A huge WELCOME BACK to all our pupils and their parents! It’s fantastic that our classes can now resume, and I hope everyone will be raring to go and happy to see each other again.

Here are some dates for your diaries – please ensure they are noted.

DATES FOR YOUR DIARIES 2021/22

16th May West End Workshop with Alex Bird

26th & 27th June Rehearsals for Show and Presentation Afternoon (all pupils to attend)

3rd July Show 2021 performances on Saturday matinee and Saturday evening

4th July Presentation Afternoon from 2–6pm. All at Rudolf Steiner School, Kings Langley

2nd – 13th August 2021 Summer School, boosters and holiday workshops.

14th November JMDS Choreography Competition, Berkhamsted Civic Centre

25th November British Arts preliminary session, Woodhall Farm Community Centre from 4.15pm

9th & 10th December 2 days of ISTD Tap examinations, Grovehill Community Centre

16th January First Nutcracker run-through

22nd & 23rd January Nutcracker dress rehearsals

28th & 29th January Nutcracker performances

Please do try to book other family events or holidays around our Show and our very special Annual Presentation Afternoon. EVERY pupil is expected to attend. This is the most important annual date in the JMDS diary and is the ONLY time when the whole school is together. Any child can win one of our 70 trophies on Presentation Afternoon, so they should all be in attendance. Thank you all very much in advance for your co-operation. It is very much appreciated. All pupils must attend the Grand Finale rehearsal too, as this has to be choreographed.

FROM BALLET TO BROADWAY – BE READY TO BE ENTERTAINED

Due to Covid, this year’s show will be a specially selected compilation of a variety of dances, drama and musical theatre numbers. Some of them will be groups that were meant to perform at the London Finals of the British Arts Awards back in May, and others will be new groups to ensure that as many children as possible can be involved & have the chance to perform on stage. Unfortunately, and because we only have nine lessons before dress rehearsals, not every class/student will be performing this time. It is a real shame and I know that some of our lovely girls and boys will be disappointed, but it is simply not possible to pull a show together for everyone in such an extremely short time. At least we can all be together for our special Grand Finale and I believe that every single JMDS pupil fully deserves to walk on and take their curtsey/bow this year. For some classes show choreography will commence on the very first lesson of term, and other classes will continue to work on syllabi and technique. Technique has been lost and therefore it is important that teachers and students work hard to regain our usual high standard of dance. Good attendance at every lesson is absolutely vital as we do not put children on stage who look as if they don’t know what they are doing! Our shows are always of a high standard, therefore we do need your child to attend their classes and also every rehearsal, please. It will be as slick and professional as usual.

We have a VERY busy time ahead of us now & we all have to work hard to pull our show, From Ballet to Broadway, and our Annual Presentation Afternoon together in just a very short time. We usually have 15 lessons plus extra rehearsals to do this, but we will have to work a miracle and do it in just 10 lessons. So, it’s really very important that children attend every single class and, of course, even if they are not actually performing there is much catching up to do. For children who are not actually performing on stage they are still required to attend the Grand Finale rehearsal and the Grand Finale & Presentations.

Having said all this, and due to it not being possible to social distance inside the theatre or changing rooms at Rudolf Steiner School, I am so hoping that our event can take place. You may well think I am being optimistic – I just have to be! We will not get a definite answer until May or even June. It is tremendously difficult with rehearsing, buying costumes, etc. If we really have to, we will just have to do it outside in the playing field and I will hire a large dance floor. We will forge ahead with our plans until I notify you otherwise.

WEST END WORKSHOP WITH ALEX BIRD - SUNDAY 16th May. It’s always a real pleasure to be able to welcome back an old JMDSer to be a guest teacher. This is a fantastic opportunity for our students to enjoy a 2-hour workshop with a very seasoned professional performer. Alex started dancing at 3 years old at JMDS, being taught by Miss Jayne, and had her first role in the West End at the age of just 6. She left JMDS to take up a scholarship at Sylvia Young Theatre School where she also worked non-stop in just about every child part until she went to London Studio Centre for three years. Alex has worked continuously; her credits include Matilda, Wicked, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, High School Musical, Les Miserables, Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, Tommy and Whistle Down the Wind. She has performed live on The X Factor, The Olivier awards, The Royal Variety Performance and the Disney Channel Kids Awards. More workshop details to follow. Ages Juniors/Intermediates/Seniors.

THE NUTCRACKER 2022

I choreographed and directed JMDS productions of The Nutcracker Ballet in both 1993 for our 10th Anniversary and 1998 for our 15th anniversary. I am so excited to announce I will direct this once again in January 2022. Ballet students from Grade 1 upwards will be involved and work will commence in September. This ballet is very close to my heart having performed in it five times – as a mouse, a sweet, Columbine, Fritz the naughty brother, a Russian dancer and the Silver Prince twice. I know I will really enjoy working on this lovely ballet once again. Casting will be announced in the summer. There will be extra rehearsal times for principles. (Photo shows our Nutcracker, Emily Wright, & King Mouse in 1998)

Here are the dates that I have pencilled in (I am awaiting confirmation from Rudolf Steiner School):

Friday 14th January – Preparation for stage crew only. Harlequin stage floor to be laid, props/scenery brought in.

