Bird College

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Bird College of Dance,
Music & Theatre Performance
Established 1945
Type Independent FE & HE College
Principal Shirley Coen BA (Hons) FRSA
(Chief Executive)
Vice Principals Luis de Abreu MA, PGCE
(Artistic Director)
Dr Nigel Morgan B.Ed. Ph.D
(Academic Director)
Chairman Tony Clayton
(Non-Executive Director)
Founder Doreen Bird
Hon MA, FISTD, ARAD
Specialism Dance & Performing Arts
Location Birkbeck Centre
Birkbeck Road
Sidcup
Kent
DA14 4DE
United Kingdom Flag of the United Kingdom
Ofsted number 50701
Students 130-150
Gender Coeducational
Ages 16+
Courses Pre-Vocational Foundation
National Diploma
Foundation Degree
BA (Hons). Degree
MA by Research
ISTD Teaching Qualifications
Course Validation Trinity Guildhall
University of Greenwich
Accreditation CDET
QCA
Website www.birdcollege.co.uk
Coordinates: 51°25′43″N 0°06′20″E / 51.42849, 0.10564

Bird College of Dance, Music & Theatre Performance is an independent performing arts college, based in the Greater London suburb of Sidcup, Kent. Founded by the dance teacher Doreen Bird in 1945, [1] the college provides specialist vocational training at further and higher education level in dance, drama and musical theatre. The college prepares students for a professional career in the performing arts and has a history of feeding artists into West End and Broadway theatre, dance companies, television, film, pop music and other high profile areas of the entertainments industry.[1]

Key areas of study include ballet, tap, jazz and contemporary dance, singing, voice craft and drama. The college is accredited to the Council for Dance Education and Training [2] and its qualifications are recognised by the Qualifications and Curriculum Authority, being accredited by either the University of Greenwich or Trinity Guildhall. Many student places at the college are funded by the British Government through the Dance and Drama Awards (DaDA) scheme. [3]

Since October 2007, the college has also been the official provider of junior (pre-vocational) music and dance services for the London Borough of Bexley following the closure of the Bexley Academy of Music & Performing Arts. As a result, the previous name of Bird College of Dance & Theatre Performance was altered to reflect the change, with the addition of the word "Music". [4]

Contents

[edit] History

[edit] Founding and leadership

Doreen Bird first founded The Doreen Bird School of Dance in 1945, which was the predecessor of today's Bird College. Bird initially taught her students in her parents' living room, where she would roll up the carpet to provide a suitable dance surface. In 1951, Bird transitioned to a full time performing arts course with six students, and this became the Doreen Bird College of Performing Arts, although a junior branch of the school continued to exist for a number of years. In 1954, the college moved to its first permanent premises, Vicarage House then later to its current headquartes in 1979. Bird was principal of the Doreen Bird College of Performing Arts until 1998 when she appointed Sue Passmore as Executive and Artistic Director[5], and the college acquired its current name, Bird College. Passmore held the position until her retirement in 2005. Since then, the college has been managed by a Board of Directors with Shirley Coen as Executive Director and Principal. Luis de Abreu, an alumnus of the college, serves as Artistic Director and Vice-Principal, with Nigel Morgan also serving as Vice-Principal in the capacity of Academic Director.

Doreen Bird pictured with her first 6 full-time students, photographed outside Vicarage House, the college's first permanent premises.
Doreen Bird pictured with her first 6 full-time students, photographed outside Vicarage House, the college's first permanent premises.

[edit] Productions

Live performances are an integral part of the college curriculum and the college perform in public under the title of 'Bird Theatre Company', staging productions both in the UK and Internationally.

Bird College productions have been staged at the Whitworth Theatre, the Bloomsbury Theatre and from 1982 at the Churchill Theatre in Bromley.[5], then for a number of years at the Peacock Theatre. Bird College have also performed at the Shaw Theatre, Sadler's Wells and the Royal Opera House and currently perform regularly at theatres in the Kent region, particularly the Orchard Theatre in Dartford. The College also have an active programme of providing theatre in education, working with schools and other organisations.

As one of the countries leading performing arts colleges, Bird College take part in the annual event, 'Move It Dance London', the largest dance exhibition in the UK. Bird students perform in the showcase and give demonstrations, with staff of the college teaching workshops and giving lectures. Having an international reputation in the dance world, Bird College have also performed overseas, including appearances in Portugal, Austria and Singapore.

