EXAMS
We have on average two British Theatre Dance Association and one or two Royal Academy of Dance exam sessions per year. The exams are held at the Beaufort Community Centre so the students can feel relaxed in familiar surroundings. Exams are offered to all students but are not compulsory and students may move up without taking the exam. The majority of students achieve the top grades in all subjects, and we can boast a 100% pass rate. After each exam session the parents are invited to come and see the students individually presented with their certificates, thus making each student feel special.

AUDITIONS
Pupils from the school regularly audition and have been successful in obtaining places on the Royal Ballet School Associate schemes and for White Lodge. In the future as the school continues to grow, I am sure we will see more pupils audition for and obtain places at other dance colleges.

The Royal Ballet School Associate scheme runs monthly and fortnightly classes for exceptionally talented youngsters. Pupils from the school have trained on the programme and also been placed on short reserve lists.

FESTIVALS & COMPETITIONS
Students from the school have achieved placing in the Bournemouth Music Competitions Festivals and also in National Qualifying Heats.

In July 2009 we entered Star Trail, the South's biggest talent competition, and came second in our heat (only one mark between us and the winning Act). That saw us through to the Semi Final, but with nine Acts competing, sadly we did not progress any further.

In 2007 we entered The Christchurch & District Arts Festival with three dances from our show 'Alice - The Musical'   Our modern dance 'Summer Collection' came first in the Youth Class which entitled us to take part in the Grand Final at the Regents Centre on 4th November 2007.  I am very proud to announce that we went on to win 'The Townend Dance Trophy'.

CHARITIES & CAMPAIGNS

As a school that is very involved with young people and their lives, we are very pleased to regularly support charities particularly relating to children.  In our last show 'Alice' we raised money for the NSPCC, earlier this year appearing in Chance to Dance we were supporting the local charity 'Julia's House' and in our show in October 'Peter Pan' we will of course be making donations to Great Ormond Street Hospital.

Whilst competing in Star Trail we were 'Talent' spotted by a local charity and asked to appear in their Fund Raiser which is on Saturday 17th October at The Royal Bath Hotel.  Pop 4 Diabetes is a charity primarily working for children with diabetes, and they hold a bi-annual celebrity event to raise funds.  The charities inspiration Shane Board sings during the evening along with many other well known celebrities and we have been asked to perform our competition entry and also support some of the acts with backing dancers.

Another campaign dealing with very topical issues at the moment, and which we whole heartedly support is the Dove Campaign for Real Beauty. It really encourages self esteem in young girls and acceptance of their natural and beautiful bodies. So many girls lack self esteem as a result of the media’s obsession with making them feel bad about their looks and generally inadequate. The media can only sell products if it evokes within the viewer a need to better themselves. Airbrushing often involves covering up wrinkles, spots and cellulite, lengthens necks, widens and brightens eyes, makes hair shiny...... The models in the magazines that young people aspire to be like are often not real, the standards are too high, and as a result, the number of girls and boys developing life-threatening eating disorders and self esteem issues is increasing at an alarming rate and these disorders are appearing in younger and younger children. We need to teach and encourage young people to respect their bodies and to love themselves.  For more information about this campaign please visit their web site http://www.campaignforrealbeauty.co.uk/#/cfrb/

CLASS ASSISTANTS
Some of our older students assist Katrina in the classes, which gives them an extremely valuable insight into a possible teaching career and also encourages the younger children as to what they may aspire to.

UNIFORM
All uniform can be purchased from Dance World, opposite St James Church, Pokesdown. They have a full list of the uniform required for our dance school, and would be happy to help you.

CONTACTS
Map – Streetmap.co.uk BH6 5LB
Principal: Katrina Earley
Telephone: 01202 434832
E-mail: info@KatrinaEarleySchoolOfDance.co.uk

LINKS
Royal Academy of Dance - www.rad.org.uk
British Theatre Dance Association - www.btda.org.uk
Royal Ballet School - www.royal-ballet-school.org.uk
Local Information - www.bournemouth.com
Suppliers - www.societybrides.co.uk
All 4 Kids UK - www.all4kidsuk.com

Dove Campagin For Real Beauty - www.campaignforrealbeauty.co.uk/#/cfrb/