Dancing and gym display at academy (From Swindon Advertiser)

Dancing and gym display at academy

8:00am Wednesday 20th March 2013 in News By Emma Dunn

GYMNASTIC vaulting and dance displays are just some of the skills that Swindon Academy students will be showing off tonight.

About 150 students from Year Two to sixth form will be taking part in the Gym and Dance Display at school, which will be performed again tomorrow.

The show also includes rhythmic gymnastics and free running, and is one of the highlights of the Swindon Academy calendar.

Emma Drinkwater, curriculum leader for sport and health education at the school, said: “Once again the students have delivered another amazing show. Months of hard work have gone into perfecting their performances.

“We always aim to bring a variety and to involve as many students as possible and this year is no different. This reflects our desire to provide all students with a platform to perform.

“I am always amazed by the hard work, dedication and enthusiasm of our students, supported by a fantastic group of staff, without whom this show would not happen.”

Students from the vaulting group High Vaultage have been working on their routines since before Christmas, while other students have been practising for the last six weeks.

Performances from all age groups include cheerleading, gymnastics, rhythmic gymnastics, dance routines and, of course, the high-energy vaulting.

Mrs Drinkwater said: “The Year Nine Dance Academy students, who perform to Chicago, work on their routine as part of their BTEC Performing Arts studies and are graded on their final performance.

“The show provides a perfect opportunity for them to publicly demonstrate their skills and get used to performing in front of an audience of 250 people.”

Student Connor Gleed has been working on the lighting and sound.

He said: “It’s really great working on the shows. I listen to the requirements of the acts and try to put my own twist in. I really enjoy the technical side of performances and have worked on the Gym and Dance Display last year and this year’s performance of Hairspray.

“I’d really like to have a career doing this sort of thing.”

Student Connor O’Donaghue also works on the lighting and explained that he became interested in taking part through a friend.

He said: “This is my first year doing the lighting by myself but I was involved in the Bugsy Malone and Hairspray performances and have really enjoyed it. It really feels good when you are able to assist in making scenes better.”

The show includes a whole range of performances, some that are created purely for the audience’s entertainment and others which support students’ learning.