What a wonderful 2024 into 2025 we have all just completed, the year of enlightenment.

I feel humbled and honoured to have the school community full of supportive parents and dedicated children.

By remaining a small, private and inclusive school I think we have found the happy medium between chaos and peace, a place many call their "second home" with one child referring to the dance studio and her classes as her "therapy".

This cements for me that we are excelling in my goal for the school to put value and worth into small achievements above the pressures of expectations in this industry and the world as a whole.

With this approach we are winning every day.

I have never written before about my own ADHD and Autism diagnosis a year ago and I won't go into how life changing this has been for me as an adult, except to say despite challenges, on the whole it's personally been positive.

That doesn't mean that I am not aware that there are many levels and days when I feel I'm not doing enough. It has allowed me to understand why I have been striving for understanding of neurodiversity in children long before my diagnosis. Over the last year we have been working with lots of our parents and children to find ways to help children settle and feel safe in their environment, helping with school referrals, changing up class structures to accommodate specific needs and continuing the approach I opened the school with in 2014 that "Any Body Can Dance".

I will continue with this mantra for as long as I own the school - there will always be a place for every child who wants to explore dance education and I will endeavour to find ways in which to accommodate that.

Every child has the opportunity to perform on our festival team, regardless of ability.

In the last 6 months I have been heavily searching for competitions that offer equally opportunities for all levels, including specific SEND categories for completion level, and I'm piessed to say I have found one which our current team will be trialing in November.

I look forward to starting the new year with fresh ideas, continuing on with our reward recognition scheme and being the best teacher I can to all the children entrusted in my care

In June four of our students auditioned for a new "triple threat" associate programme in Hull.

They each needed to learn two pieces of set dance Choreography and prepare a monologue or song to perform during the auditions.

The children spent many private lessons and weeks

working on their audition preparation and I'm pleased to share that Jessica Pinnell was chosen for the Juniors with Grace Mason and Elizabeth Belcher chosen for the Inters and Rosa Robinson equally successfully securing a place in the seniors to begin their Musical Theatre journey once month in Hull with leading industry professionals

In July four of our students attended the Retford Stage Dance festival for solos and duets.

Rosa, Aimee, Heidi and Grace Chambers competed in various styles of Dance, Ballet, Modern, Lyrical, Song & Dance, Contemporary, Character and Impromptu. With each student being awarded medals from 1st to 4th place.

Aimee was chosen by the judge to perform her lyrical solo in the Bursary where she was given 91 marks and 2nd place.Millie, Aimee and Jessica will be starting their TDCi Championship journey from September, where they will attend competitions across the UK for a place in the Blackpool final in November 2026.

DATES FOR YOUR DIARIES

FRIDAY 5TH SEPTEMBER -

School re-opens from 3.30pm on new timetable

SATURDAY 4TH OCTOBER -

Reduced/Combined timetable (please see app for your time)

