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SOMERSET

One Year Apprentice Dancer Scheme

RISEThe RISE Apprentice Dancer Scheme is a unique course which culminates in a Pretty Good

Girl Dance Theatre performance tour of South West schools, theatres and rural venues.

Dancers in RISE benefit from a practical one year training experience. Students will engage in

training, workshops, performance, seminars and teaching placements.

The year provides a valuable insight in to the life of a professional dancer living and working

in a rural county. It is a thorough and realistic complement to dance training.

The scheme will take place at the GingerFred Dance Studio, situated in the heart of the

Somerset Levels.

The scheme offers:

Choreography, technique and physical conditioning. Students will be challenged to

expand their fitness levels, movement range and increase their various styles in ways

required by today's dance world. Twice a week students will take part in a technique

class and work on creating new choreography. Performance development will be a

strong focus. Students will perform in studio ‘sharings’ once a month.

Education outreach training – seminars on how to teach, how to manage a class, how

to plan lessons and how to increase your teaching resources.

Seminars on developing and sustaining a freelance dance career; fundraising,

business administration, running a professional small – scale dance company, selling

your work, touring and increasing your profile, marketing.

Workshops/seminars - dancer health, injury prevention and diet.

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PLUS

SUMMER term tour of new choreography to

schools, colleges, small theatres and rural venues in

the region.

Teaching placement in a local education setting –

with constant mentoring, guidance and feedback.

Networking sessions (including meeting key

individuals and organisations from the South West

Dance Community), building relationships with key

organisations in the county/region.

Audition mentoring, UCAS support and career

guidance for leaving course

Who is RISE for?

The scheme is suitable for people over 18+ (no upper age limit) that have already begun

dance training. The course is particularly geared to students wanting to take a gap year

before embarking on a HE dance course or graduates of HE courses not yet in dance

employment.

RISE provides a good foundation for anyone wanting to either pursue a dance career or to

use his or her talents effectively in just one year. The focus will be in technical proficiency,

performance, building knowledge of the regional dance scene and dance teaching.

It is intended that students enjoy a year experiencing ‘hands on’ the life of a dance

professional in a rural location. They can then use their new skills to enrich further study or

pursue a dance career with more confidence and knowledge of the industry.

Entrance to the scheme is by practical audition selection (Please see page 4)

How long does it take?

The scheme runs from September to July with the same holidays as academic institutions.

Studio time takes place Monday and Tuesday with further hours during the week for special

events and placements. The timetable is intended to reflect that of a busy freelance dance

artist.

It is entirely possible for students to combine this study with a part time job.

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Where will it take place?

The course takes place at the GingerFred Dance

Studio. The studio is situated in the heart of

Langport, Somerset and is a sole-purpose,

creatively focused new dance studio offering

high quality dance and theatre classes to the

wider community all year round. The studio has

a 9m x 9m mirrored dance studio, changing

facilities and seminar area. It is in walking

distance from the amenities of the market town

of Langport.

Students in RISE will be able to take part in any

studio classes during the term time free of

charge.

The Tour

The countywide tour will take place during the last 4 weeks of the scheme and will replace

studio time. The piece of work will be sold to regional venues and each RISE member will

actively take part in performing and leading workshops on the tour. The tour will be

produced and marketed as a professional piece of graduate work for Pretty Good Girl

Dance Theatre.

Where will I live?

Students can live at home and travel each day to the studio

(please note the bus service to Langport is limited) or live in

digs in Langport for the duration of the course (we can help

students find suitably priced accommodation) but this must

be funded independently.

How much will it cost?

The full year (3 terms) costs £800. Fee payable in full at the start of the course or in two

instalments of £400.

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Course Director: Louise Barrett

Louise has spent over 15 years in the dance industry as a teacher, choreographer and performer. Louise has a First Class dance degree from Bretton Hall, a diploma in choreography from London Contemporary Dance School and a teaching certificate. Following a Jazz dance tour of Japan and Europe she moved to Somerset to lecture in dance and theatre at Yeovil College. Louise founded Pretty Good Girl Dance Theatre in 2003 following 3 successful performances at the Resolution! Festival, The Place, London. Louise has since written, choreographed and performed in 5 dance theatre productions for national and rural touring. Each tour took in over 40 tour dates – the largest tour taking in 85 dates across the UK, including a month’s run at the Edinburgh Festival and Prague theatre festival. Louise has carved out an accomplished education and choreography career across the region creating new work with adults, youth and professional theatre companies. She was head of Dance at Prior Park College and Education Officer for Pegasus Theatre, Oxford. For 2 years she was dancer in residence for North Somerset - developing her own unique approach to inclusive delivery with the DANCE ACTION PROJECT. Louise is founder and director of the new Arts Council England funded GingerFred Dance Studio and Director of Performance Enrichment at Richard Huish College, Taunton.

How do I apply?

We are now looking for the September2013 RISE

dancers. If you are interested and want to find out

more please get in touch.

Auditions take place during May & June 2013 and

will be held in Langport, Somerset. Students

interested will be required to take part in a

technical dance class, creative workshop and

interview. For more information, informal chat or to apply please email:

info@gingerfredstudio.com

Or call 07539 543 559 www.prettygoodgirl.com www.gingerfredstudio.com

GingerFred Studio is a Community Interest Company: GINGERFRED CIC - Company number: 08143265