Stagecoach

For the first time anywhere in the Stagecoach international network, some new ALL BOY dance classes were launched here in Darlington in October 2006 for boys aged 8 and over. Our Head Office did not even have a class - but they do now, since I have told them what the boys have achieved. This may now be a forerunner for other groups around the country.

The object of the classes was to attract more North-East boys into Dance. By choosing Street Dance, which is the style with the most street `cred`at the moment, and by training the boys all together, we hoped to remove many of the obstacles which stand in the way of boys wanting to learn to Dance. The class has been a huge success and I have been astonished by the achievements of the boys in terms of focus, commitment, team work and progress - and all that from 7.30pm until 9.00pm on Fridays at the end of a long week at school!

Jamie Bell, the star of the film “Billy Elliot”, won a BAFTA for Best Actor for his role in the film. Jamie trained at Stagecoach Yarm for a year we sent him to the film`s audition. Now the casting personnel from the West End stage show of “Billy Elliot” are very interested in our new classes. They are very keen to find the first North-East boy to play the role of “Billy” in London. They have offered us the advice of their choreography team and promised us regular visits from their casting team.

If you are one of the boys from the class then tell us

Why you enjoy being in an ALL BOY class
What type of Dance you like
How you think the class has helped you
What you would say to other boys who might like to try Dancing
If you are a boy who is interested in the classes, ask us any questions that you may have

Contributions to publishstuff@gmail.com

The red and green T shirts that I ordered on your behalf have arrived and will be ready to collect in the Friday All Boy Dance Class .  The cost per student ( to include two T shirts plus the postage) is an amazing £4.84. Stuart`s cost will be £7.26 because he wanted a white one too. 

Our Dance teacher Claire from Darlington Friday School, Yarm Further Stages, Yarm Early Stages and the Boys Only Dance Classes is starring as Audrey in “Little Shop of Horrors” at Middlesbrough Little Theatre from Monday 17th to Friday 24th May, with Redcar Operatic.

On Tuesday 18th May I am going to see the show and am happy to accompany any students who would like to go and see the show that night because there are special concessionary student tickets of £5 each. If you would like your child to go then please e mail me on t.hindmarsh15@btinternet.com and we will make arrangements to get some tickets. The deadline before I buy them will be WEDNESDAY evening May 12th so I can buy them on Thursday morning. Parents can meet me outside the theatre to drop off their child and collect them there after the show.

`Little Shop of Horrors` is a very popular musical with young people.

The Boys Only Dance class are to meet at the QE College main hall this coming Friday 23rd April at 7.30pm to run through the dance routine that they will perform at Hummersknott School later that evening.  Then they will need to be taken to the venue by parents in time for their performance at about 8.45pm (to open the second half)

This Saturday 18th April,  the All Boy Dance Class will be holding its Workshop Day at the Queen Elizabeth Sixth Form College,  Vane Terrace, Darlington from 10.00am until the show starts at 2.30pm.

The students of the class need to bring a packed lunch and plenty of drinks with them. They also need to bring their white T shirts and ballet shoes and their black jogging bottoms and black trainers.

Besides brushing up on the Angry Dance and revisiting “The Boys Are Back in Town” for a charity show at Hummersknott School, next Friday 23rd April at 8.45pm, the boys will be tackling brand new material.

If anyone is interested in joining the boys classes (there are now two of them) then they are welcome to come along to the show at 2.30pm with their parent/ s to see what it is all about.

The Northern Echo included a photo of our All Boy Dance Class in their account of the Vibe Award recipients recently. They had entertained on the Wednesday evening of the two night event.