Ballroom dancing is a popular part of the co-curricular timetable; many of the Sixth Formers get involved and go to weekly lessons with girls from Queen Anne’s School, Caversham. After a term of lessons, a group of students took their first NATD and ISTD exams in Ballroom and Latin dancing. The results are in, and all of the pupils passed with flying colours.
The Imperial Society of Teachers of Dancing (ISTD) and the National Association of Teachers of Dancing (NATD) are nationally recognised exams throughout the UK, and achieving certain grades can contribute to UCAS points. Shiplake College is the first school to have pupils take these exams, and those involved did exceptionally well. Please see below for the results:
- Charley-Nicole Burgess: Highly Commended in Social Foxtrot and Cha Cha Cha
- Sunny Pong: Highly Commended in Social Foxtrot and Cha Cha Cha
- Robbie Raynes: Commended in Social Foxtrot and Cha Cha Cha
- Alastair Holbrough: Highly Commended in Social Foxtrot and Cha Cha Cha
- Tom Ibbitson: Highly Commended in Social Foxtrot and Commended in Cha Cha Cha
- Will Thomsett: Commended in Social Foxtrot and Cha Cha Cha
Mrs Julie Knight, who organises the dance lessons, commented: ‘the judges were overwhelmed with the amount of effort our students had put into their dances. Really well done to all! The pupils have been presented with medals and certificates, and I’m looking forward to seeing the continuation of their hard work.’