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Outstanding Results
Congratulations to all pupils who recently took Grades
2,5,6 and 7 RAD examinations. A total of 19 Distinctions with many in the
high 80's and 90's and 25 high merits.
New Junior, Senior Lyrical and Contemporary Classes.
Specialist Pre School Ballet, Disco,Street Dance and Tap,RDC Hip Hop
Training, Academy Adult Ballet.
New classes in Acrobatic Arts and Commercial Dance
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Congratulations / Good Luck
Congratulations / Good
Luck to all our pupils who have gained places at top vocational dance
schools and universities.
Congratulations to our
Hip Hop Crews, Rhiplay, Rhimix and Rhiact who were placed first and second
at the recent UDO Street Dance Competitions and have qualified for the World
Championships
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Former pupil
Abigail Matthews has made her
West End debut in the hit musical "The War
Horse"
Former pupil Alex
Jackson has extended his contract in the West End hit musical "The
Bodyguard" and has also performed with Rita Ora and Arianna Grande
Full Scholarship places at top vocational dance schools, Chloe Burton
to Doreen Bird College, Faye Jordan to Susie Earnshaw Theatre School, Ellen
Welch to Ballet Theatre UK
Faye and Tara Jordan on winning Gold Medals for England at the World
Tap Dance Championships which were held in Germany.
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Helen Laxton
The school principal, Helen Laxton LRAD,
ARAD, RTS. AISTD(Mod) AISD(Nat) AIDTA is a graduate of the Royal Academy of
Dance in London and is a fully qualified, registered teacher with over 30
years of experience in performing and in teaching all forms of Dance. Helen
is also a mentor for students studying for The Royal Academy of Dance
Certificate in Ballet Teaching studies which allows her pupils to qualify as
teachers of Dance and to gain an internationally recognised teaching
qualification. Hundreds of Helen's former pupils are now employed in
dance/performing arts related jobs all over the world
Catherine
Sprackman
Catherine Trained with Helen Laxton from
the age of 10 – 18 years as a dancer and then from 18 -20 as a teacher of
dance. For the past 20 years Catherine has been teaching children of all
ages in Ballet, Hip Hop, Disco, Jazz, Street Dance, Musical Theatre,
Cheerleading, Tap and Pre School Dance. Catherine's pupils have achieved
excellent examination results in both Royal Academy of Dance Ballet and
Imperial Society of Teachers of
Dance Modern Dance and they have performed many of
her beautifully choreographed dances at the Octagon Theatre in
Yeovil, The Digby Hall, Sherborne and in competitions and festivals. Many of
Catherine’s senior pupils are now at full time vocational dance schools
including The Royal Academy of Dance, Laine Theatre Arts, Central School of
Ballet, Millenium Theatre School, Laban Centre, Arts Educational School,
Tring , London Studio Centre, Italia Conti, Urdang, Performers College,
Stella Mann and Mountview Theatre School. Catherine is also a registered matron and has looked after many of our pupils whilst
they have been performing in the professional pantomimes at the Octagon
Theatre in Yeovil. Catherine is alos head of Dance at The Somerset School of
Performing Arts.
Joanna Brace
Joanna Brace CBTS, MRAD, AIDTA,RTS
started dancing at The Helen Laxton School of Dance when she was 5 years
old. Joanna passed all of her Royal Academy of Dance Ballet Examinations up
to and including Grade 8 and Advanced and also her Imperial Society of
Teachers of Dance Intermediate Modern. A few years ago Joanna decided that
she would like to teach Ballet and Modern Dance and she enrolled on the
Royal Academy of Dance Teacher Training Programme mentored by Helen Laxton.
Joanna graduated as a fully qualified dance teacher in 2008, she now teaches
for Helen in Somerset and Dorset where she has achieved some incredible
results with her pupils. Joanna
is also a registered matron and has looked after many of our pupils whilst
they have been performing in the professional pantomimes at the Octagon
Theatre in Yeovil
Emilie Woan
Emilie trained at The Helen Laxton School
of Dance from 3 - 18 years of age, gaining all of her Ballet and Modern
dance examinations to Advanced Level. She was then awarded a place at
Performers College in London where she studied all aspects of dance,
graduating with a National Diploma in Professional Dance Theatre alongside
her dance teaching qualifiactions. Emilie performed professionally in the
UK, abroad and on TV before retuening to Somerset to teach dance.
Claire Derrick
Claire trained at The Royal Academy of Dance, Ballet Central, and The
Rambert School of Dance where she gained a BTEC higher national diploma in
dance. Claire also holds Advanced level dance certificates in Royal Academy
and Imperial Society Ballet, and Imperial Society Modern and Tap dance.
Claire has a wealth of experience as a dancer, performer and teacher.
Claire has returned to teaching dance after having had a break to
have her two children Davina and Bella.
Rhiannon Watkins
Rhiannon started dancing aged 18 months
old (being my daughter it was hard for her not to be a dancer!). Rhiannon
passed all of her Royal Academy of Dance Ballet Examinations up to and
including Grade 8 and Advanced and also her Imperial Society of Teachers of
Dance Modern to Advanced level. During her time with us at the school
Rhiannon danced with numerous amateur and professional companies gaining a
wealth of performance experience. At University Rhiannon became an award
winning dancer, choreographer and coach, she has gained a wealth of
experience having been taught by some of the best dancers and teachers in
the industry. Many of Rhiannon’s Hip Hop Crews have won local and national
competitions and we are very pleased that Rhiannon has now returned to Somerset to teach at the Helen Laxton School of Dance.

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