Newsletters: 2009

This page features the newsletters we sent out in 2009:

Newsletter 50 – September 2009

Welcome back to the 50th newsletter at the start of the 18th year of the school. I hope you've all had a lovely summer break and are ready for the term ahead.

Term Dates

Lessons start week commencing 7th September and end on Friday 11th December.  Downham Market and Cambridge branches have 13 weeks this term and Stretham, Littleport and Wicken have 12 weeks, with half term week commencing 26th October.  Please make a note of the following dates when lessons will not take place:

Monday 4th October – no lessons at Stretham as I have prior commitments

Friday 9th October – no lessons at Wicken as I am away

Monday 19th October – no lessons at Littleport as Sam is on holiday

Uniform

As mentioned in the last newsletter, uniform for exams is changing and skirts are now no longer allowed from grade 2 onwards. I am therefore introducing an alternative senior style leotard for grades 2 and 3 to be worn without skirts and an optional new style black from grade 4 and above. The existing lilac will still be used for 'Melodies' and prep classes and the existing plum leotard plus circular skirt for primary and grade 1.  I will have a sample of the new senior leotards with me during the first few weeks of term so you can view the alternative if you are about to purchase a new leotard. Please note, I am very happy for all existing uniform to be worn, including skirts if you wish, but they just can't be worn for exams and I will not be buying any new stock of the wrap around skirt once my existing supply has been sold.

Achievement Awards

The winners for the Summer Term were Charis Clements, Harry Woor, Nicole Avelino, Tilly Jones, Lucy Sparrow and Ciara Ahern. Well done to all of you and have a look at your photos on the website.

Exams

July saw the best ever exam results with 51% gaining an honours mark and 45% Highly Commended. Congratulations to Megan Holland and Hayley Rasdall who became our first pupils to take professional performer level exams, the first step towards qualifying as a teacher, and also to Catherine Langford, Sierra Humbert and Hayley who all broke the 90% barrier. Following the exams, Sierra and Hayley have been nominated to attend the International Dance Teachers Scholarship Awards in Manchester next February. At the present time, I'm not sure of the date of the next exams but I expect it to be in November.

Adult Tap The adult tap and ballet lessons are still going strong so any brave souls who would like to join us are very welcome.  Ballet is in Burwell on Monday mornings and tap is at Downham on Thursday evenings and Wicken on Friday evenings.  No experience is necessary but you must have a sense of humour!

Summer School

The summer schools in July were well received and gave the children a taste of some different styles of song and dance. Parents were particularly impressed with the older age group at Wicken who managed to learn a staggering amount in just one day and I think everyone enjoyed themselves.

Charlotte's Fund

Later in the term we'll be having a dressing up day to raise money for our bursary fund, founded in memory of Charlotte Walker. The theme will be 'wear as much pink and purple as possible' as these were Charlotte's favourite colours! Further details and dates will follow.

Adverse Weather 

Last year we had a few snow days over the winter which resulted in classes being cancelled. If we have the same problem this winter, I will keep everyone informed via the website at www.samaraballet.co.uk.

Facebook

I'm in the process of setting up a Facebook page for the school – more details to follow

End of Term Newsletter – March 2009

The summer term sees many changes to the school as a new branch opens up in Wicken to cope with the expanding numbers at Stretham; Stretham classes move to Mondays and Samantha Walker takes over the teaching in Littleport. With the May bank holiday and a few problems with hall bookings the dates of lessons are a bit confusing so please make a note for your branch as the dates do vary considerably!

Littleport – The hall is not available on 20th April due to electrical works so first lesson of next term is Monday 27th April.  No lesson on 4th May due to the bank holiday then just two lessons on 11th and 18th May before the half term holiday! Second half of the term starts on 1st June and ends on 6th July making it a 9 week term.  The new street dance class will start after Easter and will be charged at £1 per week.  If you would like to just pay weekly for the coming term to try it out then that's OK, just pay Sam on the days that you attend.

Downham – Lessons start on 21st and 23rd April and finish on 7th and 9th July with half term week commencing 25th May.  This makes it an 11 week term and at the present time there are no changes to times or any planned cancellations!

Cambridge – Lessons start back on 22nd April, half term week commencing 25th May and last lesson is 8th July. No planned cancellations at the moment so this will be an 11 week term.

Wicken – Lessons start on 24th April, half term week commencing 25th May and last lesson is 10th July. No planned cancellations at the moment so this will be an 11 week term.  New adult tap class starting so please let me know which brave mums are interested! No tap shoes needed to start with, just a good sense of humour!

Stretham – Lessons start on Monday 20th April but there are no lessons on 4th May due to bank holiday. Half term week commencing 25th May and last lesson of term will be 6th July, making it a 10 week term.

Summer School

I am thinking of running a 2 day summer school in July, offering classes in musical theatre, contemporary, street/hip hop etc (and maybe make-up / costume / improvisation / choreography?) and would like an indication of who may be interested, as this will determine the price. The classes will be taught by friends of mine currently working in commercial theatre and professional ballet and are likely to run from 10 am to 4 pm for two days with an optional theatre trip to London to see a matinee of a musical on a third day.  Classes would be split into age groups and we would endeavour to produce a short performance at the end of the second day for parents. Due to work commitments of the proposed teachers, it is likely that the dates would fall sometime between 22nd and 30th July and the venue would depend on availability of halls and numbers applying from each branch.   Places will be limited to about 25 per age group so please can you let me know if you may be interested initially and then further details and a booking form will be sent out next term, once the level of interest is assessed.