Millennium Performing Arts

INTERNATIONAL NEWS
The island of Malta is holding a nationwide talent contest for the most talented theatrical all-rounder. The final will be March 24, 2010. The winner’s prize: A Millennium Performing Arts Scholarship

What a season! Millennium students are so fortunate to experience a workshop each week from a luminary of the world of theatre and entertainment. The following are some of the highlights:

* The Hofesh Shecter Contemporary Dance Company from Israel

* Stephen Mear – pre production workshop for Sweet Charity

* Kneehigh Theatre Company

* Adam Sown – High School Musical Workshop

* Tim Sheader – Director of Regents Park Theatre

* Company members from Zoonation

* Lizzie Gee – Our House Workshop

* Ebony Molina – West Side Story Workshop

And an extraordinary honour………

Claude-Michel Schonberg – Composer of Les Miserables, Miss Saigon, Martin Guerre and Marguerite – spent the entire day coaching MPA students. The students sang selections from his musicals. The experience was magical. The students participating plus the students and teachers observing will never forget this amazing event.

He was kind, generous, encouraging, patient, precise, demanding and inspiring – all the qualities associated with the great teachers. Then, after an exhausting day, he spent nearly one and a half hours doing a Q&A session with the students. Unforgetable!

Note: To our great dismay, the group photo we took to mark the occasion came out BLANK. We do not know why. Maybe we were so awestruck we forgot to turn the camera on!

MPA Graduate Recent Successes!

* Kanako Nakano – Priscilla~Queen of the Desert (Cynthia)

* Tom Clarke – Mathew Bourne’s Swanlake

* James Lomas – Dirty Dancing

* Zak Nemorin – Sweet Charity

* Cassidy Janson – Wicked (Kate Monster)

* Sam Wilmott – Wicked

* Sam Wilmott - plays the original Beatles drummer in the newly released film Nowhere Boy

* Sophie Camble – The famous Thurston Christmas Spectacular

* Liam Wrate – Chicago

* Craig Kelly – Mama Mia Tour

* Chloe Campbell – down to the last 10 for So You Think You Can Dance BBC

Pantomime successes for MPA student body, 2009/10

* Bradley Richardson
* Omari Bernard
* Katie Moorhead
* Jaye Elster
* Kayleigh Wilson
* Sophie Sweetland
* Sabrina Egerton
* Ben Curtis

Specials
Both Ben Curtis and Omari Bernard have made TV commercials, recently. Ben was featured for Thomson Travel, and Omari was featured for the BBC trailer for the season’s coming attractions.

Ocotber 2009
NEWS FLASH!!! The first week of the Autumn term saw Will Young spending a whole day at MPA shooting his new music video Hopes and Fears. In between his busy schedule Will took time to watch some classes, chat to students and be generally really lovely!

The video is out on the 8th November, check it out!

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• May, 2008 •

Sonny Ward will be partaking in The Ambition Ball, held at The Emirates, alongside registered charity company 'The Tree House'. The event is held to raise money for children with autism. Sonny is dancing flamenco with his flamenco company: 'Escuela de Baile' - choreographed by Oliver Giffin. The event also includes performances from celebrity DJ's and artists, such as Tony Hadley.

• February, 2008 •

Lucy Gill is just about to finish The Wizard of Oz in Southampton, along with Daniel Wright and Natasha Leigh. Lucy will jump right into rehearsals for the tour of Chitty Chitty Bang Bang as soon as that contract finishes!

Clare Protopapa is living it up on tour of Footloose in Italy!

Meryl Fernandes has just completed filming on BBC1's Doctor Who. Sam Holmes is on tour with Half A Sixpence and Daniel Wright has just accepted as Swing on the tour of Sinatra.

• Teachers, Consultants and Directors, 2008 •

Lisa Donmall has recently finished playing Velma in Chicago in Kuala Lumpa, The Rat Pack in Germany and due to begin a UK tour with The Rat Pack very soon!

Nikki Woollaston has just successfully completed choreographing Jack and the Beanstalk at The Watford Palace Theatre and is due to begin rehearsals as Associate Choreographer on Sinatra.

