From:Barbara Richardson

48 Downlands Road

Purley

Surrey CR8 4JE

Email:

CSDA Fairfield Concerts 2016

Please read this letter to the end – important stuff!!!

5 February 2016

Dear Dance Teacher,

Below you will find the first rehearsal schedules, which are divided into ‘sections’. These are followed by the dress rehearsal schedules which are in the proposed order of performance.

All rehearsals and performances take place in the Fairfield Concert Hall.

Please report to Barbara or Mary on your arrival.

You must enter the Fairfield Halls by the stage door (at the rear of the building). Dancers and teachers/helpers must enter the building together as one group. On arrival, each school group will need to sign in - and out when they leave. Please keep a complete written list of dancers’ names with you at rehearsals and performances in case of emergency.

PLEASE NOTE:For the first rehearsal, each group will have a maximum of 8 minutes on the stage. You will only have time to run your dance through once. To maximise the use of this very short time, we suggest, therefore, that you first give your dancers their spacing (ie you place the dancers in each change of space/position on the stage without dancing every step), then run the complete dance and check that your music has been reproduced correctly.

Please complete and bring the attached lighting plan to your first rehearsal. It should contain clear, concise and simple instructions. You may use pools of coloured light, two follow spots, and possibly a mirror ball. Remember to make a copy of this plan for your own use. If you want to meet the concert hall lighting technician (Chris Whybrow), you can phone him 020 8603 3845, or email him .

Monday 29 February first rehearsal times

Old Palace 1}

Old Palace 2}

The Minster Infant School} 08:45 - 09:20

AtwoodPrimary School}

The CrescentPrimary School}

HowardPrimary School} 09:20 - 9:55

Park Hill Primary School}

OrchardWay Primary School}

Good Shepherd Primary School}

Oasis KS3}

Oasis KS4} 9:55 – 10:30

Coloma 1}

Coloma 2}

Keston Primary School}10:30 - 11:05

Regina Coeli}

The Hayes}

Oasis Shirley Park }

Purley Oaks Primary School}

St Peter’s Primary School}

St Aidan’s Primary School 1} 11:05 – 11:40

St Aidan’s Primary School 2}

St Chad’s Primary School}

Winterbourne Junior Girls’ School}

SmithamPrimary School}11:40 – 12.20

Downsview Primary School}

PriorySchool}

Thursday 3 March first rehearsal times

St Mary’s Infant School}

Ark Oval 1} 08:45 - 09:20

Ark Oval 2}

WestThorntonPrimaryAcademy}

Margaret Roper}

Ridgeway 1} 09:20 –9:55

Ridgeway 2}

BeaumontPrimary School}

St Joseph’s Infant School}

St Joseph’s Junior School}9:55 – 10:30

ShirleyHigh Schooleve group}

ShirleyHigh Schoolmat group}

CoulsdonCofEPrimary School}

Virgo 1} 10:30 – 11:05

Virgo 2}

Virgo 3}

ThomasBecketPrimary School}

Riddlesdown 1}

Riddlesdown 2} 11:05 – 11:45

St Cyprians Primary School}

The Quest}

Gresham}11:45 – 12:20

Woodcote High}

Winterbourne Infants}

Monday 14 March Dress Rehearsaland Evening performance

Please note that this is the draft running order for that evening’s concert (starts 6pm).

Smitham Primary Scholl} 09:15 – 11:00

St Joseph’s Infant School}

Atwood Primary Academy}

St Mary’s Catholic Infant School}

Coloma Convent Girls’ School}

DownsviewPrimary School}

Good Shepherd Catholic Primary School}

St Joseph’s Junior School}

Priory}

The Crescent Primary School} 11:00 – 12:45

Park Hill Junior School}

Orchard Way Primary School}

The Quest Academy}

Purley Oaks Primary School }

Margaret Roper Catholic Primary School}

St Cyprian’s Greek Orthodox Primary Academy}

Oasis Academy Shirley}

Winterbourne Junior Girls’s School}

Monday 14 March Matinee Dress Rehearsal

Please note that this is the draft running order for the Tuesday 15 March matinee (starts 2pm).

St Aidan’s Catholic Primary School (Peter Rabbit)} 14:00 – 15:00 approx

The Minster Infant School}

Riddlesdown Collegiate}

Ark Oval Primary Academy}

Coloma Convent Girl’s School}

St Peter’s Primary School}

Shirley High School*} * no Monday dress rehearsal, rehearsing later

St Aidan’s Catholic Primary School (Gatsby)}

Virgo Fidelis Convent Senior School}

St Mary’s Catholic Infant School }

Tuesday 15 March Dress Rehearsal and evening performance

Please note that this is the draft running order for that evening’s concert (starts 7pm).