Sunday 16th January – first run through putting it all together. No costumes. Harlequin floor to be laid.

Friday 21st January – final stage set up and technical run through. Principles & senior cast.

Saturday 22nd January – dress rehearsal

Sunday 23rd January – dress rehearsal

Friday 28th January – performance at 6.30pm (in at 4pm)

Saturday 29th January – performances x2: matinee and evening

SUMMER SCHOOL 2021 Our extremely popular summer school will take place over two weeks at the start of August. Many students have really loved this over the last 20 years. They can take part for the first week or for both weeks. There will be an end-of-summer-school show and this year we will have our wonderful tuck shop back again. Full details to follow in May. JMDS pupils and teachers always have such a lot of fun together.

‘FROZEN’ SUMMER SCHOOL TRIP Frozen will open on 27th August, which is unfortunately after our Summer School. I am currently working on moving our seats to Thursday 17th February matinee in half term.

NEWS FROM JMDS STUDENTS – PRESENT AND PAST Our outgoing Head Girl, Aimee Chapman, was offered places at four full-time colleges and has chosen to accept a place at Performers in Corringham, Essex from September – an exciting time for Aimee as she takes up her BA Hons course in Musical Theatre.

JUNIOR COMPANY BALLET CLASS & COMMERCIAL MODERN We have a superb class with Miss Daisy on Wednesdays for any child who is keen to improve their ballet technique. This class is really enjoyable for our students – there is no set syllabus, and it involves all aspects of classical dance. Our Commercial dance class is specifically suited to over 13s who enjoy the most up-to-date dance moves. Miss Hollie teaches this on a Saturday at Sunnyside. The Company classes are not included in the family fee.

JMDS CHOREOGRAPHY COMPETITION Our in-house competition encourages pupils of all ages to be creative and expressive. Every solo or duet entry, which is choreographed by the performers receives a medal. It’s always a lovely afternoon and evening seeing the students’ own work. Sunday 14th November in Berkhamsted Civic Centre.

Entry forms will be on our website at the end of the summer term.

JMDS UNIFORM AND COSTUMES JMDS is so lucky to have the wonderful Melanie Ward to provide our uniform and costumes. We have a fantastic wardrobe of costumes that can be hired very inexpensively. Do join her Facebook page, which gives lots of information and help. Search ‘JMDS Uniform & Costumes’ or see

jmdancingschool.com/uniform-requirements

I am assuming that we will still have to abide by our COVID COMPLIANCE arrangements that I have agreed with each venue we have classes at. Please note that parents are only allowed on site if they are watching trial classes, need to change & prepare our youngest pupils, or collect uniform orders. I can’t wait to welcome you all back but for now we must stick by the rules. If you do need to enter then please wear a mask and practice social distancing. If and when these regulations are relaxed, I will inform you. Please bring your child ready to dance to classes. We will take good care of them!

JMDS ADMINISTRATION & CONTACT

· Please do not forget to inform me if your email or postal address/phone number change.

· Any class changes must be emailed to me directly.

· JMDS newsletters are sent out to nearly 180 parents. Please ensure the dancing school email address is added to your contacts so there’s no chance of it being diverted to your Junk folder.

· You do not need to inform me or a teacher if your child will be absent from a class due to illness.

· Payment terms & due dates are always included in newsletters. It is a parent’s responsibility to read these.

· Please kindly note I do not reply to emails or phone calls in the evenings or at weekends.

· Please do not text or call any teachers in the evenings or at weekends.

Payment of Fees – conditions, deadline & how to pay – PLEASE READ CAREFULLY. No invoices are sent out.

The fees on the timetable are for a 10-week term. All fees must be paid by Saturday 1st May – this allows two weeks for payment, but please understand that the deadline is strict. No payment should be given to teachers after this date as they will not accept them (unless they are from new starters). All fees must be in my office & bank account by 2nd May. Late fee letters will be emailed on the morning on Monday 3rd May and the surcharge will apply to all fees, either cheque or bank transfer, not received by the deadline. Please ensure bank transfers reach the account in time – don’t leave it until the last minute! An extra charge of 10% of total fees will be added, without exception, to fees that are not in the office by the deadline. You accept the responsibility for this extra charge by your child attending classes at JMDS and, to be fair to all, no parent is exempt.

As is standard practice in reputable dance schools, one month’s notice in writing directly to me is required if a child no longer wants the class place. You agreed to this when signing your child’s registration form, which is kept on file. You will be subject to half a term’s fees should this notice not be given. Notice must not be given verbally to teachers; it should be in writing or email to Miss Jayne. If your child does several classes, please only make one payment for all of them.

Cheques payable to J Wilson please (not JMDS). Please ask if you require my bank account details. All fees are due on the first lesson of term, but I allow two weeks to pay before a surcharge is made. You may give your payment to teachers (first two weeks only), post directly to me, or pay by bank transfer. If paying by bank transfer, please put your child’s name as a reference. Cash is also welcome in a named envelope – correct amount please as no change is given.

I am looking forward to seeing everyone again.

Miss Jayne, Principal