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Back to the studios!

The current period of national restrictions has ended and we are delighted to be able to return to our studios for lessons this weekend.  We can't wait to see you all in person again, but lots of thanks for all our supportive parents who have enabled our students to join online classes!...

IDTA Gala

We are thrilled to confirm that our school will be participating in the IDTA Gala on the 23rd February.Tickets are now on sale and can be reserved via this link CLICK HEREMiss Pauline...

Examination Results

I am absolutely delighted with the summer examination results and for all the hard work the children put in.  Thank you so much to all the parents for your patience before and during the examination dates, we appreciate your support and flexibility with the different RAD & IDTA examination sessions. The IDTA exam results were exceptionally high from both examiners with all pupils passing all dance subjects taken with Merit or Distinctions, with all marks reaching between  80%-92% pass ...

Halloween Fun on Saturday 3rd November

A huge THANK YOU to everyone who participated in our Halloween costume day on Saturday 3rd November.  The children looked amazing and it was such a fun day. All money raised will contribute towards costumes needed for the school Gala and Pantomime....

Bag 2 School

If you are clearing our your cupboards on the run up to Christmas and have any old items of clothing, shoes, hats, belts and handbags, as well as soft toys please bring any items in bin bags to school and we will store them for the next Bag 2 School collection.Bag 2 School is a Free Fundraising Scheme, working in Partnership with Schools, Businesses, Groups, Local Councils and Charities to help raise funds from unwanted textiles.  Any funds raised from our collection will go towards new sch...

Models Wanted for our Fundraising Fashion Show

As a fundraising event for our schools, for costumes and class equipment we have once again been invited to take part in a Fashion Show hosted by M & Co, Consett at their store on Tuesday 27th November at 6.30pm. We are inviting pupils and parents from babies to ladies up to size 24 to act as models for the evenings show.  We need 40 pupils and some parents to take part and model at least one outfit.  If you'd like to volunteer to be a model to help support our schools, please contact ...

Halloween Fancy Dress Day, Saturday 3rd November

Be sure to send your children along to class with their Halloween costumes on Saturday 3rd November for some seasonal spooky fun and dancing.For a small donation of £1 per child we are inviting all our children to come to the studio dressed in their best halloween attire.  The best dressed will win a prize.  All money raised will contribute towards school pantomime costumes and other events organised for the children.Thank youMiss Pauline...

Celebrating our Successes at our Presentation Party Day

A huge THANK YOU to everyone who was able to attend our celebration and awards day on Sunday 28th October at the Civic Centre, Stanley. With over 200 attendees we enjoyed a day filled with fun, food, family and acknowledgement awards for all of our childrens achievements in 2018.  All awards were presented by Miss Pauline and Eve Trew who is a good friend of our school and is an IDTA examiner. We would also like to say thank you to Katherine Alderson for her stalwart dedication to arranging...

Prima Dancers to perform in CBS Theatre Pantomime 2019

We are delighted to announce that we have been invited to supply dancers for this years CBS Theatre Group pantomime! Sleeping Beauty will be on at Empire Theatre-Cinema from 14th to 19th January 2018. We are very much looking forward to being part of this production once again Book your tickets online - https://www.empireconsett.co.u......

Miss Pauline as a very proud mum

Here is Miss Pauline as a very proud mum with her daughter Nicola at Durham High School for Girls when she was the guest speaker at the annual prize giving.  Nicola attended Durham High as a girl and because of her business success in owning and running her own international business she was invited to be this years guest speaker.  She was excellent with all the girls, parents, governors and teaching faculty hanging on to her every word.  A very proud night for Miss Pauline to rem...

RAD Intermediate Foundation Pass for Penny Grieveson!

Many congratulations to Penny Grieveson for passing her RAD Intermediate Foundation Ballet examination with a very high merit pass mark!  We are absolutely thrilled for you, well done from everyone at Prima.Find out more about our dance classes HERE...

Beginners Belly Dancing

Beginners belly dance classes offer a range of moves and core routines in a friendly and sociable environment. Whether you want to tone up or slim down, belly dancing offers a range of workout routines to boost your fitness - and it's fun too! Fitness benefits of belly dancing Toning up flabby muscles - Bad posture in everyday life can lead to certain muscles becoming disused over time, and turning into unwanted fat. Thankfully, belly dance can help your body rediscover these lost musc...

Well Done Penny!

A huge well done to Penny for getting through her RAD Intermediate Foundation in Newcastle on Monday. Penny, aged 14  started training with Miss Pauline at our Stanley school and then moved to our Washington school to prepare for her RAD Intermediate Foundation. She's worked very hard and we wish her every success. Find out more about all our classes ...

Summer Holiday Timetable

To maintain fitness, dance standards and to prepare for future new work we are running classes throughout the school summer holidays in July and August 2018. We have six weeks of classes and would like all pupils to try to attend at least three of the weeks.  Letters regarding the Summer timetable will have been issued to pupils in our Washington and Consett schools.  If you haven't seen a copy of this timetable you can download a copy from the box below.To ensure your son or daughter ...