Old Palace Junior School} 09:15 – 11:00

Winterbourne Infant School}

Old Palace Senior School}

The Hayes Primary School}

Howard Primary School}

Virgo Fidelis Convent Senior School (KS3)}

Ridgeway Infant School}

West Thornton Primary Academy}

Ridgeway Junior School}

Virgo Fidelis Convent Senior School (KS4)}

Regina Coeli Catholic Primary School }

Oasis Academy Coulsdon KS3} 11:00 – 12:45

CoulsdonCofE Primary School}

Ark Oval Primary Academy}

Shirley High School}

St Chad’s Primary School}

Beaumont Primary School}

Woodcote High School}

Keston Primary School}

Gresham Primary School}

Oasis Academy Coulsdon KS4}

Thomas Becket Primary School}

Please note that these timings are approximate. However, we ask that you are ready to go on stage at your given time at the first and dress rehearsals to minimise any delays. We suggest, therefore, that you arrive in the Concert Hall ten minutes before your given time so that you have time to prepare your group.

For the Dress Rehearsal, all schools rehearsing between 09:15am and 11:00am should be ready in costume in the Concert Hall at 9:15am sharp, and all schools rehearsing from 11:00am onwards should be ready in costume at 11:00am sharp. You may leave after your rehearsal, but it is vital that you are there at the beginning of the session to hear the update on concert arrangements, health and safety requirements etc.

The dressing rooms at stage level will be open for the dress rehearsal. Please note that the dressing rooms are the ONLY places that may be used for changing at any time. Public areas should not be used as there is CCTV surveillance there. Dressing rooms for the performances will be allocated at your first rehearsal. The dressing rooms will be shared with other groups

Please choose one or two of your dancers to give a short, clear and succinct introduction which they have learnt by heart. There will be two microphones for this to accommodate children of different heights. The introduction should give the school name, the title of the dance, and a short description of the idea inspiring the dance. The teacher in charge, or a representative, will be responsible for cueing their pupil’s introduction, music and lights for their dance. Dancers should enter downstage left (by the technician’s room) and exit downstage right. Also dancers should take their starting position on stage before the introduction is given.

The photographer, Stuart J. Absolon, will take a photograph of your group during your dress rehearsal slot. Please plan an appropriate still moment from your dance that is suitable for photographing. The prints may be ordered from him on the night/afternoon of your performance. He will have a table in the theatre foyer. Each school will receive a complimentary photo for display.

Tickets for the concert are on sale from the Fairfield Halls Box Office (phone 020 8688 9291) or online. Remember your head teacher will receive one complimentary ticket if they want one, which will be given to you on request at the first rehearsal. You will also receive a Fairfield parking permit at the dress rehearsal.

To ensure sensible behaviour in the choir stalls and/or balcony during the performance, every school must have two teachers accompanying the dancers, at least one being with them at all times. Please begin now to explain to your dancers how to behave while they watch the concert:

  • They must remain in their seat
  • They may only applaud at the end of the dances
  • They should not call out to individual dancers or schools
  • They may only move from their seats between dances

Due to cramped backstage space, only dancers and accompanying teachers/helpers wearing a CSDA badge are permitted there. Unfortunately, there is not enough room for parents unless they are helping. Badges will be given out at the dress rehearsal. Please tell Mary Cox (CSDA Vice Chair) at the first rehearsal if you have more than two helpers and need additional badges. The maximum number of adult helpers per school is four. Please note: NO adult will be permitted backstage without a CSDA badge or t-shirt for child protection purposes.To save possible embarrassment or ill-feeling, please tell the parents of your dancers before the concert dates that they will not be allowed backstage under any circumstances. Please remember that all CSDA crew are voluntarily organising these performances for the benefit of you and your students. Abusive behaviour, therefore, will not be tolerated from any adult.

To save CSDA future expenditure, please return the badges at the end of the concert. CSDA crew will collect them from you in the balcony and choir stalls or place them in the box at the stage door.

Out of courtesy to schools that are performing in the second half of the evening programmes, groups performing earlier are required not to leave before the end of the performance.

Remember, after rehearsals and the performances, you and your group will have to exit the Fairfield Halls via the stage door to sign out.

If your dance is based on visual art, please email me a reproduction of the pictures/sculptures that you are using. We are hoping to display these or print them in a small booklet for the audience to see the starting point of the dances.

I hope all is going well with your dance plans. Please remember that we are performing to a paying audience, and that quality is of prime importance.

If you need any help, please contact me.

Best wishes,

Barbara

Barbara Richardson

If you haven’t already done so, please sign the petition protesting against the total closure of the Fairfield Halls for two years. If the Halls close, there will be no CSDA performances during that time.

Advance notice:

Infants’ afternoon of dance - teachers please watch your emails or check CSDA’s website We are planning an exciting dance opportunity in June for the younger students which will be publicised as soon as the details are finalised.

SPECIAL OFFER for CSDA affiliated school groups wishing to watch the matinee on Tuesday 15March at 2pm.

Tickets cost £2 for each pupil, one teacher place free per 10 pupils.

This offer is only available for school groups of ten or more when booking tickets by telephone or in person from the Fairfield box office (020 8688 9291) and when the password ‘creative’ is given.

The offer is not available online or to individual applicants.

Lighting Plan

(Please bring this to your first rehearsal)

There are various colour washes available. There will also betwo follow spots and possibly a mirror ball. You can have chasing/flashing lights, but try to keep these to a minimum.

The technicians will be available to advise you at the first rehearsal.

Please try to make your plan as simple as possible.

School:

Teacher in Charge:

Date and time of performance:

Title of Dance: