Students impress industry professionals at Performing Arts audition day

Performing Arts students had the chance to shine in front of a panel of industry professionals during a special audition day.

Held at the New City College Ardleigh Green campus, the exciting opportunity ended in constructive feedback for the students who performed a variety of pieces, including monologues, contemporary dance and a range of vocal numbers.

The panellists were so impressed with the talent on show that they asked if they could return to share more of their experience and offered industry workshops to support the performers during the next stages of their journey towards a performance career.

One of the panellists left the students with an empowering message, saying: “Learn to be comfortable in your own skin, embrace who you are, and know that you have a right to aim for the stars.”

The students were asked to prepare pieces and then performed them in front of each other, their tutors and the experts.

Catherine Moggridge, NCC Senior Curriculum Manager for Performing Arts, said: “The panel shared their passion for performance and gave a depth of insight into the importance of auditions in our industry. It was invaluable for our students’ development and future aspirations as they aim either for higher education or for industry placements to secure jobs.

“Talking with the students today, the words from the panellists have already had a positive impact and have been an inspiration to them.”

The panel, comprising of specialists in acting, singing and dance, included:

• Blue Makawana, a dance specialist and choreographer, who lectures at Italia Conte and Mountview
• Karen Bengo, a model, actor and performer
• Amy Shepherd, a creative producer and dance artist
• Jules Tipton, an associate director from the Queen’s Theatre, Hornchurch, and a lecturer at East 15 Drama School
• Tanika Jazmin Yearwood, who sits on the audition panel at the Royal Central School of Speech and Drama and has worked at The Globe and with Complicite theatre company
• Elaine Grant, a vocalist who appears regularly on Songs Of Praise, in numerous adverts and works as Head of Access at Mousetrap Theatre Projects
• Also on the panel were performance professionals Carol Duval, Jane Alderson and Danielle Barnett