[edit] Today

Between 130-150 students currently attend the college, which occupies four sites in Sidcup, with two dance facilities, a large multi purpose music and dance complex and one office building. Other sites are used for a variety of classes including Bromley Valley Gymnastics Centre. The current name, Bird College, has been in use since the 1990s.

As well as training girls, Bird College specialises particularly in the training of male dancers, with one senior member of staff lecturing and writing articles on the subject for various dance organisations including the Royal Academy of Dance. The college has numerous Patrons, Trustees and Friends, including Matthew Kelly, Gillian Lynne, Phrosso Pfister and Sian Phillips.

[edit] Courses

As a specialist vocational college for dance and musical theatre, the college has the following accredited courses.

  • BA (Hons) in Dance & Theatre Performance (validated by University of Greenwich)
  • National Diploma in Musical Theatre (validated by Trinity College, London)
  • Foundation Degree in Creative Industries: Acting (validated by University of Greenwich)
  • MA by Research: Dance and Musical Theatre (validated by University of Greenwich)

[edit] Entry Procedure

Entry to one of the college's full time performing arts courses is by audition only and the college can receive up to 600 applications per year for a very limited number of places. Due to the demanding nature of undertaking a full time dance and performing arts course, most applicants will have danced from a young age and have achieved examination passes with a recognised dance teaching organisation such as the RAD, IDTA or ISTD. Applicants are normally expected to have achieved either an Intermediate or Advanced 1 examination pass from one of these organisations, in one of the core dance disciplines of Ballet, Tap, or Jazz/Modern. It is not always essential for an applicant to have extensive prior experience of singing, dancing or acting however and exceptions are made if an applicant demonstrates an exceptional degree of talent or natural ability during the selection process.

The audition for entry to the college includes assessments conducted and observed by senior teachers at the College. The audition is intended to assess potential skills in dance, singing and drama, as well as suitability for a career in the theatre profession. Auditions take place between January and May and auditionees will normally take part in a ballet, jazz and drama class watched by the audition panel of college staff. They also perform individually for the panel, a solo dance, song and drama piece of their own choice, which they have prepared for the audition beforehand. Through individual interview, personal qualities such as motivation, communication and flexibility are assessed and career aspirations are discussed before a place is offered. As an established and reputable performing arts college, Bird College provides a number of scholarships and Government funded places and applicants who are being considered for these are sometimes asked to attend a second audition to enable the selection panel to decide who is most deserving or in need of such an award.

[edit] Junior Music & Dance

In 2006, a decision was made to close the Sidcup based, Bexley Academy of Music & Performing Arts, which provided pre-vocational music and dance tuition to school children in co-ordination with Bexley Council. The Council consequently looked for a new organisation to replace the Academy in providing music and dance in the Bexley London Borough.

Bird College was selected, due to its international reputation in dance and theatre and its specialist experience in performing arts education. Its new services were formally launched on Monday 29 October 2007 and the college was given the use of the former Bexley Academy buildings (Bexley Music Centre) at 27 Station Road in Sidcup, the premises being owned by the local council. As a result of these changes, the complete title of Bird college was changed to Bird College of Dance, Music & Theatre Performance.

In both music and dance, the college has re-instated services run by the Bexley Academy. There is also an ongoing development programme to improve the services that are currently in place Servies that have been re-instated include:

  • Peripatetic music tuition in Bexley primary schools for children at Key Stage 2
  • Group instrumental and vocal tuition
  • Individual music tuition through Licensed Teaching
  • Hire and purchase of musical instruments and accessories
  • Regular public performances
  • Music and dance examinations with nationally recognised bodies
  • The former dance faculty is now Bird College's junior dance department

[edit] Studios

[edit] Birkbeck Centre

Birkbeck Centre is a former Victorian school situated on Birkbeck Road in Sidcup. The two-storey building was acquired in 1979 and after extensive renovations, was officially opened as the college's main campus by former Prime Minister and Bexley MP, The Rt Hon Sir Edward Heath. The building houses dance studios, a canteen, kitchen, physiotherapy clinic and a gymnasium for weights training and body conditioning. There are also changing rooms for both boys and girls with lockers, toilets and showers.

[edit] Admin Cottage

Admin Cottage is a two-storey, former residential property adjacent to Birkbeck Centre. Maintaining its traditional exterior, the building houses the colleges administrative, marketing and finance team, the Principal's office and a teachers rest room and kitchen. To the rear of Admin Cottage is a large pre-fab type building, housing another large dance studio.

