CSBS dance displays cancelled
We are disappointed to officially confirm that our planned 2020 dance displays are cancelled.
Our displays were due to be staged in FTH on 15-16 May (Tryst Festival), Carnegie Hall on 31 May, and in Macrobert Arts Centre from 3-9 June.
Although cancellation was expected, we had held onto the hope that the situation would clear quickly and we would be able to stage some kind of public performances. Given that 'lockdown' is continuing for at least another month, and the theatres remain closed, we have had to admit defeat and acknowledge that both staging a performance and holding an event involving at least 180 dancers each show and which attracts audiences of around 450 to each performance will be impossible for quite some time.
Some people have already asked us whether we will reschedule for later in the year, however, until the phases of coming out of lock down are laid out firmly by the government, we are unable to make plans for the rest of the year. We also need to consider when and where exams may be rescheduled, school term or holiday dates, when we will regain 'normal' access to Studios, and the availability of theatres.
We are absolutely devastated that we are unable to showcase our dancers this year and let audiences see how much progress they have made in their dance skills. A dance display is the highlight of a young dancer's year and an experience which will be impossible to replicate from home or online. We are particularly saddened for our Senior dancers for whom this would have been their final display together. Most of those leaving this year have been with us for 15 years; dance is a huge part of their lives as they are a huge part of our lives. Not being able to showcase them, congratulate them, and hug them goodbye is genuinely heartbreaking for Mrs Clark and our team of teachers.
YouTube Premiere screenings
We will still 'show off' some of our dancers by screening recordings from previous dance displays in a series of "YouTube Premieres" on our CSBS YouTube channel. They will be screened on Saturdays at 7pm from 23 May onward. Visit our YouTube channel here.
On Friday 15 May at 7pm we will be screening our ballet adaptation of "Peter Pan" from our 2019 displays, and on Saturday 16 May at 6pm, we will share our ballet version of "Annie". These two screenings will form part of the virtual Tryst Festival 2020. You can find out more about the 2020 Tryst Festival here.