DANCE ACADEMY
“GREAT ARTISTS ARE PEOPLE WHO FIND THE WAY TO BE THEMSELVES IN THEIR ART.”
Margot Fonteyn
English Ballerina
INTRODUCTION
Rossall International Dance Academy is Rossall School’s unique and innovative programme for outstanding young dancers aged 11-18. We recognise the importance of ensuring that our young dancers benefit from inspirational coaching within a supportive school environment that engenders social, emotional, cultural and intellectual growth. The Rossall International Dance Academy is committed to providing world-class dance education, enabling our dancers to develop the technical skills, physical confidence and mental tenacity required to achieve their full creative potential.
Bespoke programmes of study are designed in collaboration with our students to ensure that their own individual aspirations are supported to the highest possible level as they forge their way towards a career in dance.
The Dance Academy is equally suited to gifted dancers who wish to pursue a career away from the stage, but nonetheless, enjoy performing at the highest level.
Academic results are superbly strong. The School has an IBDP average of 34, and in 2024, over 45% of A level/BTEC grades resulted in an A* or A or equivalent.
Culturally and intellectually, the school provides excellent preparation for those wishing to study dance degree
programmes at colleges and universities around the globe. The school enjoys strong links with a growing number of leading conservatories and performing arts organisations both within the UK and overseas.
Twenty-first century performers need to be accomplished and versatile practitioners, and many of the building blocks necessary for a successful career are provided here at Rossall.
Teaching and coaching are delivered through weekly individual lessons and workshops with our distinguished faculty. Students also benefit from regular exposure to world-class performers who visit the School from time to time.
There are a wealth of performance opportunities available to our dancers, with regular lunchtime showcases and external performances throughout the region and further afield.
Practice sessions are built into each student’s personal timetable, with expert staff on hand to supervise and help students to achieve their very best in between their lessons.
Pupils have the opportunity to develop their choreographic and performance skills through technical sessions, performance showcases and a dynamic theoretical curriculum.
“Dance is the purest expression of every emotion, earthly and spiritual.”
Anna Pavlova
THE PROGRAMME
WHAT DOES THE COURSE ENTAIL?
The Rossall Academy of Dance offers intensive coaching in the following core subjects:
Ballet
Contemporary and Jazz
Tap
Musical Theatre
Strength and Conditioning
Additionally, members of the Academy learn from leading practitioners about working in the dance industry.
All members of the Academy are expected to take part in dance workshops and participate in our extensive programme of annual trips that include Liverpool, Edinburgh, Manchester and London’s world famous West End.
PERFORMING ARTS IN THE UK
The performing arts sector in the UK is diverse and exciting. Music conservatoires such as the Royal Academy of Music, Trinity Laban, Royal College of Music, Royal Northern College of Music and Guildhall School of Music and Drama are world-class and have trained generations of outstanding performers. The UK is home to many professional dance companies including:
Birmingham Royal Ballet
English National Ballet
The Royal Ballet
Rambert Dance Company
Northern Ballet
Zoonation
The UK is arguably the home of music theatre in Europe and there are unrivalled opportunities to watch world class performances of long established musicals given by performers at the very top of their game. The arts scene in the UK is dynamic and exciting. Traditional repertoire sits alongside exciting new explorative pieces that push the frontiers of music and dance in ways which are both captivating and challenging.
THE NORTH WEST
Performance venues in the region include Manchester’s Bridgewater Hall, the Liverpool Philharmonic Hall, The Lowry and Blackpool’s Winter Gardens. Blackpool itself is often perceived to be the natural home of dance within the UK. It is certainly the home of ballroom dancing and the BBC’s Strictly Come
Dancing makes an annual pilgrimage to The Tower Ballroom. Indeed, Blackpool’s famous association with dance dates back to the early twentieth century. The Ballroom itself was built to accommodate a burgeoning interest in dance. The famous bandleaders of the day devoted themselves to developing exciting new dances. First held in 1920, the Blackpool Dance Festival remains the largest and most famous annual ballroom dance competition in the world. In 2013, almost three thousand couples from sixty countries participated in the festival. The annual World Professional Dancesport Championship is often held in Blackpool.
There are various junior dance academies on the Fylde Coast and a rich tradition of children progressing to dance academies both in the UK and overseas.
PERFORMING ARTS AT ROSSALL
Rossall is a school community with an astounding ability to inspire creativity. From the internationally acclaimed conductor Thomas Beecham (one of the true musical giants of the twentieth century) to J. G. Farrell, one of only two novelists to win the Booker Prize twice, we are rightfully proud of our rich cultural heritage and celebrate the important contribution that generations of Rossallians have made to the artistic life of this island nation. Other Old Rossallians who have made an indelible impression in the performing arts world include the acclaimed jazz musician Bill Ashton and internationally renowned organist, Phil Kelsall. More recently, the opera singer Lewis Raines and West End star Irvine Iqbal have both been making waves on the national stage. Rossallians have also found success in contemporary music, with recent leaver Tom Gregory achieving numerous top ten hits across Europe.