Amazing May Exam Results!

All of our pupils have worked extremely hard this year and we are absolutely thrilled at the schools results following our examinations in May. Miss Pauline said, "We had a tough start to the year and lessons got disrupted due to adverse weather and other unforeseen circumstances but we are so lucky to have such passionate, talented pupils and supportive parents. Most of our pupils have achieved a merit or distinction - we are thrilled!  These recent results are fantastic and they highlight...

Open Audition for Junior Dancers for the Stanley Panto for Dec 2018.

Any pupils with previous Panto Experience or any pupils who take all Ballet Tap Mod Jazz & Musical Theatre classes who may wish to audition please run it passed Miss Sara or myself as the auditions clash with our IDTA exams in May & we will have to alter the exam timetable to accommodate any pupil who wishes to attend the audition.Many thanks,Pauline...

Elmhurst Young Dancer Intensive

Well done Anna who spent last weekend at the Elmhurst Young Dancer Intensive workshop at Elmhurst Ballet School in Birmingham.The weekend brings together all the associate dancers from across the country, to take part in ballet, jazz, musical theatre and even flamenco classes, before performing for the parents in the school's theatre studio. Mr Robert Parker, the school's Artistic Director also attended the showing of work, along with the Principal of Elmhurst Ballet School, Jessica Wheeler...

RAD Exam Dates Confirmed

RAD exam dates have been confirmed for Prima Pre Primary, Primary and Grades 1,4 and 5 at Oxclose on Saturday 16th June.  Prima Grades 2 and 3 and all of Pauline Cook School of Dance exam pupils will take place at Consett on Sunday 17th June.Times will be confirmed at a later date.Best wishes,Miss Pauline and Miss Sara....

Thank You

Dear Parents I would like to thank all of my pupils and parents who were able to support our Dance Demonstration at Lanchester Community Centre on 17th March, 2018 It was total chaos which I thought it might be, due to the lack of rehearsal time with different centres coming together on the day, but all the children danced so well under the chaotic surroundings, and we have had lovely feedback from many people who were able to give us their support. I would especially like to thank all of o...

IDTA Commercial Dance Workshop with Dance Teacher and Choreographer Alex Ryan

Pupils from Prima Ballet and Performing Arts Academy and Pauline Cook School of Dancing including CATS have secured places at the IDTA 'Commercial Dance' workshops which are taking place at Felling Community Centre on Sunday 18th March. Miss Pauline said, "Places are limited at these workshops so we are thrilled that we've managed to secure some places for our pupils"    The workshops will be taken by well known teacher and choreographer Alex Ryan who is touring the UK teachi...

Jack Farren passes his RAD Intermediate Exam with Distinction!

Congratulations to Jack Farren for passing his RAD intermediate ballet examination with a Distinction! Talented 13 year old Jack started his training at Prima before gaining a full scholarship to attend world renowned Elmhurst Ballet School which is a centre of excellence for the training and education of ballet dancers. Jack is now enjoying his second year at Elmhurst and we are always delighted to see him join our classes when he returns home to the North East.   Miss Pauline sa...

Prima pupil to perform in Ballet West production of Giselle

Good luck to Prima pupil Anna Farren who is performing tonight at the Macrobert Arts Centre in Stirling, with Ballet West. The Edinburgh Associates are performing together in a ‘curtain raiser’ for the company’s performance of Giselle. Inspiration for the ballet, which was premiered in Paris 1841, came from two ghost stories - Victor Hugo's poem Phantoms and Heinrich Heine's On Germany. It has become the epitome of ballet romanticism and tells the story of a peasant girl named Giselle, who...

Prima pupils perform in the prestegous IDTA Gala in Sunderland

Some of our very talented pupils performed at Sunderland Empire Theatre on Sunday 21st January at the prestigious International Dance Teachers Association Gala. This Gala is held every two years to raise money for dance bursaries for pupils living here in the North East and since it's inception we have been invited to dance in this production. Our pupils delivered an amazing performance and reduced our Principle to tears of joy!Well done and thank you to all our pupils, parents and sta...

Prima Ballet Pupil Awarded a Blue Peter Badge

One of our lovely pupils, Amelia decided to write a letter to the BBC Blue Peter team to tell them how much she loved her dance classes.  Amelia age 7, told the Blue Peter team that she adored dancing and how much she loved her dance classes at Prima Ballet with Miss Pauline and Miss Sara. Much to Amelias delight,  she received a response from the Blue Peter team, and they were so impressed with her passion for dancing that they have awarded her with a Blue Peter Badge and an Achieveme...

Louise Brown Bursary Awards

Sunday 30th September was a special day for 4 students from Prima Ballet and Performing Arts Academy when they attended the Louise Brown Bursary Awards held in Eaglescliffe this year.The competition was very high and there was only one winner.  The Prima girls acquitted themselves extremely well and although they didn't win the adjudicator commented on their beautiful ballet technique.Miss Pauline who also attended said, " The girls are a credit to the school and I am very proud of the way ...