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Dance class
During the one hour dance technique class, we start with a warm up and then teach a fusion dance class, mixing the variety of styles, concentrating on center, floor, and traveling work.
We also use this time to choreograph and rehearse dance pieces for the Academy shows.
Acting class
In the hour that the students spend on Drama, they are taught a mixture of theatrical techniques alongside work on specific short scenes.
These techniques can then be applied to the scenes in question, enabling the students to understand the creative process of an actor in more detail.
Singing class
In vocal training students will learn the following:
- Vocal warm ups and exercises - students will learn the importance of warm up, and will be given exercises to do in their own time.
- Breathing techniques - lung capacity and correct breathing techniques.
- Vocal stamina and control - students will learn how to hold long notes and sing without injuring their voices.
- Voice placement - technique used to sing without injuring vocal chords.
- Microphone technique - learning how to sing using the microphones.
- Rhythm - timing in songs
- Harmony / music theory
- Choral and solo singing - students will sing as a group and have the opportunity to sing solo in Academy shows.
Tiny Stars
Our Tiny Stars motto is 'discipline fun in performance'. The students take part in a fun class learning basic ballet steps, skips, jumps, center and traveling work. We use popular nursery rhymes and music from television that they would know. All Tiny stars automatically get offered a place in the Academy Theatre School once they reach five years old.
Tap Class
During the hour tap class, the students learn all the basic tap steps such as shuffles, pick ups, and time steps. Depending on their ability, more advanced steps will be incorporated. They also do a variety of centre, corner and bar tap steps.
After they have been learning the basic tap, they learn how to put different steps into routines with a variety of different tap rhythms. The students also learn routines for the Academy show.
Previous work
Has included, Wizard of Oz pantomime (Spillers Company) in which 21 students played the munchkin's, and two senior dancers as chorus dancers. Two dancers from Group 4 were backing dancers for Cadence and supported JLS (X Factor finalists). Two dancers are taking part in a cheerleading tour around the South Coast. Auditions that students have gone on to take part in include Cancer Research advertising campaign, Britain's Got Talent and X Factor.
Carla Williams - Principal & Academy Dance Teacher / Choreographer
Carla is widely known within the Entertainment industry, as one of the UK's most successful and accomplished Dancers and Choreographers. Her noteworthy credits include: Robbie Williams, Kylie Minogue, Girls Aloud, Spice Girls, Westlife, etc.
As a teacher in dance also at South Downs College the styles she incorporates into her work are street, urban dance, ballet, contemporary, Jazz and dance performance.
John-Paul McCrohon - Drama Teacher
John-Paul teaches drama at both South Downs College, where he has worked for four years, and at The Academy of Future Stars.As a professional actor / singer, John-Paul tour extensively across the country in productions including West End to Broadway, The Jungle Book and Beauty and the Beast. John-Paul is well known locally as the Artistic Director of multi-award winning theatre company CCADS, providing area premiers of musicals and plays at venues including The New Theatre Royal and the Kings Theatre.
Louise Sevier - Vocal Coach
Louise has been a musician for over 15 years and has played in various venues in the South including the Wedgewood Rooms and the Pyramids. Her main instrument is voice and she also plays the keyboard and percussion.Louise has been teaching at the South Downs College for over 5 years and also works with Music Fusion, who deliver workshops and get young people involved in music in the Hampshire area.
Sarah Farrington
Sarah has studied in various dance styles including ballet, tap, modern, contemporary, jazz, street and commercial dance.
The qualifications she has achieved are four A stars and two A's in GCSE dance, a DISTINCTION BTEC dance studied at South Downs College.
She is currently studying a Degree in Dance and Choreography at Winchester University. Sarah is also a qualified baton twirling teacher.
This year Sarah achieved 'the Young Dancer of England award' and got to perform at The Royal Opera House.
Sarah has put together a progression award structure for the Tiny stars, each week they will be assessed and awarded stars for their class achievements.
Michael Silk - Break Dance Teacher
Michael has been a dancer for about three years breaking about 1 year with a huge history of dance and gymnastics allowing an explosive style of breaking.
"In August last year I won the Udo world street dance championships coming first out of 700 people of my level. I continue to teach and perform for many different acts such as JLS, Same Difference, Galaxy FM radio and others."
Daniela Head - Tap Dance teacher
Completed a BTEC National Diploma in Dance at South Downs College, she has also trained at The Victoria School of Dancing in Southsea from the age of 4 where she achieved all grades in Ballet, Tap and Modern.Working at the Academy has proven that she excels in teaching and instructing choreography for Tap dance. Daniela has performed at the Kings Theatre Panto for 3 years since 2007.