The following readers are looking for dance classes. If you know of a class in your area that matches any of these readers’ requirements, please email them and let them know:

Kendi Laiboni
siratuu@yahoo.com
I am an 18 year old girl looking for a tutor or a place where i can get dance classes in Nairobi, Kenya. I would like to specialize in hiphop. I will be ready to start in November this year. If there is a way you can help me i will really be grateful. Thank you.

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If you want to find out about classes in your area, email me and let me know (very briefly):

- Your name
- Your location (including country)
- The kind of dance class you want
- Your email address

I’ll include you next time! BUT, if you don’t give it to me in this format, it may not get in.

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Dance school for sale in Bristol, England:

Well-established dance school for sale in an excellent residential area close to motorway network. Approximately 150 pupils and good rented premises with car parking. If needed, teacher willing to stay on to help with smooth transfer of ownership. Genuine reason for sale. Serious enquiries only. For further information please email: adenford@hotmail.com or telephone 07968 966576.

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Alison Cheong (cheongalison@yahoo.com) from Singapore asks: “My daughter had just gotten her RAD Ballet Exam result for Grade 2. She scored a merit. Would appreciate if someone could explain to me what does merit exactly means in terms of achievement and also in RAD what are the qualities that the examiner is looking for to obtain a distinction? Thanks.”

DTOL member Louise Murray (MONUMENTDANCE@aol.com) replied:

“You should ask your teacher for the leaflet GUIDE TO ROYAL ACADEMY OF DANCE EXAMINATION MARKING SCHEME. - which explains in detail how each section of the exam is marked and what the criteria is for each section of the children’s graded exams. All candidates should receive this with their report and certificate.”

Rachael Drewett (rachael@rdrewett.fsnet.co.uk) sent the following information about RAD exam marking:

Distinction: 75 – 100 marks
Secure and precise technique throughout most of the sections, with an ability to demonstrate contrast in style between the three dance disciplines. Musicality is highly developed most of the time and performance shows appropriate expression and communication.

Merit: 55 – 74 marks
Proficient technique in many of the sections, although it is probably stronger in some than others. Musical qualities are evident, although they could sometimes be a little more consistent. Performance shows expression and communication, although these aspects could be more sustained.

Pass: 40 – 54 marks
A basic competence in the technical aspects of the work, although some areas are stronger than others. Some musicality is evident although there are limitations in certain areas. A basic ability to show some expression and communication in performance is evident.

Standard Not Attained: 0 – 39 marks
Little awareness of technique is shown in most sections. Musical and performance qualities are very rarely evident.

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Lee (leebordes@hotmail.co.uk) from London, UK is “about to start a beginner’s dance course, what clothing and footwear do you recommend?”

If you can help, please email your answer to Lee direct.

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DTOL's Dance Pen Friend scheme: if you would like to correspond by email with someone who shares your dance interests but is in a different country - or a different part of your country - then just email me briefly with:

* your name
* your email address
* your town, state/province/county and country
* your dance interests
* the kind of person you would like as your dance pen friend

I will then publish your details in the newsletter and, hopefully, other newsletter subscribers will get in touch with you.

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RAVEN
Dance Company
RE: RAVEN DANCE COMPANY AUDITION
IRISH DANCERS AGED 16-30yrs WANTED!
Audition Date: Sunday 15th July 2:00pm-4:00pm
Woking Dance Space, The Mayford Centre, Smarts Heath Road,
Mayford, Woking, Surrey, GU22 0PP.

Please send a CV and recent Photo to:
Raven Dance Company, 17, Freshborough Court, Lower Edgeborough Road, Guildford, Surrey, GU1 2EU.
Email: dance_angels@hotmail.co.uk

The aim of Raven Dance Company is to train and showcase adult Irish Dancers in Irish Show Dance, reaching a high performance level on a part-time basis. I must clarify that for now Raven is not a full-time show, but a new small-scale Irish Dance Company permanently based in South-East England, with weekly rehearsals and classes with a view to performing at South East and London based events.
The idea is to fuse Irish Show Dance with Freestyle, Modern and Contemporary Dance and explore new ultra-modern ideas, which of course would require re-training. Taking a step forward in terms of the boundaries of Irish Dance, it is important that dancers have an open mind, willingness to learn and commitment to becoming part of a new modern dance company.
Submissions are still being taken and you are more then welcome to pass on the contact details to any dancers aged 16-30 years, who may be interested.

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Here are a few more examples of the dance products sold in DTOL’s online Shop:

Seminar notes: "A coherent talent recruitment programme for your dance school"
All teachers want to find and develop talented children. Do you have a strategy for achieving this? Or do you simply wait for it to happen? Learn how to find and develop that special talent in students and to focus your time and efforts effectively. Learn how to motivate them, how to make them feel good about themselves and show them dance is fun! Their parents will feel proud too of seeing them achieve at a high level.

Pole Dancing Instructional DVD: Level 1 - Beginners
Learn to pole dance in easy-to-follow steps. There are 18 moves in total, all saved as scenes so you can choose which to practise.

Mime in Ballet
A stunning and unique new book - this is a 'must' for teachers, dancers, students and ballet enthusiasts. 20 graduated studies in Classical Gesture as used in Balletic Mime, culminating in a detailed description of Carabosse and the Lilac Fairy from the Prologue of The Sleeping Beauty.

Karen MacIver: Ballet Class for the Aspiring Professional Vol. 1
48 tracks for barre, centre and pointe. Tracks 1-22 Barre, 23-41 Centre, 42-48 Pointe

Further details of these products, and others, can be seen from the DTOL Shop web pages:

www.dtol.ndirect.co.uk/dtol18oz.htm – for those resident in Australia
www.dtol.ndirect.co.uk/dtol18ca.htm – for those resident in Canada
www.dtol.ndirect.co.uk/dtol18eu.htm – for those resident in the Euro zone
www.dtol.ndirect.co.uk/dtol18uk.htm – for those resident in the UK
www.dtol.ndirect.co.uk/dtol18us.htm – for those resident in the USA
www.dtol.ndirect.co.uk/dtol18z2.htm – for those in other parts of the world

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The next newsletter will be on Wednesday, 18th July. If you would like to comment on any of the issues raised in the newsletters, or ask a question which other readers may be able to answer, or say anything you like about your dance experiences, just email me!

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