The New Zealand Academy of Highland and National Dancing

Academy Technical Training Course - Auckland 2017 - 4th Apr 2017

Academy Technical Training Course - Auckland 2017

The Highland section of the ATTC was held in Auckland on 25th and 26th March and was attended by 12 members. Sherilyn Hall and Cushla Piesse were the tutors for the 2 days.

The weekend was enjoyed by all with lots of learning, participation, re-capping, great discussions, and fun!

I would definitely recommend Academy members take the opportunity to attend an ATTC course, either Highland or Step Dance when they are available.

As one of the attendees at the 2007 Technical Training Course it was fantastic to have the opportunity to participate again, and come away from the weekend with more knowledge. We were able to learn from each other's experiences in teaching and how to strive for that perfect technique. I don’t think we ever stop learning and improving on how we do things.

I think the following two quotes sum it up!

“Anyone who stops learning is old, whether at twenty or eighty. Anyone who keeps learning stays young.”  (Henry Ford)

“It’s what you learn after you know it all that counts” (John Wooden)

The Step Dancing part of the ATTC is in Invercargill 12th and 13th August and I encourage those who can make it, to register your interest with the Academy Secretary Raewyn.

 

June Wright

Highland Dance Company of NZ - Auditions - 6th Mar 2017

The date for receiving expressions of interest for dancers to audition for the Highland Dance Company of NZ has been extended to 14th March
Dancers need to be 14 years of age and have passed Grade 5 examination by the date of the live audition.
Auditions will be held in Christchurch on 02 April.
If you would like to audition, please send an email to the Academy Secretary: admin@nzahnd.org.nz by 14th March.
 

Exam Entries close 1 March - 14th Feb 2017

A reminder that Exam entries for May exam session close on the 1st March. Entry forms are available under downloads - resources and can be emailed the secretary - admin@nzahnd.org.nz

Three generations enjoying Balmoral Summer Fling. - 2nd Feb 2017

Three generations enjoying Balmoral Summer Fling. In January 2017 the Balmoral Club celebrated another great week of Highland Dancing.
It was especially enjoyable for Technical Committee member Cushla Piesse who together with daughters Jeanie and Katie had pleasure in watching her three Grand-daughters Sophie, Eliza and Rosa taking part.
 

Academy Technical Training Course - Applications close 31 January 2017 - 16th Jan 2017

The ATTC is an in depth study of the NZAHND ( Inc) Highland and Step Dance syllabuses, conducted in two parts, over two weekends.
Each part of the Course  will be facilitated by 2 members of the Technical Committee.
 
The aim of the Course is to give participants greater understanding and knowledge of syllabus requirements by looking at the finer points of exercises, foundation movements, steps and dances as well as musical requirements.
 
Participants are encouraged to be physically fit, though they do not necessarily have to dance.
 
Completion of part or all of the ATTC will be a requirement for Levels 2 and 3 of the Academy Progression Scheme.
 
Proposed dates for 2017
25/26 March in Auckland covering the Highland Syllabus and 12/13 August in Invercargill covering the Step Dance Syllabus.
 
Cost $250 for the weekend. Applications  for the March course close  on 31 January to the Secretary: admin@nzahnd.org.nz with a non refundable deposit of $125 with the balance payable by 28 February 2017. For the August Course non refundable deposit of $125 due by 30 June with balance due 1 August.
 
 
 
 

Highland Dance Company of NZ - Auditions - 16th Jan 2017

Live auditions will be held in Christchurch on 2nd April. These will finish approximately mid afternoon to allow for homeward travel later in the day.  Dancers need to be 14 years of age and have passed Grade 5 examination by the date of the live audition. Please email your expression of interest to attend the auditions by 30 January to the Secretary: admin@nzahnd.org.nz. Audition information and criteria will be available after expressions of interest close on the Academy website mid February.
Another audition time is scheduled for October in Palmerston North to coincide with the Young Performer Finals but is still to be confirmed.
 

Christchurch Balmoral Club Christmas function - 5th Dec 2016

Christchurch Balmoral Club Christmas function Christchurch Balmoral Club members joined together for Christmas dinner and celebrations at Joes Garage. It was lovely to have our three life members in attendance. A fun night was had and it was a great way to finish up 2016.
 

