ISSUE 14

Summer 2017

Walsall Academy

Performing Arts Magazine

This is the fourteenth edition of the Performing Arts Magazine. We hope you will

enjoy reading about all of the exciting and enjoyable

activities and performances that have happened during the term so far.

Inside this issue

Dance and Drama Showcases

Disco Inferno!

Performing Arts Workshops

Primary Outreach

Star Students

Plus much more!

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On Monday 16 January our annual Arts Award Moderation took place here at the Academy. This year we had 22 students pass the Bronze Award, 13 students pass the Silver Award and 1 student pass the Gold Award. All students across both Dance and Drama worked incredibly hard to achieve this extra award and should be very pleased of this accomplishment.

Arts Award

Moderation

On Wednesday 1 February, the talented Year 10 Acting class put on a showcase to perform work from their Unit 3: Acting Skills. Each group had prepared a scripted piece for performance to a live audience. Highlights included an incredible run of John Godber's 'Teechers' by Daljit, Ellymai and Laura, who used multi-role characterisation with great skill. Furthermore the comedy gold created by Kim’s all girl 'Shakers' group kept the audience entertained brilliantly. The gritty war time story of 'Journey's End' and the compelling 'DNA' led by a stand-out performance from Tayla-Mae added a great sense of variety to the line up. Overall, a great success and every performer should feel proud of their fantastic achievements!

Year 10 Acting Showcase

On Wednesday 25 January, Mrs Ashwell took Year 10 and Sixth Form Dance students to Thomas Telford School in order to perform at their Celebration of Dance. The event was to showcase the work that the dancers have been creating with our PGCE students over the year. It was lovely to see how supportive each school was and the performances shared were exceptional. Well done to all of the students involved.

Thomas Telford

Dance Festival

On Thursday 2 February, we held our annual Dance Showcase for invited parents and students to see what our Dance students have been working on in class and during Session 3 activities. The students shared many pieces which included whole class performances, smaller group pieces and solo performances. We also had performances from some of our younger students who had created work in their own time. There was a lovely mixture of styles of dance which made the evening very enjoyable. All students performed excellently and were very professional.

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Dance Showcase

On Thursday 30 March, students from The University of Brighton worked with our Year 10 Dance

students in a workshop and performance sharing morning. Year 10 were treated to a high energy

driven workshop which gave them plenty of ideas for their choreography pieces that they are

currently putting together for their coursework unit. The University students then performed some of

their touring pieces which inspired the Year 10 students who are preparing for their own Showcase in

July.

Dance Workshop

On Tuesday 28, Wednesday 29 and Thursday 30 March, Walsall Academy students put on the spectacular, all singing all dancing musical Disco Inferno. As always, the cast comprised of students from all year groups who have worked continually in rehearsals from October. All of the performances were incredible and the students should be very pleased with their achievements. A fabulous week of show performances, well done to all!

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Disco Inferno

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Disco Inferno

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On Tuesday 25 and Wednesday 26 April, students from the Central School of Ballet hosted Dance

workshops for our Primary feeder schools, Secondary consortium schools and our own students

from the Academy. This project is an incredible, worthwhile experience for all of the students

involved and we are very lucky to have the support of Sir Michael Wakeford who made this possible

for our students. They all participated in practical workshops across the two-day project and this

culminated in a performance sharing from The Central School of Ballet students who showcased

their touring performance work for all of the students involved in the project. An amazing,

unforgettable experience for all involved.

The Central School of

Ballet

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On Wednesday 8 March, Mrs Ashwell and Mr

Anketell took Year 10 Dance and Music students

to the Stan Ball Centre. During the afternoon they

performed a mixture of dance and singing

performances for the elderly to enjoy. The day

was a lovely experience for both the students and

the audience. A great collaboration and one

which we hope to be involved in again

throughout the year.

Stan Ball Centre Trip

On Wednesday 24 May, Mrs

Ashwell took 49 students to visit

the Regent Theatre in Stoke to

watch the fabulous well-

acclaimed musical Grease. All of

the students were an absolute

credit to the Academy and

loved the whole performance—

even dancing in their seats!

