The Aberdeen International Youth Festival's Dance Summer School is proving to be more popular than ever, and there are just a few places left. The School is directed by Kenn Burke, former Principal Dancer with Scottish Ballet, and offers a valuable training experience in classical ballet, contemporary and jazz, with world re-nowned dancers and teachers. Dancers on the Performance Course will be offered the chance to dance on stage at His Majesty’s Theatre, at the AIYF’s Dance Gala in August.
Past students have gone on to dance with Northern Ballet Theatre, Jean Ann Ryan Productions, English National Ballet, English National Opera, Birmingham Royal Ballet, Norwegian Ballet and Ballet des Jeunes.
The Dance Summer School was established 26 years ago and remains an important and unique course in Scotland. The school now offers:
Performance Course - An intensive two week residential course designed to offer students a valuable training experience in classical ballet, contemporary and jazz, with world renowned dance artists and teachers. The course includes the opportunity to work on and perform new choreography at the Festival’s Dance Gala at His Majesty’s Theatre.
Dance Course - For students aged 12+. This course offers intensive training in classical ballet and repertoire, contemporary and jazz.
Day of Dance - A free taster day for younger students. Dance teachers are welcome to come to the dance school and watch classes. Please contact us for more information.
Kenn Burke was appointed Dance Director of the AIYF in 1996 and has been running the Festival's Dance School for the last eight years.Fife-born Kenn trained in his hometown of Inverkeithing before joining Scottish Ballet's scholarship scheme. He trained at The Royal Ballet School, London and in 1975 joined Scottish Ballet.In 1988, he was invited to join the Hong Kong Ballet as Principal Dancer.In 1990 he returned to Scotland and was appointed Artistic Director of Scottish Ballet 2. Kenn went on to become Acting Artistic Director of Scottish Ballet. During his time with the company he has always maintained a close interest and involvement in the Dance School of Scotland and Scottish Ballet's Junior Associates.Kenn is now freelance and has most recently been staging Swan Lake with Galina Samsova for the Rome Opera House
Contact AIYF for more information and application forms.
Tel: 01224 213800 www.danceschool.org.uk
Monday 28 April 2008
Last few places left on the AIYF’s Dance Summer School!
Saturday 12 April 2008
Photo of the week
Midwest Young Artists from the USA at AIYF. Photo: Josh Hadro
See more festival photos on flickr - why not add yours to our group and be featured as our photo of the week? http://www.flickr.com/groups/aiyf/pool/
Friday 4 April 2008
Opportunity for young singers
Aberdeen International Youth Festival today announces an opportunity for young singers to get involved in a special new project, working with Haddo Junior Choirs and the RSAMD, to present a performance of Britten’s Little Sweep at Haddo and in Aberdeen in August.
A first for Haddo Junior Choirs, AIYF & RSAMD
This special production, in partnership with the RSAMD to be performed as part of the 2008 Aberdeen International Youth Festival at Haddo House and in Aberdeen.
A wonderful opportunity has arisen for singers from Haddo Junior Choirs to work alongside Opera students and Music Director from the RSAMD, as well as a professional Theatre Director.
This will be a unique experience open to all singers aged 9-18. There will be soloists spaces as well as a large chorus of required, so there is plenty of scope for a large number to take part in this unique project.
There will be weekly rehearsals on Wednesday in Ellon from 16 April 2008, and daily rehearsals from Saturday 26 July until the performances on Wednesday 6, Thursday 7, Friday 8 and Saturday 9 August.
For more information about how to take part, visit the website at http://www.aiyf.org/ or telephone the Aberdeen International Youth Festival on 01224 213800.
The Little Sweep - an opera for children and families
The Little Sweep is part of Britten’s ‘Entertainment for Young People’. It is a morality tale which finds young Sam sold into service as a sweep to two cruel masters. He is discovered and hidden by the children of a big house he has been cleaning. Will they be able to help him escape from his cruel employers?
The production is a full theatrical experience with lots of dramatic opportunities, choral singing and even an audience song or two. It is a great way of introducing young audiences to the conventions of opera with a simple yet affecting story with which they can sympathise and identify.
Photo of the week
North Shore Celtic Ensemble from Canada performing at Speyfest as part of AIYF 2006. Photo: scotsonhill (flickr)
See more festival photos on flickr - why not add yours to our group and be featured as our photo of the week? http://www.flickr.com/groups/aiyf/pool/
Posts
