Stage combat expert Mark Ruddick puts drama students through their paces
Stage combat expert Mark Ruddick puts drama students through their paces

Ashville students Expand Their Horizons During “MADS” Music, Art, Drama and Sports Week

11 July 2017

Students at a Harrogate school have “expanded their horizons” during their annual enrichment week.

Ashville College’s annual MADS (Music, Art, Drama and Sports) Week sees its scholarship students participate in a number of events and activities, led by experts in their chosen professions.

The week began with a music theatre workshop and a dance workshop, led by the Principal of PQA (Pauline Quirke Academy) Canterbury, Laura Selwood, which was followed in the afternoon by a second music workshop and concert, this time led by the members of Resolution 88, a jazz-funk band.

Tuesday was devoted to capturing images on camera, with workshops led by Leeds-based professional commercial photographer, Hannah Webster.

 

 

On Wednesday, the pupils were given an opportunity to join Gaspard Zamble, who is a professional dance performer/teacher in an African drumming workshop.

The school’s Sports Centre was the setting for a boxing workshop led by Mike Popplewell, who then followed it up with “Tricking” sessions.

Tricking is a combination of dance moves from breakdancing and flips from gymnastics, aspiring to produce a visual, aesthetic effect. Examples of typical tricking techniques include the flashkick, the butterfly twist and the double leg.

Stunt co-ordinator and founder of Squire Stage Combat, Mark Ruddick, ran a stage combat workshop for pupils, whilst students also had the opportunity to attend a trip to see the theatre production of Mamma Mia.

 

Pictured are Simon Brook, Ashville College’s Head of Art, the Mayor of Harrogate, Councillor Anne Jones and A-Level art student Amy Noble
Pictured are Simon Brook, Ashville College’s Head of Art, the Mayor of Harrogate, Councillor Anne Jones and A-Level art student Amy Noble

 

The week’s activities concluded with an exhibition of GCSE and A-Level art work, which was attended by the Mayor of Harrogate, Coun Anne Jones, governors, staff members and parents.

 

Anna Wilby, Ashville College’s Director of Music, said: This week has helped to enrich the lives of our scholars, and, in essence, it has been a way of broadening their horizons, hence this year’s theme, Expanding Horizons!

“On behalf of the school, I would like to thank the specialists who gave up their time to run the various workshops and give our scholarship students a flavour of different experiences not necessarily covered in the school curriculum.

 

 

 

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