Conference 2016 report - 2nd Nov 2016

The Academy’s 66th Annual Conference was run by the Ghillie Callum teachers and judges club and held in Dunedin over the weekend of 23-25 September.
The solo seal examination was held at the Mayfair Theatre with candidates Neryda Duncan and Sarah Robson performing at the highest level of our examination system.   They were accompanied by piper, Jorden Caig who once again played with skill and professionalism.  The compere for the evening was our President, Annetta Cowie who completed the evening with a fitting quote, “We can’t always choose the music life plays for us, but we can choose how we dance to it.”
There was also excellent entertainment by the Highland Dance Company of NZ with “Blood on the Loch” and “Hardship”, a tap solo from Dunedin Dance Academy’s Briar Taylor, and a wonderful selection of songs from Gladys Hope who was also a highland dancer.  The programme, tickets, and gifts for the candidates featured their silhouettes which was a lovely touch from the Ghillie Callum club.  Youth members finished their evening with a game of laser tag!
Youth members met early on Saturday at the Southern Cross Hotel at a session facilitated by their representative Leighton Terry.  Leighton then presented a summary of the ideas generated at the AGM which ranged from thoughts on jig shoe inspections to the need for the Academy to have a greater presence on social media.
The AGM was opened by mayor, Dave Cull, who aptly referred to the Scottish history of Dunedin.  A constitutional amendment was passed allowing electronic voting at elections.
Following the AGM, members were presented with information on the nearly complete Technical Progression Scheme which will provide a pathway of increasing levels of qualification for members of the Academy.  Members shared ideas to strengthen teachers’ and judges’ clubs, generated ideas for growing the judges’ list and discussed whether or not Hebridean dancing should be added to the Piping and Dancing Bylaws. 
The Academy heads into the future with its past always in view and over the next few conferences, the intention is to present interesting historical insights into our founding and early members.  As conference was held in Dunedin, the focus was on Otago members. Jackie McBride presented a wonderful insight into the early days of the Academy through the lives of Doreen Casey, May Wilson and Daisy Horrell.
Members then enjoyed watching a video of the Highland Dancing Company of NZs recent performances at the Lorient Festival which attracted much interest from French media.
The inaugural “Blokes Forum” was held at lunch time.  Sam Tait then presented thoughts back to members on what we need to do to attract and keep boys and grow our male membership.  This was followed on Sunday by a two workshops focussed on teaching boys.
After lunch, the Dance Development Course commenced with guest speaker Ross Notman, Associate Professor of the University of Otago, presenting thoughts on teaching.  He explored the concept of motivation suggesting that the amount of effort invested is based on the chance of success multiplied by the likely benefit.  He also demonstrated the art of breaking physical movements down by teaching Leighton Terry to kick a football with his left foot.  Great kick first time Leighton!
The afternoon was completed by a look at jig and hornpipe tempos.  Many thanks to demonstrator, Maddie McBride, and piper James Wansink.                                                 .
The venue for the evening function was a mystery!  But it wasn’t long before we were all sure that we were headed for Larnach’s Castle for a special night with the buses winding their way up the hill into the mist! 
This year’s bar recipients were:
20 year bar:
Wendy Oakley, Dunedin
Kerryn Ferguson, Hamilton
Katie Mcdonald, Christchurch
Lee-Anne Anderson, Dunedin
Shannon Clarke, Dunedin
Fiona Cording, Auckland
Bridgette Manchant, Auckland
Heidi Boniface, Invercargill
30 year bar:
Heather Maree Allen, Christchurch
Helen Wilson, Nelson
Danitta Findlay, Christchurch
June Wright, Auckland
Elizabeth Smith, Christchurch
Jan Mckerrow, Auckland
Louise Caulfield, Dunedin
 
40 year bar:
Pamela Fleming, Auckland
Glenys Gray, Auckland
 
50 year bar:
Ann Corry, Otago
Margaret Newlands, Oamaru
Anne Marie Stent, Wellington
 
60 year bar:
Averil Bray, New Plymouth    
Yvonne Darling, Dunedin       
Mary Pat Hoare          , Dunedin        
Merle Hoare, Tauranga         
Johanna Lees, Auckland       
 
