Plans are underway for another show stopping production from Greenfield Community College featuring students from partner primary schools. Greenfield will be performing an original musical entitled ‘Penmore Place’ a tale of secrecy, injustice and sacrifice making its debut in December on the newly fitted stage with updated lighting rig.
For 15 years Greenfield has enjoyed a world class Performing Arts Department providing curriculum tutoring in Dance, Music and Drama gaining national recognition for their contribution to the arts.
It is currently led by advanced dance skills teacher Alison Dixon who trained at The Royal Ballet School and Elmhurst School for Dance; feeder school to The Birmingham Royal Ballet, and the department continues to achieve results of the highest quality.
Performing Arts is a real strength at Greenfield and they are looking forward to another fabulous performance nearer Christmas. Alison and the performing arts team are excited to exhibit the talents of Greenfield students and the feeder primary schools on two evenings which they expect to be a sell out.
“We are fortunate to have such a fabulous performing arts department with a tried and tested reputation for delivering the very best results. Alison herself has come back to Greenfield following a period of employment setting up and advising the other secondary schools in County Durham in dance delivery,’ said Headteacher David Priestley
At the age of eight Alison was accepted to be a junior associate of the Royal Ballet School and before her tenth birthday had become national junior champion in Ballet, Modern and character dance. At eleven she successfully auditioned for one of only 23 places at The Royal Ballet School in where she continued rigorous training in classical ballet as well as other disciplines. After further training and qualifications the professional world of dance beckoned and Alison successfully auditioned for her first commercial contract touring USA with Irish dance sensation ‘Spirit of the Dance’. Other professional contracts include The Brit Awards (performing with Westlife), An Evening of Gershwin at the Coliseum; The Nutcracker at The Royal Opera House (Royal Ballet) Peter Pan & Cinderella Pantomimes, a wealth of experience to pass on to students at Greenfield Community College.
At Greenfield Community College, dance is taught as a subject in its own right alongside drama and music. ALL students have the opportunity to participate in performing arts subject for up to three hours per week throughout key stage 3 and have a multitude of choices thereafter including fast track GCSE dance in Year 9, GCSE dance, drama and music in year 10 and a brand new GCSE performing arts course for those students who like all three disciplines.
In addition Greenfield has its own Youth Dance Company which in 2010 beat off hundreds of entries to become the only non-professional dance company group, to be represented at the National U-Dance platform at The Birmingham Hippodrome.
But it’s not just about Dance! Lesley Watt subject leader for drama is also an advanced skills teacher and examiner for GCSE drama. She has an impeccable record of students gaining fantastic results (last five years 100% A*-C) well above expectation and again inspiring a new generation of actors.
The department has two new Music teachers. John Tobin, a professional musician, has made the subject the most popular one in the college according to a recent student survey and John Gomez brings part time expertise to GCSE music, dividing his time between Greenfield and St Leonard’s School in Durham. Together they have a wealth of skills including tuition in guitar, bass, drums, keyboard, brass and music technology. The department is supported daily by artist in residence John Melvin who provides one to one singing tuition and technical support to production work.
‘Penmore Place’ an original Greenfield Community College production will take place on 12th & 13th December 2012. Tickets can be purchased by contacting the school office on 01325 300378.
