We received some wonderful reviews for our most recent Showcase including from ESC Dance Management Director Emma-Joy who said;
‘Absolutely blown away by Directions Theatre Arts 2017 Showcase. The talent on that stage was outstanding, what I expected to be a dance school show was actually a production show of a professional level and I could not fault anything. Their performance level, technical level, singing ability was truly that of a graduate level. So much emotion put in to everything they did, such a joy to see kids do what they loving doing. A huge well done to all the dancers, choreographers and singing teachers. What an outstanding school well done Julie & Geoff Cox and all involved.’
A great review published by Gay Bolton from Derbyshire Times stated;
‘Directions Students sing and dance a storm in Showcase’.
Friends who dance together stay together is an apt statement to be beamed out during a showcase by performance arts students. The seeds for lifelong friendships are undoubtedly sown as tots taking baby steps in the dance world. It’s a bond which strengthens as the pupils blossom into talented teenagers soaring through exams and landing trophies as competitive troupers. Friendship plays a big part in performance arts, helping to build up confidence and trust which are vital to productions such as the show which Directions Theatre Arts are staging at Chesterfield’s Pomegranate Theatre this week.
This showcase is a triumph of teamwork by performers and the tutors who have coached them and choreographed their routines. Two of the stand-out pieces, an edgy dance sketch inspired by the homeless, and an awesome example of athleticism entitled Tribe, will be pitched against the country’s finest in the national final of Can You Dance? in Liverpool in October.
There’s plenty to marvel at in this thought-provoking selection of dances, not least the poignant depiction of innocent victims of war, the fiery passion conjured up in the choreography for the song Roxanne and the superb display of gymnastics set to John Miles’ epic composition Music.
Broadway babes and a couple of male hoofers turn back the clock with tap-dancing and glittery razzamatazz for a showstopping finale.But the show is much more than just a vehicle for dance and gives its 120 perforers a chance to show their skills in singing and drama too.The first half is given over to a panto-style reworking of Dick Whittington, written by former Directions student Jessica Spanier. Ellie-Rose Walker heads the cast as Dick Whittington with Ashton Harkness playing love interest Alice Fitzwarren. Their signature duet of I Can’t Help Falling In Love With You is beautifully interpreted by dancers Josh Crowther and Megan Hemingway.Super sprightly Alicia Ottewell makes a terrific Tommy the Cat, ridding Morocco of a plague of rats in a spectacular display of gymnastics.Zoe Southworth brings powerful stage presence to the part of half-rodent, half-human Queen Rat and Chris Measham conjures up the laughs as bearded Sarah the Cook even ad-libbing his way through a costume malfunction at last night’s opening performance.This Dick Whittington includes musical excerpts from other shows, including Consider Yourself from Oliver!, sung by Ashton Harkness, and Mungojerrie and Rumpleteaser from Cats, sung by Amber Pickering and Vienna Harkness.

Here are some pictures from a great show! More can be seen on our Facebook page.