Fear of the Unknown are out to win.

Dance group ‘Fear of the Unknown’ from Glasgow’s Southside is the only group from Scotland to get through to the UK semi-finals of the ‘Got to Dance’ programme on Sky 1 HD. From the initial 30,000 auditioned in Glasgow, London and Dublin, the Gorbals dancers are in the final 30.

From the Sunday 29 January the public can vote, week by week, on the best acts. The two winning groups from each week will then compete in the finals on March 4 when the champion team will walk away with a cool quarter of a million pounds and the crown of Got To Dance 2012.

Lorna Munn who is one of the senior dancers in ‘Fear of the Unknown’ at 24, said: ‘It was the biggest emotion when we were told we’d been selected and were the only ones from Scotland. I was so happy I wanted to cry.’

Based in Gorbals from Robert Hamilton School of Dance, the ‘Fear of the Unknown’ is an invited group of the School’s best dancers. He describes their ‘Got to Dance’ routine as: ‘Theatrical, technical, original.’

Said Mum Kim Carr, whose daughter Jay, aged 10, is one of the team: ‘We are all so very proud. It is really exciting and we’re keeping our fingers crossed ‘Fear of the Unknown’ will win. But everyone in Scotland needs to be voting for them on Sunday 5 February when they dance live on the programme.’

Not only do they rehearsal several nights of the week, they make all their own costumes which are stunning. See their audition performance: http://www.facebook.com/l.php?u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.youtube.com%2Fwatch%3Fv%3DurvxAbSB-gQ&h=mAQH5012yAQEmPLHu-v8souU1sx9qLq-0rOkJLwSwgOicgw

And take a look at their Facebook fan page for updates – https://www.facebook.com/pages/Fear-of-the-Unknown/269468063113061

In addition the dancers do a lot of charity work and have raised more than £200,000 for a variety of good causes. ‘We give up our school holidays and free time to dance at lots of these events,’ said Jay.

Commented her Mum Kim: ‘We are telling as many people as we can about ‘Fear of the Unknown,’ and hopefully Scotland will support us.’

 

 

Burns suppers galore

You could get indigestion if you attempted all the Burns Suppers which are held at this time of year.  But if you’ve never attended such an event, try to take in one if only to enjoy the camaraderie and glean a little more knowledge about Robert Burns, Scotland’s National Poet.

Tuesday 24 January 2012: Glasgow South Business Club’s annual Burns Lunch in House for an Art Lover. Music by Govan High School students. Members and guests but check the Club’s website: www.glasgowsouthbusinessclub.co.uk

Wednesday 25, Saturday 28 and Sunday 29 January 2012: The owners of Rozelle House in Rozelle Estate, Monument Road Ayr – which has close ties to Alloway and Burns – offer a free guided tour of the premises and of the permanent collection of Alexander Goudie’s famous paintings of Burns’ poem ‘Tam O Shanter’. No booking required. ‘Come along and enjoy the experience!’ is their invitation.

Wednesday 25 January: Robert Burns Birthplace Museum offers an evening of fine dining and entertainment hosted by John Cairney. Tickets £45 from the Museum tel: 0844 493 2601 or email: burns@nts.org.uk

Friday 27 January : Govanhill Baths Trust hold their annual Burns’ Nicht and ceilidh in Langside Halls. Tickets £10, £8 concession and £5 for children under 16. See their website for details: www.govanhillbaths.com

Friday 27 January: Wellington Church International Welcome Club will hold a Chinese Burns Supper combining celebrations for Chinese New Year with those for Robert Burns. Chinese haggis filled dumplings will be served. Tickets limited. Contact Church office: tel: 0141 339 0454 or email: grace.franklin@ntlworld.com

Saturday 28 January: Robert Burns House, Burns Street, Dumfries DG1 2PS invitation to join David Sibbald in residence and celebrate the Biggest Burns Supper  between 2pm and 4pm. Says David: Burns should be fun. Let’s all enjoy the friendship and camaraderie: that’s what the Big Burns Supper is all about. Events at various venues across Dumfries on Friday 27 and Saturday 28 January. See website: www.bigburnssupper.com

Sunday 29 January 2012:  Robert Burns Birthplace Museum, Alloway. Singing a Nation. A Robert Burns and Indian poet Rabindranath Tagore Supper. Celebrating Scotland and India through food, music, dance, poetry and good company. Tickets £30. Tel: 0844 493 2601  or email: burns@nts.org.uk

 

Time to put the best foot forward

The clock has started ticking, so now is the best time to start training for the Ignis Asset Management Women’s 10K taking place in Glasgow on Sunday 13 May.

To encourage the runners on the day, the organisers will have musicians at each 500m along the route – double the number of music spots in previous years.  So drummer Dawn Gillies  and piper Iona Brodie from the award winning Williamwood Pipe Band, braved the cold January afternoon of Wednesday 11 January to strut their stuff  in Glasgow. They were supporting Clyde 1 radio presenters Knoxy and Sheban Littlejohn who are both running in the event – making it their very own 10 k –  and helping to highlight that registration has opened online. www.runglasgow.org

Invitation to learn the magic of making musicals

Theatre École are looking for new members.  Beginning on Wednesday 18 January, the theatre school will offer magic workshops by one of Glasgow’s finest magicians.  Rehearsals then start for the company’s June musical.  Anyone aged from 9 to 25 may join.

Said founder Isobel Barrett: ‘This is a great opportunity to gain life skills, make new friends and have fun.’

Open mic invite

So you want to be a star? Here’s your chance!

A rare opportunity for people to learn the skills of the theatre is open right now with Theatre Ecole. Based in the Southside of Glasgow, the company has evolved from a youth and community group to a professional organisation – and registered charity – producing first class entertainment throughout the stage seasons.

