NATALIE WEIR CHOREOGRAPHS TWO NEW WORKS FOR THE COLLEGE
Prominent choreographer Natalie Weir was recently commissioned
by Dawn Weller to create new works for our Year 10 students. These two
exceptional works RAW and THE WHISPER will premiére
at the College’s Performance Examinations on 16th September at
St Mary’s College.
Natalie describes RAW “as a male solo inspired simply by the youth, energy, enthusiasm and determination of the boys in year 10. I wanted to create something they could really attack, to get them moving and hopefully inspire them to really want to dance the piece. The powerful music from the movie ‘The Gladiator’ provides an exciting soundscape for the boys to interpret”. In contrast, Natalie notes that “for the women’s solo, I wanted to create something with a strong emotional base, so the year 10 women could really express something that was personal to them, to share with the audience their own distinct story. THE WHISPER is essentially a very feminine piece, with the vocal music by Bach providing a provocative and passionate partner for the piece”.
Click to view
Natalie
WEIR – Choreographer – Career Highlights
CHOREOGRAPHIC SEASON – DEVONSHIRE TEA ON MOTHER’S
DAY
As part of their syllabus, our Year 12 students must demonstrate in
practice, one or more roles and skills necessary to stage a dance production.
Outcomes include: expression of ideas and concepts through dance movement
and language, critical analysis of the process and production of dance
and the demonstration, in practice, of one or more of the roles and
skills necessary to stage a dance production. The College’s Choreographic
Season is central to achieving the required outcomes and, in order to
generate income for the Season, our Year 12’s celebrated Mother’s
Day on Saturday 12th May by inviting mothers, and grandmothers to observe
classes and rehearsals, followed by a mouth-watering Devonshire Tea.
Congratulations to our Year 12’s for their professional approach
to the task.
THE ROYAL BALLET SCHOOL SUMMER SCHOOL 2007
The Royal Ballet School accepts nine Graduate College of Dance students
for their 2007 Summer School at White Lodge.
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VISIT TO PORT HEDLAND
In an exciting move, The Graduate College of Dance has entered into partnership with Rio Tinto, to present an arts program for secondary and tertiary students in the northwest region of Western Australia.
Officially named JINANGU (walking), WANGANGU (talking), the partnership is part of Rio Tinto’s Community Investment Program. Wherever Rio Tinto operates, it sets out to build enduring relationships with its neighbours, characterised by mutual respect, active partnership and long-term commitment. Many of its programs help to support local business growth, boost training and skills, or improve public health and education, thus helping to raise socioeconomic standards in a lasting manner.
Director Dawn Weller and Dance Accompanist Gennaro Di Donna travelled to Port Hedland, 19-22 April 2007, to conduct Master Classes. This venture was sponsored by Rio Tinto's Community Investment Programme. Five students were selected from these classes to continue their dance studies at The Graduate College of Dance.
Click to EnlargeTimothé Audin (far right) with the other three award winners, accompanied by Ms Diane van Schoor, Ballet Principal Lower School White Lodge
In acknowledgment of the high standard of training by The Graduate College of Dance, five students were selected to participate in The Royal Ballet School’s 2006 White Lodge Residential Summer School: Rhianna Isard, Timothé Audin, Laurie Price, Xanthea O’Connor and Jessica McKemmish. A total of 353 students from 32 countries attended the courses held at White Lodge and Floral Street in London during July. Laurie Price and Rhianna Isard had the honour of performing a Pas de Trois in the final demonstration class, while Timothé Audin was one of only four students awarded a scholarship for the 2007 Upper School Summer School.1
1,2 Extracts from The Graduate College of Dance Newsletter, Term 4 October
2006
Click to EnlargeMarilyn Jones (centre) with some of the award recipients at the AICD Ballet Awards (L R) Jessica Rogerson, Veronica Formentin, Brodie James and Tess Jennings (Toodyay Ballet School). Tess joined the College in 2007
Seven students represented The Graduate College of Dance at the Australian Institute of Classical Dance (WA) Ballet Awards on the 24th September 2006 Jessica Evans, Adam Alzaim, Rhianna Isard, Laurie Price, Brodie James, Veronica Formetin and Jessica Rogerson. Congratulations to our students who achieved a “clean sweep” of 1st place awards in all four Sections and 2nd place awards in two of the Sections:
Year 7 1st Adam Alzaim, 2nd Jessica Evans
Year 8 1st Rhianna Isard
Year 9 1st Brodie James
Year 10 1st Veronica Formentin, 2nd Jessica Rogerson2
ROYAL ACADEMY OF DANCE GRADES AWARDS 2006
Emily Gardiner, Grade 3, 2nd place.