The Loughborough Academy of Dance

HAPPY 48th BIRTHDAY L.A.D.

I really can't believe I have been running the school for 48 years.

It all started with me teaching 5 little girls in my parents front room after my own Mum retired from running the Grace Freeman School of Dance from 1965 - 1978.

It has been a privilege and honour to teach so many girls and boys over the years and to watch them grow in confidence and ability. Some of our pupils have achieved great things in the dance world and I couldn't be prouder, but its not just about who achieves what, its about all the other children who loves to dance for fun and leave their classes with a huge smile as well as making lifelong friends.

I have cried many happy tears of pride and joy and those emotions just don't go away.

Teaching has changed so much over the years and it gets harder and harder to keep on top of all the necessary certificates, insurances, licences etc to run the school but you look at those little faces every Saturday and realise that they are the future of dance and then everything is worth it.

I could write a book about the last 48 years with some really wonderful, happy memories (but there are also some not so pleasant memories 😪).

I have made so many wonderful friends from dance both locally and further a field over the last 48 years. Those friendships are a huge part of teaching.

I plan to continue teaching but can't promise it will be for another 48 years! 🤣🤣🤣 but there are many other teachers ready to take over when my time comes to retire.

I hope you all continue to support the dance school and our teachers and we shall grasp all the opportunities that we are granted, exams, medals, performances at great venues and of course our show next April with both hands and cheer very loudly, The Loughborough Academy of Dance, the oldest and best dance school in Loughborough.
Thank you and love to all.

We are closed this Saturday 29th and Monday 31st August for Bank Holiday. See you all soon.

Looking forward to being back at class on Saturday. We have missed you all but hope you have all had a good break.

WOW, WOW, WOW, Exam results from June 20th are in. I am so very pleased to say that everyone passed, many with exceptional markings. They all worked so hard and the results show this. There are some really fantastic comments from the examiner too.

INTRODUCTORY MODERN:
Amelia Rokita, Gabby Woolsey, Freya Clark, Matilda Malpass, Anna Sedicenkova, Grace Bratton, Raisa Smeianu - ALL PASSED.

GRADE ONE BALLET:
Amber Adams, Ffion Carey, Kandaci Fung, Lexi Hadnutt, Sophie Higham - all 78% Commended
Bori Bokanyi-Toth - 80% Highly Commended

GRADE TWO BALLET:
Skye Dutton 77%, Lauren Harper 77% - Commended
Victoria Adamyk, Eliza Milnes, Maisie Wilson 88%, Emmy Carey 88% - Highly Commended
Isla Darwin - 90% Honours,

GRADE THREE BALLET:
Anjula Bandulasena, Hermione Frostick 85% - Highly Commended
Tanya Vasileva - Honours.

ELEMENTARY BALLET:
Rosie Bateman 93%, Oliver Frostick 93% - Honours.

GRADE THREE TAP:
Skye Dutton, Victoria Adamyk 83%, Maisie Wilson 83% Lauren Harper 85% - Highly Commended
Eliza Milnes, Emmy Carey, Isla Darwin - Honours.

PREPARATORY ACROBATIC
Martina Lorente 87% - Highly Commended
Amelia Pacey, Elisa Tanasa - Honours.

GRADE ONE ACROBATIC
Ivy Headley 87% - Highly Commended
Bella-Rose Dakin - Honours
Lily Hogarth-Hojabri - Distinction

GRADE THREE ACROBATIC
Sienna Tuffin - 93% Honours

INTERMEDIATE ACROBATIC
Eliza Milnes - Distinction

ADVANCED FOUNDATION ACROBATIC.
Emmy Carey 93%, Isla Darwin 95% - Honours

I hope you all agree that we have had an exceptional set of results. I am one very happy and proud teacher. Love you all. # # #

We had a lovely afternoon/evening at our exam session held at our studio on Saturday 20th June. Our examiner was very happy and said the dancers were all very well prepared, from the youngest at just age 4 to the eldest at 19.
Well done and congratulations to everyone who danced for your hard work and dedication. Now to wait for the results. A very proud teacher. # # #

🌟 Ibstock Novice & Open Dance Festival results ⭐️

Congratulations to our students who have danced over the last two days! It’s been long, warm and the talent has been amazing! These events aren’t about the medals it’s about the children enjoying and expressing themselves on stage but for a tiny team they have brought home lots of achievements!

⭐️ Results ⭐️
Novice B Modern - 2nd Sienna
Open B Modern - 2nd Ffion
C Novice Character - 2nd Lexi
D Open Character - 1st Emmy
D Open Contemporary - 3rd Emmy
B Novice Character - 1st Sienna
B Novice Lyrical - 1st Sienna & 2nd Ffion
C Novice Ballet - 2nd Amber
D Novice Ballet - 1st Emmy
Inter Cabaret Trio - 1st Ffion, Lexi & Sienna
Inter Novice Small Group - 2nd Turtle Rock
D Open Modern - 4th Emmy
C Novice Modern - 3rd Lexi & 4th Amber
B Open Ballet - 3rd Ffion
D Novice Tap - 2nd Emmy
Inter classical duets- 1st Emmy & Lauren
Novice A Modern - 3rd Lily
Open A Acro - 2nd Lily
Open B Acro - 4th Ffion
Novice C Acro - 1st Lexi
Open D Acro - 1st Emmy & 3rd Lauren
Inter novice song & dance duet - 2nd Sienna & Lexi
Novice C Lyrical - 2nd Lexi
Open D Lyrical - 4th Emmy
Junior Novice cabaret duets -
1st Ffion & Lily (Modern)
3rd Sienna & Ffion (Lyrical)
Open Junior cabaret duets - 3rd Sienna & Ffion (Modern)

End of festival awards:
Karen’s back stage award - Ffion Carey
Adjudicators Open most promising dancer - Emmy Carey

We are closed for half term Saturday 23rd May -
Friday 29th May.
Have a lovely break everyone.

It was a wonderful day yesterday celebrating 90 fantastic year's of The Association of American Dancing. All our dancers had such a great experience performing in the Gala Production routines at Blackpool Opera House. They have all worked so hard over the last couple of months preparing for this spectacular event. Its such a pleasure to teach these young people and they make me burst with pride.
Now the Gala is over we start our rehearsals for our performance at Alton Towers. We like to keep our dancers on their toes and doing what they all love doing. 💙🩵💙🩵

At The Loughborough Academy of Dance we dont have to bring in outside teachers. Why not, I hear you ask? Because we train our own dancers to be Teachers of the future. It takes years to reach the level of Teacher but when our students have so much knowledge from their studies and exams you know they are going to be the best teachers. We have a wealth of knowledge in different Dance styles. The LAD have been in Loughborough since 1978. We now have 6 qualified teachers and 5 Student Teachers. We have a great Reception Team that will help you when you attend for your first steps in the dance world. Your child is in safe hands when they come to our classes. Please dont hesitate to get in touch to start your little ones dance journey. www.thelad.co.uk [email protected]
Hope to see you soon.

www.thelad.co.uk

Well done to these hard working, dedicated young people. All ready for the AAD Gala Spectacular at Blackpool Opera House on Sunday 26th April. They all passed an audition to dance in this fantastic show. It has been a pleasure to teach them over the last couple of months and I can't wait to see them perform later this month. Keep smiling and have the best time in Blackpool. A very proud teacher. X # # #