IDTA Midlands Theatre Classical Ballet Championships
For the first time ever IDTA Midlands Area were hosting the Classical Ballet Championships, by qualification only. We were fortunate enough to qualify with four of our Ballet Dancers to participate in the class. For their Grade Two exam we had three girls, Hannah Lewis who in her exam gained 85 – Distinction, Yasmin Croft 87 – Distinction and Ella Carr 87 – Distinction, so were all accepted to participate in Class A (Grades 2 & 3). We also had Georgia Marsh who passed her Grade Four with 83 – Merit, so she was competing in Class B (Grades 4 & 5).
The day started with Class A. The dance floor was very busy with 68 excited Dancers giving their all. They were taught a lovely workshop by Carl Walker, which started with an exhilarating Warm Up, which got the girls warm and settled their nerves. Carl went on to teach two separate exercises, one beautiful Adage and one fun Allegro, which was Mary Poppins themed. This was a delight to watch.
There was a very high standard of dancers on the floor, our three dancers held their own and proved their right to be there, they worked so hard. The two adjudicators were watching closely throughout, and with plenty of line changes they got to see all the girls dance several times. There was an announcement of Dancers who they wanted to recall to compete for 1st, 2nd and 3rd place, which was only 16 out of the 68 on the floor. We stayed on the floor and had another chance to dance for the Endeavour award. In true MKDC style our girls showed how they can really perform.
After the recalls danced again, they announced the winners. Although we had no winners, our girls danced beautifully, had a great workshop and have come away with some inspiration. They did us very proud.
Georgia danced in the afternoon. The set up was the same as the morning class. However there was two classes dancing at the same time. Class B which was Grade 4 and 5, and then Class C which was the performers: Intermediate and Advanced One. Carl added variation to develop the choreography for Class C. There was 63 Dancers on the floor, but with them all being older and taller, this made for very little dance space! Again a lovely Adage and this time the Allegro was Arabian Themed, with a very big jump in the difficulty from this morning. Georgia danced again for the Endeavour award and again really held her own against the other dancers, who were mostly higher Grades than her, so she should be very pleased at how she danced so beautifully, picking up the intricate choreography with ease.
To have danced with the top Ballet Dancers of the Midlands Area and to have performed with such great ability is not only a credit to themselves but to MKDC too.
Well done girls you made Amy & Debbie very proud!