Danny Crossley has just been offered and will begin rehearsal soon for the part of Burt in Mary Poppins.

Mary McAdam has just completed a successfull run of The Wizard of Oz as Musical Director.
Karen Edwards has been assistant to two of the choreographers on BBC1's Strictly Come Dancing.

Nigel West is currently on a world tour as Resident Choreographer with The Producers, at the moment playing in Austria!!

• September, 2007 •

James Lomas (2nd Yr) and Leon Cooke (1st Yr), both former Billys of Billy Elliot, The Musical, recently appeared in the special BAFTA Birthday Celebrations on ITV. There were 17 former Billys all performing together. Great stuff!

Thomas Clarke (2nd Yr) triathlon junior champion, did his last final competition this summer. Next goal: to take theatre land by storm.

Natalie Kent is set to do Panto in Shrewsbury. "Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs" playing December 6th - January 6th, 2008. Directed by John F. Spiller and Choreographed by Lisa Jayn.

Khiley Williams is also doing Panto at the Thursford Exchange. She will be performing in "Thursford Christmas Spectacular" Novemeber 10th to December 23rd, 2007. Directed by Peter Cushing and Choreographed by Scott Marshall.

2nd yr student Erica Wilkinson has an autistic brother Zack who plays in a band. They have entered a competition and from 100,s are now down to the final two and have been asked to play at the Junior Proms held at The Royal Albert Hall on Monday 12th November.

• Teachers, Consultants and Directors, 2007•

Fond Farewells
With a mixture of sadness and joy, we say goodbye and goodluck to Kenneth Tharp. Over the past 8 years he has been a constant source of inspiration and energy to his students and his fellow teachers. We wish him all the very best and we are thrilled for him as he takes up the post of CEO at The Place.

We also say a fond farewell to Rosalyn Whitton who sadly leaves us after three years. Ros has been invited to join The English National Ballet Company as Repetiteur and Ballet Mistress. We wish her all the best!

Yet, we are able to give a warm welcome to Josephine Holling who joins our ballet deptartment as assistant to Donald McLennan. We are thrilled that she has agreed to become part of our teaching staff. And finally, to Chris Tudor, who is taking on the role as assistant to Ikky Maas. We have already been enjoying his knowledge and experience as both teacher and choreographer and we are now excited to have him on board playing a fuller role within the contemporary department. Welcome Chris!

Tatiana Novaes Coelho: invited by the Vienna Festival Ballet to teach 'company class'.

Stephen Mear is putting the final touches on his new Broadway musical. The Little Mermaid, that he has choreographed for Disney Productions. Opens early December. Stephen has lived the dream. He has originated a show for Broadway. Wow!

The charming Travis Baker, assistant to Professor Mary King, our Head of Singing, is a marvellous international organist. This summer, one of his concerts was at the Edinburgh Cathedral as part of the Festival 2007. For many organists, this achievement would be the apotheosis of a fine career. But Travis!!!..................... you are only 26 years old! Terrific. Watch this space........

Jan Swaby Spooner, another of our great singing teachers, has just had one of her private pupils win the title of Intermediate Vocal Champion. Well Done

NEWS 2006

• GRADUATES •

Third year students Carly Rackham and Roisin Galvin head for the high seas to join world cruises.

Anders Jensen is in rehearsal for Fiddler On The Roof.

Sam Wilmot (2006 grad) is in preview now with Lord of the Rings.

Liam Wrate has joined the cast of Cats. Zak Nemorin is still thrilling audiences as Mungogerry.

Lee Martin has gained the role of Doody for the new production of Grease.

Lisa O’Hare did her last performance as Mary Poppins on Saturday night, and after a well earned rest, crosses the US continent as Eliza Doolittle in the American tour of My Fair Lady. Rehearsals start in August.

We had to say goodbye to our dear student Holly Chapman who has gained a dream contract with the legendary radio program The Archers. She plays Alice. Hard to be in two places at once – the program records in Birmingham.

Cassidy Janson has performed the part of Alphaba several times now in the musical Wicked! She is first cover to the lead.