The benefit to individuals is inestimable. But two of their graduates can tell their own success stories.

Garry Hogg joined the group in 2001 aged 14. Since then he has been an actor, tutor, stage manager, wardrobe assistant. Last year he took on the demanding role of Artistic Director for his first Pantomime.

Enthused by his leisure experiences, Garry gained his HND in acting and performance in 2008 and then his BA Honours in Performance for stage and film in 2010. Last summer he went global when he taught Drama and Directed numerous shows at Camp Taconic, a summer camp in Massachusetts in the United States. Garry says that: ‘Without the experience, training and support gained at Theatre École, I wouldn’t have the confidence or skills to be the person I am today or have had so many good experiences.’ Garry plans to continue working with young people and looks forward to Theatre École’s summer musical.

Michelle Gallagher joined the group in 2004 and showed great talent when cast as the Queen of Hearts in her very first Pantomime. She went on to play challenging roles such as Jinty, the Dame and Glinda the Good Witch in the Wizard of Oz. Michelle gained her B.ED in 2010 and is now a successful primary school teacher. She said: ‘Being part of Ecole helped me realise that I enjoy working with children and gave me the confidence to pursue my dreams. I use a lot of what I learned at drama when teaching the children.’

Several other members who joined École have successfully gained their HND in Acting and Performance and have toured England and Scotland in various productions including Theatre in Education.

Commented Founder Isobel Barrett: ‘Being part of Theatre École breeds success for the future as can be seen from Garry and Michelle’s stories. The arts are a resource for overall development of the individual; fostering self-confidence, citizenship, creativity and decision-making as well as other life skills.’ She emphasised that not everyone aims to become a stage professional – many enjoy the Theatre Ecole experience as a life-enhancing hobby.

She extends the invitation to anyone aged from 9 to 26 who would like to become a part of the team for the June musical, to sign up for classes starting on Wednesday 18 January.  There is also a job going with the company as a drama tutor/creative assistant involved with various aspects of work including webdesign.

Theatre Ecole  headquarters and performance space is at Theatre at Queen’s within the Queen’s Park Parish Church complex and their website is: www.theatre-ecole.org.uk or www.facebook.com/theatreecole or tel 0141 423 6037.

Annual general meeting soon for stage school

Job opportunity

École Enterprise has the following vacancy funded under Community Jobs Scotland.  All applicants must abide with the CJS eligibility criteria and apply via Job Centre Plus or Skill Development Scotland Advisor.

 Drama Tutor/Creative Assistant

To assist with drama activities within workshop/training and production projects.  To maintain and develop web pages with associated administrative duties.

École Enterprise is a Social Enterprise Business, has Scottish Charitable Status and is a Company Ltd by Guarantee.  The company is based at Theatre at Queens, 170 Queen’s Drive and offers training in the Performing Arts to young people and to youth organisations.  The youth theatre caters for 9-25 year olds. Some of the team are pictured above.

For further information please visit www.theatre-ecole.org.uk or www.facebook.com/theatreecole or tel 0141 423 6037

Chaplaincy to host major art fest

The  chaplaincy of Glasgow University  is working with the Archdiocese to promote Lentfest – an arts festival held during the preparation time before Easter.

Twenty-nine artists from across the UK will take part in a major exhibition of Stations of the Cross and Resurrection at the University.

The strong line-up includes Peter Howson, Jolomo (John Lowrie Morrison), Anne Devine, Sandy Moffat and Richard Demarco alongside regular participants such as Sarah T. Bookless, Brendan Berry and David T. Collins.

Lentfest Director, Stephen Callaghan explains: ‘The popularity of the exhibition topic illustrates the timelessness of Biblical subject matter and the diversity of the artists will no doubt ensure a wide range of interpretations. We’ve never had so many artists take part and not all of them are Christian so it will be interesting to see what they come up with.’

Archbishop Mario Conti, Lentfest’s patron, added: ‘I am delighted that we have the support of the University of Glasgow Chaplaincy for this exhibition and I hope that many people will visit it during Lent and use it as a means of reflection and prayer.’

Among the highlights of Lentfest will be a new play about the martyrdom of Saint John Ogilvie who died at Glasgow Cross in 1615. A weekend of music workshops will be led by James MacMillan and Father Guy Nichols from the John Henry Newman Institute for Liturgical Music in Birmingham. The first performance of Graham Hair’s new version of  ’The Seven Last Words’ with liturgical dance is also scheduled.

Glasgow University’s multifaith centre is expecting VIP visitors next year. The Rev. Stuart MacQuarrie, senior cleric at the church in the Square said: ‘We expect the Moderator of the Church of Scotland, Right Rev. David Arnott and Glasgow’s Archbishop Mario Conti. We also plan a service for couples being married.’

Apart from the Lentfest exhibition, Glasgow University’s multifaith centre (the chaplaincy) is expecting VIP visitors. Said Rev. Stuart MacQuarrie, senior cleric at the church in University Square: ‘We expect a visit from the Moderator of the Church of Scotland, Right Rev. David Arnott and Glasgow’s Archbishop Mario Conti. We also plan a service for couples being married.’

Dance in 2012

Anyone keen to get on the move in the New Year should consider joining the dance and performance activities offered by Maryhill Integration Network. Organised primarily to help new arrivals to Glasgow to become an active part of their local community, the Network’s show earlier this year, was televised.  People from the age of three to senior years take part and enjoy themselves!

Starting on Wednesday 11 January in 35 Avenue Park Street and on Thursday 12 January in Garnethill Multicultural Centre in Rose Street, the performance groups are working towards the GO DANCE! Festival in the Theatre Royal between 14 and 18 February. For more details check with the office 0141 946 9106 or email: rose@maryhillintegration.org.uk

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