[edit] Studio House

Studio House is a two-storey, detached, former residential Georgian property occupying the corner plot of Station Road and Crescent Road in Sidcup. Acquired in 1965, the building was later modernised and comprises a library, staff room, 'media' room and offices. There are changing rooms, toilets and showers, for both boys and girls. A large, single-storey extension to the rear houses the colleges main dance studios. There is one large space which can be divided to form two fully equipped studios. Designed as a studio theatre, raked seating and lighting are used to form a performance space for various in-house presentations.

[edit] Bexley Centre for Music & Dance

The Bexley Centre for Music & Dance is a former school located on Station Road in Sidcup. It is now a music and dance complex owned by the London Borough of Bexley and is used primarily as a venue for junior (pre-vocational) dance and music training. Since becoming the approved provider for these service in the Borough, Bird College have taken residency of the building and are responsible for the management of the site, however the college have used facilities at the site for some time, holding classes for its full time performing arts courses. The building includes a range of dance and music studios with a concert hall and various other facilities.

[edit] Other Facilities

Due to the limited space in the college's own facilities, the College makes use of other buildings when required. St. John's Hall is situated on Church Road in the town and is adjacent to St. John the Evangelist's Church. It is used for dance classes on a daily basis at times when none of the colleges own studios are available.

Bromley Valley Gymnastics Centre is situated on Chipperfield Road, St Paul's Cray, approximately a 2.5 mile drive from Sidcup. The centre is a fully equipped training centre for Artistic gymnastics and other gymnastic sports and has a staff of specialist gymnastic coaches, training a number of world class athletes. Bird College students attend classes at the centre, in which the staff teach them various gymnastic skills that can be adapted for use in dance. The college also use dance studios at the site.

[edit] Notable Students

Bird College has a number of well-known and notable alumni. Former students are working Worldwide in all areas of the entertainments industry, dance and musical theatre, including West End and Broadway shows. Many also work as Directors, Choreographers, Producers, Agents and Personal Managers.

Gavin Lee in the role of Bert, "Mary Poppins the Musical".
Gavin Lee in the role of Bert, "Mary Poppins the Musical".
John Partridge in the role of Rum-Tum-Tugger, "Cats".
John Partridge in the role of Rum-Tum-Tugger, "Cats".
  • Rosemary Helliwell trained at the Doreen Bird School and the John Cranko Ballet School. She danced with Stuttgart Ballet from 1976 until 1983, and was made resident choreographer in 1977. Helliwell has since worked as a choreographer Worldwide, and was appointed professor of dance at the Akademie des Tanzes, Heidelberg-Mannheim in 1984, becoming assistant director in 1998. [10]
  • David Morgan is a West End producer and Partner in the company 'Michael Rose Productions'. Most notably, Morgan was part of the creative team behind the World Premiere of "Chitty Chitty Bang Bang the Musical", which opened at the London Palladium in the West End on Tuesday 16th April 2002. Other productions he has been involved in as Choreographer or Producer include "Sweet Charity", "Tap Dogs" and "The Hot Shoe Shuffle" [13]

[edit] References

  1. ^ a b Press release. University of Greenwich. Retrieved on 2007-10-08.
  2. ^ Accredited Course List. Council for Dance Education and Training. Retrieved on 2008-11-03.
  3. ^ Dance and Drama Awards - Schools List. Directgov. Retrieved on 2008-11-03.
  4. ^ Press Release. Bexley Council. Retrieved on 2008-11-03.
  5. ^ a b Doreen Bird Obituary - see page 6 of document. Bexley News Shopper. Retrieved on 2007-10-08.
  6. ^ RoyalOperaHouse - Artists of The Royal Ballet - Principal Character Artists
  7. ^ Gavin Barker Associates | Theatrical Agents based in the West End of London
  8. ^ Warren Carlyle at Hollywood.com
  9. ^ Mel C Singer Biography
  10. ^ Rosemary Helliwell: Definition and Much More from Answers.com
  11. ^ a b "The Big Olivier Awards Interview: Gavin Lee", London Theatre Guide, 2005-02-17. Retrieved on 2007-10-08. 
  12. ^ "Broadway.com Star File: Gavin Lee". Retrieved on 2008-11-03. 
  13. ^ Cast and Creative
  14. ^ Miss Saigon - UK Tour

[edit] External links