Nualla Farrelly and Sam Holmes have just returned from the US tour of Pirates of Penzance, Carl Rosa Opera

Alexandra Gottshall, having finished playing Buffy and Pearl in the UK tour of Starlight Express, has taken to boats – she is lead vocalist on P&O Cruises.

Also travelling the world on various cruise lines are Joanne Rennie (2006), Adam Wong (2006), Raphael Bailey, Mathew O’Doherty and Caroline Otomewo (2006).

Carl Morris is on the UK tour of Chitty Chitty Bang Bang and Stephen Cullinane is with the production of We Will Rock You in Germany

Sam Wilmott, July 2006 graduate, has been chosen to be a member of the originating cast of the most eagerly awaited musical of 2007 Lord of the Rings. Sam is multi-skilled so he has been offered the part of 'male swing'. We will update later just how many parts he has had to learn!

July 2006 Graduate Rachael Waite and Lee Martin (2005) are doing the FAME tour to Italy.

Dean Kilford (2004) is one of THE TWELVE TENORS to tour Europe starting next month

The lovely Meryl Fernandes (see her picture on the singing page) has just got a play at the National Theatre. The piece is a restoration play called The Man of Mode and it will be directed by Nicolas Hytner. Meryl is ensemble but has been given first cover of the lead.

Lisa O’Hare becomes MARY POPPINS from November 6, 2006

Sam Holmes and Nualla Farrely are in the Pirates of Penzance. They are performers with the Carl Rosa Opera.

Liam Wrate is in the national tour of Me and My Girl.

Neisha Yen Jones is in Porgy and Bess.

Zak Nemorin is playing Mungojerry in the international tour of Cats.

Amy Reed is in Spirit of the Dance.

Paul Kitson is opening in the musical Dirty Dancing; he is covering the lead. This musical has the biggest pre ticket sales in the history of the west end.

• WORKSHOPS •

2006

Lord of the Rings (Nov 21, 2006) - Great excitement at the school today. The award winning choreographer Peter Darling and his assistant Ellen Kane arrived to start their week long series of workshops with the students of MD2000. Peter is using this pre-production period to work out his extraordinary choreographic ideas and our kids are fortunate enough to be his guinea pigs. The buzz of excitement around the school is palpable – feels like Christmas Eve………………. And its going to last a whole week!

• COLLEGE NEWS 2006 •

Star Guest Workshop. The students of MD2000 were privileged and thrilled to be given a workshop by the internationally acclaimed National Dance expert Agnes Roboz. This was a particularly poignant and proud moment for director Ikky Maas, because the Hungarian born teacher had been one of his guiding lights when he was a teenager training in Holland. Agnes Roboz was directly responsible for Ikky gaining his first professional job with a German Ballet company. The experience was memorable for all concerned, both dancer or spectator. Madame Roboz is in her 81st year and the sense of the historical lineage being passed on was very powerful.

Sam Morris received from his parents for his 18th birthday a very special trip to New York.. He is taking his friend Lizzie Franklin (3rd Year) for one week, to stay in the Marriott Hotel at Times Square, go to see the Broadway sensation WICKED, go backstage to meet the artists; partake in a vocal and dance workshop with the WICKED cast; join New York’s Halloween Parade with the WICKED cast and they get to dress up as Bats .

Terry Donavan, the fire eater has another secret. When Terry was 13 years old he boxed in the English Schools' Championships. He lost on points - but just imagine being that good - THE FINAL! Also, Terry played Rugby for the Middlesborough Junior team and he was on the under 16s Great Britain Sprinting Squad, he competed in Germany, France and Ireland

Our students are the brightest sparks. For instance: Danielle Hudson has 13 GCSEs, all A-C; 4 A Levels, all A-C grades; Grade 8 Piano, Grade 6 Clarinet, and Grade 6 Saxophone. All this before she came to MD2000. Now, in her spare time she is studying law, both civil and criminal. Swims one mile every night after school; teaches at her local dance school every weekend coaching for competitions and exams. Whew! Exhausting just to read!

We have major keen swimmers at the school, starting with director Donald McLennan who swims 32 lengths three times a week. Student Nic Snode’s dad, former Olympic diver Christopher Snode even gave him a private diving lesson! Donald has never got over it.
Lauren Jones swims 45 lengths in under 40 minutes. Just started this October 1st.