FRIDAY 24TH OCTOBER -

SUNDAY 2ND NOVEMBER -

Grimsby Dance Festival

FRIDAY 24TH OCTOBER -

School closed for half term

THURSDAY 6TH NOVEMBER -

School Re-Opens for extra rehearsals

SATURDAY 22ND NOVEMBER -

 No classes scheduled

SATURDAY 6TH DECEMBER -

Upper School Afternoon Exam Sessions

SUNDAY 14TH DECEMBER -

School Closes for Christmas Break

MONDAY 5TH JANUARY -

School re-opens from 3.30pm

SUNDAY 15TH FEBRUARY -

School closed for half term

MONDAY 23RD FEBRUARY -

School re-opens from 3.30pm

SUNDAY 22ND MARCH -

School closes for Easter Break

FRIDAY 3RD APRIL -

 MONDAY 13TH APRIL  -

Cleethorpes Dance Festival

FRIDAY 17TH APRIL -

School re-opens from 3.30

Rising Stars results - October 2024

1st- Grace M - Jun Nov Ballet

1st - Grace M - Jun Nov Lyrical

1st - Grace M - B Open Song & Dance

1st - Elizabeth - Jun Nov Song & Dance

1st - Millie - D Open Character

1st - Millie - D Open Ballet

1st - Millie - D Open Song & Dance

1st - Millie - D Open Lyrical

1st - Felicity - Juv Nov Character

1st - Felicity - A Open Tap

1st - Emily - Inter Nov Character

1st - Jess B - C Open Ballet

2nd - Grace C - A open Ballet

2nd - Grace C - A open Lyrical

2nd- Elizabeth - Jun Nov Modern

2nd - Felicity - Juv Now Modern

2nd- Jess P - Juv Nov Ballet

2nd - Jess P - Juv Nov Song & Dance

2nd - Emily - Inter Nov Ballet

2nd - Grace M - Jun Nov Character

2nd - Millie - D Open Character

2nd - Millie - D Open Acro

2nd - Jess B - inter Nov Character

2nd - Ivy - Jun Nov Tap

3rd -Jess P - Juv Nov Modern

3rd- Heidi - Jun Nov Ballet

3rd - Heidi - Jun Nov Character

3rd - Ivy - Jun Nov Ballet

3rd - Ivy - Jun Nov Lyrical

3rd - Felicity - Juv Nov Ballet

3rd - Emily - Inter Nov Lyrical

3rd - Grace H - Jun Nov Character

4th- Ivy Hodgins - Jun Nov Modern

A Novice Winner - Felicity

A Novice Runner up - Jess p

B Novice Winner - Grace M

C Novice Winner - Ivy

C Novice Runner up - Heidi

D Novice Winner - Emily

D Open Winner - Millie

One to watch - Millie

Grimsby October 2024

2nd - Poppy & Aimee: Under 16 Cab Duet

2nd - Aimee: Acro solo 12-13

2nd - Aimee National Solo 12-13

3rd - Poppy Ballet Solo 14-15

3rd - Maya Baby Cabaret Solo

3rd - Ivy Tap solo 10-11

4th - Millie Song & Dance 12-13

4th - Millie musical theatre 12-13

4th - Millie Acro 12-13

4th - Aimee Tap Solo 12-13

4th - Rosa Ballet solo 12-13

4th - Skyla Baby Classical Solo

4th - Narnia Under 16 Group with Theme

4th - Rose Ballet U13 Classical Group

• The school will no longer orderi uniform items, we have removed the forms from our website.
• Any items we still have for sale will be posted to our Preloved uniform page to clear any stock. Keep an eye out for those.
• The reason for this change is due to a number of contributing factors: The time this takes away from other important areas of the school, wrong sizes ordered and needing to be returned to our supplier, this more time and a cost to the school being just two of many.
• All of our regulation uniform can now be purchased from Dance Magic in Grimsby. Where the correct brand and style shoes, tights, cardigans can be fitted correctly to your child, in person.
• You can buy your own ballet class uniform online from ABD via the links on our website. More information and links on our uniform page.
• Dance magic are in the process of making samples for me to approve for the Acro uniform and Team kits, these can then be bought from there in person. I will post an update when the uniform for the Acro and Team is ready to be sold.
• For anyone needing Acro or Team kits, please continue to wear your current items if possible or speak with a teacher for an alternative. The pre loved pages is a good plave to ask if anyone has any items you might need.
• The current Acro and Team uniform will have a "phase out" period over the next 12 months, with the idea being once your child needs new items they will replace with the new, better quality, items.
• We are now back into our Autumn/Winter uniform, these means (unless we have a heatwave) ballet classes should be in tights again, with all classes other than Gerry and Ginger needing the combination ballet tights for Saturday, Monday and Wednesday.
• Black footless tights for Acro.
• Warm clothing, including leg coverings should be worn to and from all classes throughout the week to protect muscles after exercise in the colder months.
• Please continue to observe the safety aspects of Dance bybhavin long hair securely tied back, with any loose hairs sprayed. NO JEWELLERY, including earrings. Please remove before entering the studio. Newly pierced ears should be covered with plasters before attending class.
• Our website has been extensively updated to simplify many areas of the school admin and for ease of use for parents and any potential new starter, please take a look at those changes.
• Our school policy has been split from "pages for days" into easier to digest tabs that open a PDF document with the information you might need to know.
• Now is a good time to check back and refresh on the school policies and fee terms and conditions agreed to when joining our school, nothing has changed (with the exception of adding the team policy) but hopefully easier to understand.
• Please continue to use your Think Smart Parent Portal Apps for any communication, absenses and to see your monthly invoicesIf you require any help with your think smart access please ask at class.