Pivot Dance Company Represents Braintree College at the U.Dance Festival

Ten students from Pivot Dance Company at Braintree College took part in the first regional heat of the U.Dance Festival in Sharnbrook, Bedfordshire, on Saturday 14 November. The students, who are all studying on the BTEC National Award in Dance, were required to perform an original dance work that showed off their skills as performers and choreographers to a paying audience. The performance was videoed and will be entered into the next stage of the competition. If the group goes through they will have the opportunity to perform in two of the country’s top performance venues, The Junction at Cambridge and the Hippodrome in Birmingham.

Dance and Performing Arts Lecturer Amy Watson said, “U.Dance is an annual dance festival for all youth dance groups across the country. The festival has three heats, two of which are regional, and the final which will take place in the Birmingham Hippodrome in July 2010. Pivot Dance Company was selected for the first eastern region heat entitled ‘Actuate’ and will be entered into the selection process again for the next stage. The event also included practical workshops and seminars lead by professional dance artists.”

Amy continued, “This event was very different to the shows the students are used to doing and it gave them a taste of performance in a new venue outside an educational environment. The students gained valuable experience in performing as part of a festival with other groups and will use this experience in their studies and on their CVs when they progress into higher education and future careers. Participation in this high profile festival has shown the standard of Performing Arts and quality of dance performance that Braintree College offers. We will find out in December whether Pivot Dance Company has been selected for the second heat.”