The arts programme here at Rossall is extraordinary in terms of its diversity. From script writing classes to our innovative international piano academy, participation is as important as the pursuit of excellence - we want our children to have fun whilst being creative. Whether it is singing
evensong with the Chapel Choir in Westminster Abbey or playing in the pit orchestra for a five night run of West Side Story, the opportunities offered within the arts here at Rossall enrich our children’s lives by boosting their confidence, honing their creative faculties and providing treasured memories that last a lifetime.
Here at Rossall, the arts are a medium through which we experience community and form connections. It is also a creative world within which young people can explore their identities and give expression to their emotional and intellectual innerselves. This, in turn, supports their overall wellbeing and allows them to live lives that are aesthetically vivid and endlessly exciting.
The Fylde Coast is home to some of the greatest names in the world of entertainment and it is difficult to rival the variety of arts on offer in Blackpool itself.
The Winter Gardens, Grand Theatre and Tower Ballroom have played host to some of the greatest names in show business including The Pet Shop Boys, The Beatles, Queen, Oasis, Radiohead, Slash and the White Stripes. The Royal Variety Show
and BBC’s Strictly Come Dancing have both been held in Blackpool. Indeed, some would consider Blackpool to be the home of show business. Behind the bright lights and velvet curtains, the entertainment industry constitutes a vital part of the local economy.
The Drama Department at Rossall School is a thriving hub of creativity from aspirant scriptwriters to film directors, from technical designers to makeup artists, the department caters for those who wish to work in different aspects of the industry. At Rossall, we recognise that drama is about much more than treading the boards and we encourage young people to explore every aspect of the performing arts. Students routinely progress to study drama at higher level institutions upon leaving the Sixth Form.
Here on the Fylde Coast we recognise that we are a vital centre of artistic activity and we share this aspect of School life with the local community. We host music festivals, national children’s ensembles and run workshops and projects for local school children. For children with an interest in music, dance and/or theatre, there is nowhere better to be than Rossall.
Oliver!
West Side Story
Matilda Chicago Anything Goes
Mary Poppins
Frozen
Grease
Beauty and the Beast
MUSICALS RECENTLY PERFORMED AT ROSSALL
DANCE AND THE ROSSALL CURRICULUM
The Dance Department at Rossall School ensures that all pupils in Year 1 - Year 8 have the opportunity to benefit from a rich and diverse movement and dance curriculum. The focus in the early years is upon developing core skills of balance, posture, coordination, control, flexibility and mobility. During these years, a variety of different dance styles are exploredincluding ballet, tap, hip-hop and street dance.
This is complemented by a rich and diverse dance co-curricular programme and a junior dance showcase which takes place each term. Dance is a cornerstone of our Saturday morning Broadway Performing Arts Academy offering.
In Year 10, GCSE Dance provides an option for pupils who have a passion to further develop their technical and progressive skills, as well as their knowledge and understanding of dance through performance, choreography, and critical appreciation.
In the Sixth Form, we offer students the opportunity to study A level Dance.
WHAT ARE THE AIMS OF A LEVEL DANCE?
A Level Dance is a dynamic qualification which encourages students to develop their creative, physical, emotional and intellectual capacity, alongside transferable skills such as teamwork, communication and problem-solving. All of these are sought-after skills by higher education and employers and will help you stand out in the workplace. By doing this course you can enjoy a career that requires creativity, leadership, confidence, and teamwork.
WHAT DOES IT INVOLVE?
COMPONENT 1 PERFORMANCE AND CHOREOGRAPHY
(PRACTICAL EXAM, 50%)
The aim of this part of the subject content is to allow you to develop and apply the knowledge, understanding and skills required to perform a dance as both a soloist and as part of a quartet. You will also be required to create a piece of group choreography. The solo performance will directly link to a specific practitioner that you are studying in Component 2.
You will have the opportunity to explore and analyse key characteristics of both the movement and choreographic style of that practitioner. This will then develop into a solo performance for assessment.
COMPONENT 2 CRITICAL ENGAGEMENT
(WRITTEN EXAM, 50%)
Critical engagement with two set works and corresponding contextual areas of study will enable you to develop and demonstrate an in-depth knowledge and understanding of dance through time and location relating to specific features of the genre, including style, technique, influences, key practitioners, professional repertoire and communication of dance ideas.
