GAPA Faculty Update
GAPA is thrilled to welcome Genevieve Nicole to the GAPA faculty in September to teach Jazz. Genevieve trained at The Arts Educational School (now Tring Park) where she also gained her teaching qualifications and she has worked ceaselessly since graduating. Professional theatre credits include; A Chorus Line in the West End and the UK tours of Hairspray, Chicago (as Velma), The Producers and Dirty Rotten Scoundrels (The Savoy, London) amongst others. She has also appeared on many TV shows and was a semi finalist as a choreographer on Diet on the Dance Floor.
We are also thrilled to welcome back Ruth Armstrong to GAPA who has been promoted to our Head of Modern and Tap dept. Miss Ruth will be teaching the senior modern and tap students. Recently Miss Ruth’s tap amalgamation was selected for the new ISTD Intermediate tap syllabus, which is now being introduced to ISTD students and teachers worldwide. Miss Ruth also teaches at Urdang Academy and Bird College.
West End debut for Gielgudian Toby
Congratulations to Gielgudian Toby Miles, who has recently joined the cast of Les Miserables in the West End playing the role of Marius. Toby trained at GAPA and appeared in our 2012 and 2013 end of year shows at the Hub. Toby completed his training at the Arts Educational Schools, London.
Summer Holiday – UK Tour
Gielgudian and GAPA guest teacher Matt Hill (Trevorrow) gave a brilliant performance last night at the Theatre Royal in Brighton, cheered on by his GAPA supporters – Mrs G, Miss Laura, Head Girl Eloise Harwood, Dance Captain Maddie Wrigley, Head Prefect Olivia Floydd, Prefect Scarlett Gielgud and Team GAPA Allison Huggins. Matt is in the cast of the hit show which is touring the UK until November 2018. Photo at stage door of Matt with his GAPA supporters!
First Ballet Steps
Ballet Central
GAPA pupils were inspired by a trip to the Hawth, Crawley last night, to see the touring production of Ballet Central Ballet Company. The GAPA pupils chatted afterwards to the Ballet Central students about their future careers. All the performers last night have now graduated from Central School of Ballet and are embarking upon their lives as professional dancers, some with Northern Ballet Company and Matthew Bourne’s Swan Lake.
Showtime and Prizegiving
Former British Prima Ballerina Dame Beryl Grey, Eastenders TV and West End star John Partridge and Republica Rock Star Saffron, were guests of honour at our end of year production ‘Showtime 2018’ at the Hawth in Crawley on June 22nd.
The performance included ballet, modern, tap, drama and musical theatre numbers and music played live by the seven piece GAPA Band onstage. After the matinee and evening show came the annual prize giving ceremony where the VIPs presented over 40 medals, awards and cups to deserving pupils for progress and outstanding achievements.
Dame Beryl Grey said afterwards “The standard of dancing, the incredible number of super ideas, everything was so very enjoyable and entertaining – I felt I must be at a West End show. Congratulations on a remarkable evening – what a lot of work you have put in to have achieved such a high standard”