Grease Trip

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Mrs Ashwell has been delivering Drama Primary Outreach at Little Bloxwich Primary School and Lower Farm Primary School. In the sessions at Little Bloxwich Year 2 have been continuing working on developing their literacy skills and understanding key characters and themes in their reading books. Our current projects have been to develop ideas and performances based around the books; Bog Baby, On the Way Home, Sir Charlie Stinky Socks, Little Red Riding Hood and Indian Stories. The students continue to work very hard in their sessions and are starting to develop some lovely performance styles. At Lower Farm, Mrs Ashwell has been working with two Year 3 classes to develop their skills with basic dramatic techniques and putting these into practice through learning about the Mayans which is a topic the students are covering in their History lessons. Year 3 are excellent at thinking independently and creating their own performance sections in their lessons. Mrs Ashwell also introduced script work in their final lessons and they thrived on the challenge of bringing to the stage their character in their performance work. Next term, Mrs Ashwell will be working with two Year 2 classes and they will be developing their knowledge and Drama skills based around the book of Little Red Riding Hood.

Primary Outreach

On Thursday 8 June we will be hosting our annual Academy’s Got Talent performance. As always we have a great variety of students from across the school involved in showcasing their talents. The audition round was fantastic and we are very excited about the final. On Tuesday 13 and Wednesday 14 June, Mrs Ashwell will be hosting the annual Celebration of Dance event for Primary and Secondary schools in the area. This is an opportunity for students to share their performance work which they may have been completing in school, at a dance club or even in their own time and enjoy an evening of performances shared by other schools. On Wednesday 5 July, Year 10 Dance students will be hosting their very own Dance Showcase. This will comprise of performance work solely created by them for their coursework unit. On Thursday 6 July, Year 9 Drama students will be sharing some scripted devised work that they have been working on in their sessions with Mr Pratt. We will be hosting our very first Children’s University Graduation Ceremony on Monday 10 July. Student have been gaining hours for each Session 3 activity they complete and most have achieved either their Bronze, Silver or Gold Awards. Achievement Evening will take place on Tuesday 11 July. A great event which celebrates all of the many achievements that the students have accomplished this year. Our annual Summer Sizzler event will take place on Thursday 13 July, keep your eyes out for information on our website and book your tickets early to avoid disappointment!

Upcoming Events

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Performing Arts

Star Students

Ben has been nominated as Star Student in Drama this term for his incredible commitment with his recent devised performance piece based on Verbatim Theatre. Ben took the lead in his group and used some fantastic dramatic conventions to portray his character excellently. Well done Ben.

Key Stage 3

Dance Drama Music

Libby has been nominated as Star Student in Dance this term for her fantastic commitment to her Session 3 activities. Libby always gives 100% to each style of dance that she learns and is fully committed to Kickstart Dance Company. She is incredibly talented and we look forward to seeing her progress over her time in Dance. Well done Libby.

Hannah has been nominated as Star Student in Music this term for her fantastic class-work and commitment to Session 3 activities. Hannah recently gained a place in the Academy’s Got Talent final and we wish her the very best of luck with her singing group. Well done Hannah.

Courtney has been nominated as Star Student in Dance this term for her amazing commitment to her BTEC Dance course. Courtney will always grab every opportunity that comes her way and takes all challenges with ease. She is an absolute pleasure to teach and is developing excellently as a dancer. Well done Courtney.

Trevion has been nominated as Star Student in Music this term for his talented showcase on the violin which has gained him a place in Academy’s Got Talent final. Trevion has been taking lessons for many years now and has been improving tremendously. Well done Trevion and keep up the fantastic work.

Key Stage 4

Dance Drama Music

Ellymai has been nominated as Star Student in Drama for her incredible portrayal of Lady Marmalade in our recent production of Disco Inferno. Elly has a fantastic stage presence which oozes confidence and sass with this character. She is a natural on stage and we look forward to seeing Elly in many performances to come. Well done Elly.

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Day Subject Activity Time

Monday Dance Kickstart Dance Company (KS3) 3.30pm-4.30pm

Music String Ensemble 3.30pm-4.30pm

Music Guitar Club 3.30pm-4.30pm

Wednesday Music Percussion Ensemble 3.30pm-4.30pm

Music Show Choir 3.30pm-4.30pm

Dance KS4 and KS5 Dance Company 3.30pm-4.30pm

Drama Diabolo Club 3.30pm-4.30pm

Thursday Drama Drama Club 3.30pm-4.30pm

Music Concert Band 3.30pm-4.30pm

Session 3 Programme

As always, the Performing Arts Department offer a wide range of Session 3 activities for you to come and enjoy. Whatever your ability, come along and sign up - you don’t need to have any previous experience! Don’t forget that if you are in Year 7 or 8 you can add up hours to achieve awards through the Children’s University Scheme. You need to gain 30 hours for a Bronze Award, 65 hours for a Silver Award and 100 hours for a Gold Award. A great way to be recognised for all of the fantastic activities that you have been taking part in throughout the year.