routines...

How To Be A Good Dancer...

In order to be a good dancer, you need to have determination and courage so that you can reach your aim/end result. A good dancer also needs to be focused and be able to take on criticism improve the quality of the movements.

Each dancer needs to be motivated to keep going and not back down. Using your spare time wisely is helpful, as it means you should practice your exercises and routines. Good dancer need stamina/ core strength, but in order to have this, you need to be aware that its extremely important you have a healthy balanced diet in order to keep you awake and energetic.

Versatility is key because it opens up your potions for life. A skill needed along side this is communication.  Every dancer needs to be able to communicate well within a team/group and also by being verbal/non verbal.

Having a good technique will help you as if you do not have a good or well built technique then you cannot improve on the quality of movements. You cannot progress forward if you do not have technique.

Every single dancer needs to know that by practicing safely, they are reducing the risk of injury. If you do not practice safely then you are allowing yourself to hurt you and even other people around you; stretching - not exceeding your limit too much, so you need to know your body and its restrictions.

Lastly, the most important skill needed is to be able to outside and beyond your kinesphere. This will allow you to create the illusion of being bigger but more importantly, it will help you to improve the execution of the movements.

Grade 5 Modern Dance

My Dance Story...

My Dance Story...

I started dancing when i was around about 3 years of age. I started off doing Tap and Jazz classes. I started at The Willow School of Dance. I was dancing there until i was around 7. I then ended up moving to find the most amazing dance school ever which was Grayes School of Dance. I currently dance there and i take 4 classes per week. I take Tap, Modern, Ballet and Hip Hop classes. I have made so many good friends there and my technique has improved as well as my confidence as a performer, let alone a dancer.

Since i was in year 5, i have always known that i have wanted to come to The BRIT School for dance. It wasn't till i was in year 9 that the thought of applying for an audition became real. Me and my mum went to the open evening where i saw the school and especially the dance strand and studios. Everything looked so professional and the teachers seemed very nice. We picked up an application and i started to think things through in my head about what i was gonna write. I thought hard and clear about my answers to the questions they had given me. I was so stuck on how to answer them or what to write.

I eventually sat down with my mum and she helped me to word my answers and i then filled out the application form. I drove to the school to hand it in and then it was a waiting game. I was so unbelievably nervous about whether i was going to be invited for an audition or not. One day i was walking out of school and my mum rang me. She sounded sad but then she told me that i had an audition. I screamed!! Everybody looked at me but i didn't care as i knew i was one step closer to reaching my dream of going to The BRIT School. 

Shortly after i went in for my audition and i did performed the best i possibly could. I couldn't do anything else. I went in for the interview and everything turned out okay. A few months later I had been hearing that my friends had got their letters saying whether they got in or not. As soon as i found out i shot downstairs to look at the post but nothing had come. I waited and waited and waited for ages to see when the post had arrived. This was on a Saturday so therefore there was't any school. We had people coming round soon. 

My uncle came in and gave the post to my mum. I didn't know this until after but my mum then ran into the bathroom and locked the door. I didn't think anything of it at the time until she called me into the kitchen where my dad, uncle and sister where standing. She seemed really sad. "Erin, i'm really sorry to tell you but..............YOU HAVE GOT A PLACE AT THE BRIT SCHOOL!!!!!!!" I screamed and shouted to the point that i was crying. I was soo shocked that i had managed to successfully secured myself one of 24 places. Never before had i been so happy. It was the best moment in my life to date. No one could ever be as happy than i was. 

From that day on i have been happier than ever before. I currently go to The BRIT School for Performing Arts and Technology. I love it so much and i wouldn't change anything. I have made great friends and i cannot wait to spend the rest of my time here with them performing shows and routines.

And that is how I became a dancer to this day...

Erin Filipe-Howard

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