Hello all, I hope that you had either a restful February half-term break, or a productive and fun filled working one? I know that a number of you were very busy during the holiday and I'm sure you'll agree that it always feels very satisfying when a production or core preparation for exams is uninterrupted by the demands of the usual teaching day? Now at the end of the month it feels like Spring is on the horizon with lots to look forward to in the next few months. 

Trinity Drama Standardisation Conference

As I mentioned last month, Trinity’s examiner standardisation conference was held in Birmingham on a snowy 30^th and 31^st January. It was a productive, informative two days that re- energised and refocused the Drama examiners.  It was also good to see a number of colleagues sharing and discussing best practice in the field. All this continues to ensure that our assessment processes remain excellent and support you in your delivery of Trinity qualifications. 

Move It! and Perform 2015

February 13^th – 15^th was the annual Move It! and Perform 2015, held at Olympia, London. Trinity College provided three workshops, two dance and one drama workshop. The workshops were a great success, with a very good sign up rate. Both shows provide access to all genres and levels in the performing arts from beginners to accredited drama and dance schools. Certainly, the mix of professional workshops for performers to teacher support workshops was excellent and demonstrates the range of choice available to young and more mature people in the industry.  

Links to Trinity College online resources

Trinity College website offers a comprehensive range of teacher support materials including an Anthology, categorised from foundation to advanced levels and covering Stories, Poems, Monologues,Speeches and Public addresses. The link will take you straight to the extracts, so if you are stuck for suitable materials then take a look. Similarly, do you have some excellent monologues, duologues or group pieces you would like to share with us?  If so we are always eager to hear from you on... dramateachers@trinitycollege.com  or reply on the blog!

DDTAL news

The Diploma in Dance Teaching and Learning (Children and Young People) (DDTAL (CYP)) – is the first qualification of its kind, designed for practitioners working with children and young people outside formal education. It has been developed at the request of the major national dance organisations and led by Youth Dance England on behalf of Dance Training and Accreditation Partnership (DTAP) – a consortium of leading dance industry agencies, committed to building capacity and removing barriers to participation in dance outside of formal education, by people of all ages and abilities.

We at Trinity would like to extend a warm welcome to our first course provider located in Northern Ireland. Dance Associate Ltd is based in Newry,and has just become a registered DDTAL course provider.

The Future of Cultural Value - The Report

The Warwick Commission's final report, Enriching Britain: Culture, Creativity and Growth, was launched last week, the result of a year - long investigation by a diverse group of cultural leaders and academics from the University of Warwick. A number of key points are made in the report and it is an essential read but the report highlights “barriers and inequalities” that prevent “equal access for everyone to a rich cultural education and the opportunity to live a creative life”. 

“The key message from this report is that the government and the cultural and creative industries need to take a united and coherent approach that guarantees equal access for everyone to a rich cultural education and the opportunity to live a creative life. There are barriers and inequalities in Britain today that prevent this from being a universal human right. This is bad for business and bad for society."

Vikki Heywood CBE, Chairman of the Warwick Commission on the Future of Cultural Value

So, if you have any thoughts on the report or exciting news to share then please contact us, until next time...

With warmest wishes,

Carol                                     

Hello all,

Here's to a happy and busy 2015! The holidays already seem a distant memory and it's full steam ahead for the forthcoming year.

Trinity College Drama Conference

January 30^th and 31^st is the annual Drama Standardisation Conference, this year in Birmingham, West Midlands. It’s an essential opportunity for Trinity College, examiners, moderators and head office teams to ensure standards across the exam portfolio are robustly maintained. It’s also great to catch up with old and new colleagues. I will have lots more to report in next month’s blog...

Perform 2015

February 13^th, 14^th and 15 is Perform 2015 held at The West Hall, Olympia Exhibition Centre.
Olympia, Blythe Road, London W14 8UX. I’m looking forward to leading a practical drama workshop titled, Shakespeare Access All Areas! The 45 minute session is open to teachers of all levels and starts at 12.45 – 1.30 p.m. The aim is to discover ways to help your students become familiar with Shakespeare’s text in a lively, engaging, practical, and active learning environment. I am a firm believer in having the confidence to take risks as a teacher and the session is particularly aimed at those who have become text bound and feel that Shakespeare is ‘too hard’ to deliver in the English or Drama classroom in a fun, accessible and relevant way. This workshop aims to dispel some of those fears so book your place via the Perform 2015 website, and please come and say hello or let me know if you will be there on, dramateachers@trinitycollege.com 

Move It!

If you are attending on Sunday February 15^th, why not pop along to one of the dance workshops on offer at Move It! At 10.30 – 11.15 a.m., Anna Leatherdale and Dr Ute Scholl are presenting ‘Safe out-of-axis moves and piernazo in Argentine Tango’ – this is a practical workshop and focuses upon building a relationship with your partner on the dance floor using good technique and an understanding of what your body (or your partner’s body) can do safely. You will learn how to use a number of techniques including the kicks and leg-wraps that are the hall-mark of Tango Nuevo.  This is a great opportunity to enjoy a stunning dance form, expertly delivered.

Follow on from this Anna will present another practical workshop between 1.00p.m. – 2.00 p.m., Dance for Older Adults and is open to the general public. The workshop is aimed specifically at those aged over 40 visiting Move It! So, why not pop along, join the class and learn a musical theatre routine that will remind you of why dance is fun and beneficial for everyone. No upper age limit.

Share your stories of best practice

If you have anything you want to share about your teaching practice then please let us know. Here at Trinity we are always interested in any new initiatives you are developing. Particularly, teacher’s perspectives on curriculum changes and how you have or are planning to introduce Trinity exams to your students? Have you attended any inspiring events or experienced inspirational teaching? it's always great to hear about what you're doing!

Creative and Cultural developments...

The Creative Industries Federation, launched in November, 2014 is an independent membership organisation and one of the federations key aims is to ensure that creativity is at the core of our education system and believes that anyone regardless of who they are or where they come from, should be given an equal opportunity to fulfil their creative potential. The Creative Industries Federation is the brainchild of Sir John Sorrell and other senior figures in the creative industries. Visit the website to see more of the core aims of the organisation and other exciting developments planned in 2015.

The Cultural Learning Alliance

The Cultural Learning Alliance (CLA) is a collective voice working to ensure that all children and young people have meaningful access to culture.Cultural Alliance reported in November 2014 that the Department for Education published a report stating that there has been a rise in Initial Teacher Training places for arts subjects. In Drama there was a percentage increase of 45% and a percentage increase of 38% in Dance. Excellent news and this certainly demonstrates that the arts and specialist teachers are part of the continued growth of the arts in education.

Final thoughts for this month, If there is something you would like to see in the blog then please let me know and I will be happy to include it.

As always the email address is dramateachers@trinitycollege.com

Until next time...

Warmest wishes,

Carol