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Encapsulating drama, dance and theatre studies this performing arts section is dedicated to all the fabulous performances that Barnwell students take part in throughout the year.
‘Dance Matters to Me’
On Saturday 17th March Barnwell’s Dance Company travelled to the Sandpit Theatre in St Albans to take part in the ‘Dance Matters to Me’ festival in which the students helped to choreograph and perform a piece that they had been working on at rehearsals. Our piece was about a toy shelf that comes alive at night when the children have gone to sleep. It involved a variety of characters and costumes as well as interesting hair and make up which the students got to help out with. Our day started when we arrived at the theatre and our technical rehearsals began. We then got to watch the performances of the other schools and the professional dance company’s. There were about 10 other schools from around Hertfordshire that took part. The performance went very well and helped to improve our confidence as well as being enjoyable and fun. We look forward to performing it again at the Gym & Dance Festival here at Barnwell. Thank you to Mrs Triggs and Miss O’Dwyer for all of their help on the day and with the choreography.
By Jemma Grigson and Lauren Jarvis (Year 9)
Rock Challenge 2012
Barnwell Business and Enterprise School has been involved in Rock Challenge for five years. Rock Challenge is an annual competition in which students from schools all over the country create and perform an 8-minute performing arts extravaganza. The winning team go forward to the regional final with additional awards being given for areas of particular merit at the end of the evening. We have been very successful, winning the regional event in 2008 and again this year and receiving many awards for each production we have produced.
Rock Challenge is funded by the Be Your Best Foundation whose aim is to encourage young people to lead healthy lifestyles and to be their best without the need for tobacco, alcohol or other drugs. For the past four years the school, in preparation of this event, has held a Rock Challenge Theme Day collapsing the timetable for a day for year 8 students. Students explore issues dealt with in the production in cross curricular lessons involving science, English, maths and many more. The feedback from students and staff about the day is always very positive and the experience helps develop students’ awareness of a wide range of issues in a fun and stimulating environment.
Each year in the summer term 6th form students meet with the arts faculty team to discuss ideas for the following year’s themes and they continue to take a leading role throughout the rehearsal process including creating choreography, designing costume and props and creating the soundtrack. All students get involved in regular set and costume workshops which helps them to take ownership of the whole production. Students dedicate a lot of time and energy in to after school rehearsals to prepare the performance piece ready for the show.
We were very pleased to have achieved several awards this year: Entertainment, Concept Interpretation, Soundtrack, Healthy Lifestyle, and Press Coverage and students are over the moon to have won the regional heat. We are looking forward to performing at the final in Portsmouth on the 8th June.
Grease
The Summer Production for 2010 was Grease. Unfortauntely due to copyright constraints we are unable to provide photographs or video. However the production was a tremendous success and thoroughly enjoyed by all the students that took part, the staff that ensured a smooth show and the packed out audience!
BTEC Celebration
There are plenty of pictures of the BTEC Celebration under the photos tab (above)
Singin' in the Rain
The Summer Production for 2009 was Gene Kelly's famous 1952 musical Singin' in the Rain.
The students from all years provided two evening and one matinee performance that was truly outstanding.