My New Life at Performers
March 11, 2019
Having survived the first 6 months of full time training, ex-student Caroline Austin gives an insight into College life. Here’s her first Blog.
“I can not believe how quickly time has gone and that I am now half way through my first year of a 3 year BA (Hons) Degree course in Professional Dance and Musical Theatre at Performers College. The last 6 months have been a rollercoaster of emotions, highs and lows, excitement and exhaustion.
A typical college day starts at 8am every morning and even if we do not have a class which begins at 8 we are expected to be there to warm ourselves up ready for the day ahead. We have an hour and a half ballet class every day and a jazz class 4 times a week. In our jazz classes we learn a variety of styles ranging from lyrical to musical theatre and commercial. We also work on technical combinations like kicks, leaps and turns. We have 2 tap classes each week, 2 contemporary classes, 2 acting classes, a voice class, a singing tech class, a singing ensemble class and a Pilates class. We also have a musical theatre lesson each week where we study a particular musical for a period of time and usually learn a song, routine and scene from the chosen musical. So far our projects have been Guys and Dolls, Fame, Wicked, The Witches of Eastwick and we are moving on to Les Misérables.
We are currently working towards assessments so our classes have become more set, like following a graded syllabus. In ballet we have barre exercises, a port de bras exercise, an adage, a pirouette enchaînement, various allegro exercises and pointe exercises so it is quite extensive! All disciplines have a similar level and variety of exercises and routines which we will perform to a panel of our tutors and the principle of the college to show the progression we have made since September.
As well as all of the physical demands of dancing, there has also been a high level of written work that needs to be completed each week including lesson reports, evaluations and essays. We have also been lucky enough to have a couple of theatre trips to London to see ‘The Richard Alston Dance Company’ and the musical ‘Company’ in the West End.
Initially, the physical demands were huge and definitely took some getting used to, but even now I come home from college exhausted! In spite of this I have loved this new adventure, have learnt to look after myself and have met some lovely friends and flat mates on the way!”