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