Student Håkon Sigernes was invited by guitarist Hugh Burns (George Michael’s guitarist) to play violin in the jazz restaurant Hugo’s in Queen’s Park. Hakon had a great time playing jazz standards with Hugh’s trio. The trio comprised Hugh, the double bass player from the musical Blood Brothers, and the drummer who had just finished the musical Sinatra and about to start Porgy and Bess.
Note: Hugh was involved with the MD2000 summer show. He is an expert flamenco guitartist and has just written a book on the subject. The program’s dance number Flamenco Sketches was supported by 2 guitarists, violin and singer, led by Hugh.

Frances Button spent a great summer choreographing in her hometown. She found the nine and ten year olds challenging but satisfying.

Wade Lewin is not only a dancer but a sports phenomenon. Before MD2000 he played basketball at national level where his team won the championship for four consecutive years. Wade is one of 4 brothers. In the sports of swimming, basketball and water polo, they hold over 90 medals at national level between them. They also hold 6 international caps. Wade plays bass guitar in a band called The Beatfreakz. They have two top 10 singles to their credit.

Aran Garcia is from Spain. He works every night to make ends meet. When he has free time, he loves to visit the flower markets at Brick Lane and Spitalfields. Though he loves to play basketball and swim, he has to rest his injury in his free time so he listens to music. Aran’s girlfriend has given him a wonderful present – a bonsai tree. It takes a lot of his spare time: watering, trimming, cleaning …….and talking. He feels bonded to it and finds its beauty soothing.

Before coming to Millennium, Melinda Sargent was a junior and senior associate at the Central School of Ballet. She was a medal winner as a national finalist in the All England. She played Alice in Alice Through the Looking Glass. Melinda coaches her sister for her festival competitions, too.
Melinda and family are great walkers. They love the outdoors and go on, at least, three long walks a week – 5 miles is common (unless the weather is hideous!)

Holly Brierley has been a Millennium girl since she was little. In fact MD2000 created the Friends of Millennium Scheme because of her. Holly used to come to study at Millennium during her term breaks. Holly’s mother is an excellent dance teacher, so Holly’s technique was well established. Holly was a Hammond Junior Associate from the age of 8-12. Holly also trained as a gymnast. Apparatus and rhythmic gymnastics were her favourites. Holly grew up doing lots of competitions including the All England Dance Festival at Sadlers’ Wells and the Peacock. Holly’s highlight was winning the International Dance Teachers Association competition MISS DANCE OF GREAT BRITAIN 2006. Holly is another keen swimmer, and goes to the theatre as much as time and money allows to size up the competition.

Pere Bodi Perez is from Spain and dance is his life professionally and recreationally. After his 9am to 6pm regime at MD2000, he dances with a flamenco group The Tomas Jìmenez Company. Back home during his holidays, he is an active member of Aescena ballet and jazz company performing pieces including Nutcracker, Carmen, Coppelia. He also is a member of Alimara Dance Group in Valencia whose speciality is folkdance. Hey – he’s a fully qualified lifeguard, too. MD2000 is full of waterbabies.

Throughout his training at college, Daniel Wright has been a member of a rock band SMALL PRINT. He is the drummer. They do gigs all over London and have just finished their 3rd demo. Daniel goes to Scotland over Christmas to appear in the pantomime Cinderella in Aberdeen. Great professional gig – well done, Daniel!

Cormac Murphy’s summer was a great preparation for the career he has chosen. Before starting his course at MD2000, Cormac spent the summer working on a new American 10 part TV series called The Tudors as a dancer. Filming was at Ardmore Studios, County Wicklow. He felt the experience gave him great insight into the world of film and television.

To add to Millennium Dance 2000’s unique, extraordinary and eccentric student body, meet Terry Donavan. Terry’s interesting hobbies are fire eating, body burning, fire poi and stilt walking. Never a dull moment! Terry lives to perform and believes strongly that the only time he will ever stop is when he is dead. Terry is devoted to his family and friends, and anyone knowing this warm and charming young man would know that the feelings are mutual.