Topics covered on this course:
Practical Technique in Contemporary and Jazz Dance
Performance Skills for the Dancer
Choreography
Dance History and its Context
Safe Studio Practice, Alignment and a Healthy Approach to Training
Critical Engagement with your own work
Analysis of Dance as an Art Form
ENTRY REQUIREMENTS
Although GCSE Dance is beneficial, it is not a prerequisite of the course. To fully take advantage of this course you will need to be passionate about dance, committed, dedicated, and resilient; have a desire to expand your knowledge, movement vocabulary and creativity; and be happy to challenge yourself. To demonstrate these key attributes, you will be expected to attend a dance workshop to assess your suitability for this course of study.
KEY STAFF
Dawn Harris Head of Dance
Dawn Harris is the Head of Dance and Director of the Broadway Academy of Performing Arts. A graduate of the prestigious Performers College in London, she has performed as a featured dancer in the Phantom of the Opera film, toured with Kylie Minogue, and appeared on numerous TV shows, including the MTV European Music Awards. She has also been featured in various music videos and TV commercials, further establishing her presence in the entertainment industry.
Michael Holdsworth
Director
of Performance Studies
Michael Holdsworth is the Head of Performing Arts at Rossall School and Director of Performance. A graduate of the Royal Scottish Conservatoire, Michael has made significant contributions to the performing arts field as a teacher, theatre maker and researcher. With nearly two decade’s worth of experience as an acting coach and theatre director he has mentored students and professionals who have gone on to achieve success in significant shows in London’s West End and on other prestigious stages around the globe. His graduates still get nervous when they know he’s watching!
Beyond her performing career, Dawn has worked extensively as a choreographer for corporate events and major fashion brands, bringing her creative vision to high-profile projects. With years of experience as a dance educator, she has taught in both private and vocational sectors, helping countless students develop their skills, build confidence, and launch successful careers in the industry. Her leadership at the Broadway Academy continues to inspire the next generation of performers.
As a passionate advocate of professional training beginning before drama school, Michael has worked extensively with young people to develop their performance potential in the North West. Collaborating with theatre artists internationally, nationally and within the local community Michael is so grateful to be able to turn young peoples’ dreams into a reality and help them see their wonderful potential as creative theatre artists.
FACILITIES
Rossall School is blessed to have so many outstanding performance spaces. In 2018, the state-of-the-art Performing Arts Studio (PAS) was opened. This venue is utilised for both theatrical performances and musical recitals. The generosity of Old Rossallian, David McKee funded this project and the PAS has now become a very busy hub of creativity within the Performing Arts. It is, without doubt, one of the premier performance venues on the Fylde Coast. It has a sprung floor and is used as a dance studio for much of the working week.
ROSSALL DANCE CENTRE
Rossall Dance Centre. Situated in what used to be the School Gym, the Dance Centre has a sprung wood dance floor suitable for all types of dance including ballet, commercial, tap etc.
BIG SCHOOL
The newly re-roofed Big School provides a striking venue for whole school productions and retains a sense of Victorian grandeur. It is an imposing venue with green rooms, backstage facilities and seating for an audience of four hundred.
THE MUSEUM THEATRE
The Museum Theatre was built in 1894 to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the School’s foundation. It provides a more intimate venue for small-scale productions and plays host to our weekly Wednesday lunchtime live performance sessions that take place every week during term time.
SCHOOL CHAPEL
The School Chapel is another fantastic performance space. Built by Edward Graham Paley in 1866, it is an exquisitely beautiful venue that is used at different points throughout the year.
Finally, in recent years, performances have taken place in both the Hall Garden and the Square. We are extraordinarily fortunate to have so many venues at our disposal without even having to leave our 160 acre site here on the Fylde Coast.
STRUCTURE OF PROGRAMME
We offer professional, intensive dance training in ballet, contemporary and jazz and this is supplemented by training in:
Music Theatre
(1 HOUR A WEEK)
Strength and Conditioning
(TWO WEEKLY SESSIONS)
Creative Choreography
(1 HOUR A WEEK)
All pupils benefit from weekly personal lessons alongside workshops and regular performance opportunities throughout the year.
Pupils are placed in groups according to their age and ability (Junior, Intermediate and Senior). The fees for the academy are listed on our website.
SAMPLE TIMETABLE
APPLY AND ADMISSION
Applications to join the Rossall Dance Academy are encouraged to apply early as spaces are extremely limited due to the comprehensive nature of the programme. The process to apply is as follows;
EXPRESSION OF INTEREST
Students should express their interest in applying for the Dance Academy to the admissions office using admissions@rossall.org.uk, our team will also be on hand to answer any questions in relation to the programme.
SUBMISSION OF PORTFOLIO
Students will then be invited to submit a video of their dance performances and to meet with the key members of the art department to discuss their ambitions.
APPLICATION
Selected students will then be invited to complete a full application to join the school, complete our standard entry tests and regular entry requirements.