Students from Marlborough Academy of Dance and Drama (MAD) came away with a clutch of medals and trophies at Royal Wootton Bassett Arts Festival. Over 60 students ranging in ages from 6-16 participated in Dance, Drama, Musical Theatre and Singing categories, which took place over 3 weekends in November.
Cheryl Heuston, Principal of MAD, said, “Every student who took part in the festival has been working hard for several months; their hard work and passion shone through. We love doing festivals, it encourages teamwork. Our teachers work hard with the students and they practise together. They support each other and it creates a really lovely atmosphere in classes. It really creates a strong and supportive team. The older students inspire the younger ones who just work so hard to achieve what they do. The older students become brilliant role models. And the confidence the students gain from getting up in front of an audience is incredible.”
“Royal Wootton Bassett is a lovely and friendly festival and the standard of the performances is outstanding with some of the dance categories having up to 30 dancers.
“We are so proud of our students and their fantastic achievements.”
Here are the results:
The weekend of the 11th/12th November, saw over 30 dancers from Marlborough Academy of Dance and Drama compete in solo, duet, trio and group categories.
Medal Winners include:
1st Place – Junior Cabaret Group
2nd Place – Inter Cabaret Group
2nd Place – Senior Cabaret group
1st Place – Senior Classical Duet – Francesca Dimond Smith and Gracie Grainger
2nd Place – Senior Cabaret Duet – Francesca Dimond Smith and Gracie Grainger
1st Place – 9-10 years Lyrical Solo – Audrey Williams
2nd Place – 9-10 years Ballet Solo – Aurelie Henderson
1st Place – Age 6 and under Ballet solo – Layla Cannings
2nd place – ballet solo age 7-8 – Ivy Wilkinson
2nd Place – Age 11-12 Ballet solo – Laila Al Kaisy
1st Place – age 15+ Ballet Solo – Gracie Grainger
2nd Place – age 15+ Ballet Solo – Francesca Dimond Smith
1st Place – Age 15+ Song and Dance solo – Gracie Grainger
1st Place – Age 15+ Lyrical solo – Gracie Grainger
2nd Place – Age 15+ Modern solo – Erin Webb
2nd place – character solo age 15+ Gracie Grainger
Classical duet trophy – for highest mark – Francesca Dimond Smith and Gracie Grainger
Lyrical Trophy – For highest mark – Gracie Grainger
Song and Dance Trophy – for highest mark – Gracie Grainger
Most inspirational dancer trophy – Gracie Grainger
The following weekend, 18th and 19th November, saw the drama students compete.
The Inter group (18 students), age 7 and 8 years won the choral speaking trophy
Inter 1 group (20 students), age 9 and 10 years won the ‘Mad Award’ for choral speaking
Inter 2 group – Winners of the MAD musical theatre cup
Senior group (18 students) age 13-16 won the Mark Flitton cup for their devised group piece
1st Place – Solo Acting – year 10 and 11 – Martha Gosden
2nd Place- Solo Acting – year 10 and 11 – Erin Webb
1st Place – solo acting – year 9 – Iona Clark
1st Place – Solo Mime – Year 4 – Eva Sexton
3rd Place – Solo Acting – Year 4 – Eva Sexton
2nd place – Verse and prose – Year 2 – Layla Cannings
3rd Place – Novice Solo Acting – Year 9 – Evie Town
3rd Place – Duo Acting – Daisy Godfrey and Ella Hallsworth
3rd place – musical theatre solo – Isabelle Collister
Finally, the weekend of the 25th and 26th November we just had 1 entry
1st Place – Own choice duet – Thank you for the music – Georgia Norris and Sophie Hegarty
Established in September 2013, Marlborough Academy of Dance and Drama provides Dance, Drama and Musical Theatre Training for children aged 3+. For more information click here.