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Students make a show-stopping return to the stage

Byadmin

May 6, 2022

Sixty-eight dance students stepped out on stage for the first time in over two years and dazzled the audience with their show-stopping performances. ‘Return to the Stage’, by students of Richmond School & Sixth Form College, was the comeback show that exceeded all expectations, with 31 spectacular dances that were the culmination of months of rehearsals.

‘Return to the Stage’ showcased a range of genres from Contemporary, Jazz, Musical Theatre and Commercial with some outstanding choreography that even included gymnastics.  Students from the school and college’s Evolution and Breaking Point Dance Groups performed, as well as pieces by the GCSE Dance and CTEC Performing Arts Dance students, with a mix of solo, duet and group performances, and a stunning grand finale piece to Levitating by Dua Lipa.

The show was organised by four sixth form students, Alex Macpherson, Faith Nacamavuto, Aurora Carter and Evie Dobson who project managed the event from its conception to delivery.  Alex said: “We wanted to create a big comeback show that didn’t have a specific theme, but with the intention to celebrate dance and coming back to live performances and we felt the name ‘Return to the Stage’ summed up the intentions of the show perfectly.

“We have all taken part in leading Evolution, our in-house dance company, and worked with Miss Pemberton to create choreography. Everyone from Year 7 to Year 13 has been incredible and so professional over the past few months and even though it has been a very long and tiring process, we are all thrilled about the way show night went. We are so happy that everyone had the opportunity to showcase their talent and we hope everyone who took part keeps that passion for dance and takes it further.

“We also want to say thank you to the Dance staff who have been so supportive throughout the planning of this showcase and for everything they have done for us over the past seven years in school and sixth form, pushing us outside our comfort zones and making us more confident dancers.”

The show featured some fabulous costumes and choreography and this was brought to life by the excellence of the technical team. Charlie Cooper and Ellis Hepper in Year 10, James Lunn, in Year 12 and Louise Sharpe, former dance student, worked their technical wizardy to create fantastic lighting schemes and sound throughout the show.

Jamie Pemberton, Dance Teacher, said: “I would like to congratulate Alex, Faith, Evie and Aurora for all their efforts to put this amazing showcase together. They have worked extremely hard since January planning and preparing everything to the finest detail. There has not been an evening where I have not seen them in the dance studio rehearsing for the show. After everything they have faced and overcome in the past two years, and the first time being able to present their amazing talent to parents, family and friends, they definitely received the recognition they deserved. I wish them all the best as they take their next steps and embark on their university and conservatoire dance journeys. I really could not have wished for a better cohort and I feel extremely lucky to be a small part of their dance journey. Thank you Year 13.”

Jenna Potter, Headteacher, concluded: “This was most certainly a show that was worth waiting for! The students came back to the stage with poise, professionalism and panache and you would not have thought that they had missed two years of performance.  Without exception, every piece was breathtaking, all the students were utterly brilliant and deserved to be back in the limelight.”

By admin