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About Starlight
Starlight provide expert tuition in all aspects of the performing arts. Here at Starlight Dance Works we recognise that your success is our success! And so we are dedicated to helping every student to achieve his or her potential. We are committed to facilitating the development of our student's talents and skills and endeavor to ensure that they find their training enjoyable and fulfilling.Starlight is for everyone! Children to adults and absolute beginners to professionals - we are here to teach, inspire, support and encourage students to new levels of excellence. Starlight has been established in the local area since 1972 and continues to provide excellent all-round training for its students. The school is now run by Helen Stokes MBTDA TD ADVII CID a fully qualified dance teacher with a team of highly qualified, experienced and well respected professionals, who strive to maintain high standards of teaching. Some of our staff are seasoned performers and are thus able to give students a real insight into the world of professional theatre, offering invaluable advice. All of our staff members (teaching and non-teaching) hold a current Criminal Record Bureau check and have undergone a First Aid Course.
Classes are held for all ages from 2+ in Ballet, Tap, Modern, Singing and Drama. The location of the school is close to Benfleet and our facilities include; A very spacious hall with portable ballet barres, We also have a small waiting area for parents, showering facilities, kitchen and toilets. In the Garden Studio we have a sprung floor with ballet barres and full height mirrors.Regular BTDA examinations are taken in Ballet, Modern and Tap, and our singing and drama students also take examinations with the National College of Music London. Some pupils also partake in local festivals each year. A big favourite with all the pupils is the bi-annual show which takes place at one of the local theatres to show how the pupils have progressed and to give them a chance to shine and perform on stage. The pupils of the school have the opportunity to join FINCH's Casting Agency. This is an independently run agency who have been based in the local area for ten years. They represent a number of students from Starlight Dance Works whom have recently had contracts with Billy Elliot London Ltd, Oliver and The Sound of Music.The school currently has a variety of staff ranging from very experienced teachers to performers who come to the school to pass on their knowledge first hand from the entertainment industry. All staff are fully qualified and CRB checked. More details about the teaching staff are available in the relevant section of the websiteAt Starlight we believe each pupil should be treated equally and that although it is nice to be important it is more important to be nice.
STAFF
The Principal
We are fortunate to have a team of highly qualified, friendly and experienced staff at Starlight. We also have a handful of carefully selected pre-senior pupils that assist with our weekly classes. Our senior students are given the opportunity to train for the BTDA Assistant Teacher Qualification once they have successfully passed their Advanced Foundation Certificate in Dance. We currently have one student preparing for this new qualification.
Principal - Helen Stokes M.B.T.D.A.TD. Adv II DipHelen has been principal of Starlight since 1992, although the school has been in operation since 1972! Helen trained locally with the Linn School of Dance and once all her teaching examinations were under her belt, Helen began teaching at the school. The Linn School of Dance changed it's name to Starlight Dance Works in 1992. Helen oversees all examination classes at the school and currently teaches the Musical Theatre Classes, singing and private classes.
Starlight Teaching Staff
Senior Teacher - Stephen Charnock A.I.S.T.D.Stephen has been teaching at the school since 2009 and has been a fantastic addition to our teaching staff. Stephen is a freelance teacher/Choreographer and also currently teaches at Masters Performing Arts College in Rayleigh. Stephen is responsible for all the Senior Students classes at the school (preparing them for the big wide world!).
Junior Teacher - Karla Moss M.B.T.D.A.Karla has been at Starlight since 2004 and has been teaching at the school since she completed her dance training in 2008. She is responsible for teaching the Junior Tap, Modern and Ballet classes at the school and also undertakes the role of Festival Co-Ordinator for our students that wish to take part in local competitions.
Junior Teacher- Charlotte Burns M.B.T.D.A.Charlotte has been an almost permanent fixture at the school for the past 16 years! She takes responsibility for the very youngest students in the Flower Garden class. Charlotte is also in her final year of Nursing training, although fortunately we have yet to call on her 'professional' duties!
Assistant Teacher - Abbie Havis M.B.T.D.A. Abbie is one of our extremely talented young students who has ahd many professional engagements including appearing in Billy Elliot & Joseph in the West End along with numerous actiing assignments. Abbie was also recently accepted on a Government training scheme for talented Dancers in London. Currently preparing for her Advanced Foundation examinations, and also the final part of her Assistant Teacher's qualifications, Abbie can be found at classes helping out.
Uniform
Flower Garden Uniform
Young Beginner Uniform
GIRLS
: White vest style cotton lycra leotard with a white chiffon wrap skirt
BOYS
: White short sleeeved vest leotard with black shorts
TAP
: Black tap shoes, white socks
MODERN
: Black leather ballet shoes, white socks with white elastic on shoes
BALLET
: Pink leather ballet shoes, pink socks with pink elastic on shoes
GIRLS
: Pink capezio dance dress with attached pink chiffon skirt.
BOYS
: White short sleeeved vest leotard with black shorts
TAP
: Black tap shoes, white socks
MODERN
: Black leather ballet shoes, white socks with white elastic on shoes
BALLET
: Pink leather ballet shoes, pink socks with pink elastic on shoes
Elementary Level Uniform
Intermediate Level Uniform
GIRLS & BOYS CLASSWEAR MOD & TAP
: Red SDW T-shirt, black dance trousers. Black tap shoes with black socks, Black split sole capezio jazz shoes with black socks.
GIRLS CLASSWEAR BALLET:
Black Capezio Princess cap sleeved leotard, black chiffon wrap skirt, pink ballet tights, pink leather ballet shoes with pink elastic on shoes
GIRLS EXAM WEAR MOD & TAP
: Black leotard with black capezio transition tights
BOYS EXAM WEAR MOD & TAP
: Black nylon lycra dance top with black dance trousers
GIRLS EXAM WEAR BALLET
: As for classwear but no skirt
BOYS EXAM WEAR BALLET
: White short sleeved vest leotard with black tights over the top, long white socks
GIRLS & BOYS CLASSWEAR MOD & TAP
: as Elementary Level
GIRLS CLASSWEAR BALLET:
Blue Capezio cross strap leotard, blue chiffon wrap skirt, pink ballet tights, pink canvas ballet shoes with pink elastic on shoes
GIRLS EXAM WEAR MOD & TAP
: Black leotard with black capezio transition tights
BOYS EXAM WEAR MOD & TAP
: Black nylon lycra dance top with black dance trousers
GIRLS EXAM WEAR BALLET
: As for classwear but no skirt
BOYS EXAM WEAR BALLET
: White short sleeved vest leotard with black tights over the top, long white socks
Advanced Level Uniform
GIRLS & BOYS CLASSWEAR MOD & TAP
: as Elementary Level
GIRLS CLASSWEAR BALLET:
Black Capezio leotard, pink ballet tights, pink canvas ballet shoes with pink elastic on shoes, soft blocks, pointe shoes
GIRLS EXAM WEAR MOD & TAP
: Black leotard with black capezio transition tights
BOYS EXAM WEAR MOD & TAP
: Black nylon lycra dance top with black dance trousers
GIRLS EXAM WEAR BALLET
: As for classwear
BOYS EXAM WEAR BALLET
: White short sleeved vest leotard with black tights over the top, long white socks
