Recent Events

Commencement of "The Perfect Pointe System"

2009 marked the commencement of the Lisa Howell "Perfect Pointe System" into the Somerset school of Dancing curriculum. The perfect pointe system was created by physiotherapist Lisa Howell based in Sydney Australia to help teachers and students better understand how to strengthen and prepare for pointe work, the system helps all dancers beginner or advanced to work on their own special areas of weakness.

It is a Fantastic new program that teaches you...

  • What any weaknesses mean and how to fix them!
  • How you can tell what bits need work!
  • Lots of fabulous dancers only exercises, split into 4 special programs designed specifically to work on the:

    • Mobility of your feet
    • Strength of the small foot muscles
    • Turnout Control
    • Core Control
  • How to make sure you won't get injured when you start en pointe!
  • And a whole lot more!

Miss Jayne started incorporating the system into her classes in February 2009.

New scholarship awards for Somerset students

In addition to our annual Patricia Hagan scholarship award (see below) we are delighted to announce the commencement of two further school scholarships awarded to two students who show dedication, commitment and improvement throughout the year. The scholarships named for Miss Deana and Miss Jayne commenced in 2008 will cover one school years class fees. The recipients for 2009/2010 are:

The Deana Difrancescantonio Scholarship 2009/2010

Awarded to: Molly Riihiluoma

The Jayne Burnet Scholarship 2009/2010

Awarded to: Amani Walker

 

Patricia Hagan Scholarship 2009/2010

We are pleased to announce the winner of this years Patricia Hagan Scholarship is Fredrika Hill(See below)

 

The Somerset school of Dancing is proud to announce the commencement of a new scholarship in memory of our longtime friend and supporter Patricia Hagan who passed away in December of 2005. In her most recent post as Board Vice Chairman of the American Ballet Theatre, Patricia worked tirelessly on behalf of ABT.  Since joining the Board in 1980, she held a variety of leadership roles including Chairman of ABT's Artistic Committee, Vice President and Co-Chair of the Governance Committee.  In addition to her dedication to ABT, she was involved in a variety of philanthropic and dance related organizations including Dance/USA, The Royal Ballet at Covent Garden, the Arts Council of Princeton, the Princeton Symphony, the American Repertory Ballet and the American Friends of the British Museum. 

Patricia sponsored former Somerset school of Dancing student Ashley Miller to attend the first ever ABT Summer Intensive in Alabama and continually supported the school and it's teachers often coming to observe classes when she visited Bermuda with her husband each year.

In honor of Patricias gracious support and encouragment the Patricia Hagan scholarship which will be awarded annually to the student who shows the most dedication, commitment and talent for Classical ballet.

Patricia Hagan Award Recipients

2006/2007 awarded to Sara Gibbons

2007/2008 awarded to Rachel Ray

2008/2009 awarded to Ashley Yearwood

2009/2010 awarded to Fredrika Hill

The first ever recipient of this scholarship for 2006/2007 was Sara Gibbons who has since September 2007 has been studying at Milwaukee Ballet school in Wisconsin. This years recipient for 2009/2010 is Fredrika Hill(Pictured below)