This year’s diploma recipients were (teacher’s name in brackets):
Victoria Wilson (Serena Laing)                      
Heidi Stolberger (Kaye Turrell)
Dawn Anderson (Jolie Hazley)                      
Ella Cameron (Serena Laing)
Madalyn Fox (Jacqui Seque)
Lisa Mccracken (Helen Mckay)                    

 
Honours in Theory                                                                                                  
Morgan Vile (Robyn Simmons)
Kelsey Smith (Robyn Simmons)
Rebecca Healey (Robyn Simmons)  
Jenna Mikkelson (Gaye Reid)                       
Isabel Clarke (Serena Laing)
Caitlin Davies (Elizabeth Smith)
Lauren Mclellan (Lynette Mitchell)
Jordan McIvor (Cushla Piesse)
Hannah McRae (Gaye Reid)
Beth Stewart (Susan Edwards)
Emma Tod (Julie Hawke)
Holly Webster (Helen Gilchrist)
Ruby Wills (Julie Hawke)
 
Honours in Practical                                                                                                
Christina Cotton (Christine Morris)
                                                                                                           
Honours in Performance & Theory                                                                                   
Lexi Fleming (Pam Fleming/June Wright)
Grace Owen (Robyn Simmons)
                                                                                                           
Reinstatement                                                                                                          
Rosemary Armstrong (Jackie Jones)            
                                                                                                           
The evening contained many highlights.
  • Sarah Gluyas was presented with her Solo Seal Certificate after successfully passing this prestigious examination in 2015.
 
  • The Academy also began presenting specially designed Solo Seal medals for the first time and this will continue to be done at each conference.Previous successful candidates were presented with their medals:
Cushla Piesse (1971)
Barbara Tait (1974)
Pamela Fleming (1976)
Glenys Gray (1980)
Jacqui Seque (1989)
Serena Sangster (2014)
Sarah Gluyas (2015)
 
  • Beckie Rout became our first member to reach 65 years of membership.
 
  • Foundation member Doreen Casey’s daughter, Mary Pat Hoare received her 60 year bar while Mary Pat’s daughter Louise Caulfield received her 30 year bar.It was fitting for this to happen in Dunedin and is an example of the family history that is so strong within our Academy.
The cakes (no less than 3!) were cut by Life Members of the Academy, Beckie Rout, Joan Osborne, Enid Weir, and Sherilyn Hall. 
The night was topped off with some wonderful live music from Catgut and Steel with the dance floor full until it was time for Auld Lang Syne and for the last bus to leave the castle.
The dance development course continued on Sunday morning with members enjoying exercises from the draft Highland Pump syllabus to warm up.
Practical workshops prepared by our Technical Committee members and trainees followed.  Workshops were:
‘Passing on the Passion – teach as a hobby, teach as a business’ (Robyn Simmons, Jackie Jones), ‘Grinding out the Basics Rhythmically’ (Elizabeth Smith, Adele Swanson), ‘Tips for Making a Difference’ (Sue Gill, Pamela Fleming), ‘Learning Theory’ (Cushla Piesse, Julie Hawke), ‘Boys in Dance’ (Sherilyn Hall and Jacqui Seque).  There were also then senior and junior judging workshops which were well received.  Thank you to the local dancers, Abigail Gilfedder, Sophie Low, Maddi McBride and Ruby Scott who came to dance at the junior workshop.
After lunch we were treated to a fascinating workshop of conditioning exercises from Sofia Kalogeropoulou.  This was followed by learn a dance with an attempt at the particularly challenging ‘Crossing the Minch’! Thank you to Sarah Robson who was the demonstrator.
Running conference is a massive undertaking.  A huge thank you to the Ghillie Callum Club and conference coordinator Jackie McBride for a fantastic weekend. 
We all look forward to our 2017 Annual Conference to be held in Napier.

See the Galley for more photos from conference
 

The New Zealand Academy of Highland and National Dancing Inc., PO Box 5470, Palmerston North
site powered by - Turboweb :: Simple Web Manager
site powered by - Turboweb :: Simple Web Manager