Junior Associates in Ship Ahoy choreographed by Judith Harris


Soldiers Three at Squerryes Court


Churchill Primary School, Westerham


Fit to dance workshop for the public

18th century James Woolfe

OUTSIDE EVENT AT SQUERRYES COURT WESTERHAM

 Saturday 12th September

The National Trust and Westerham Wolfe Weekend commissioned a ballet to
Celebrate the 250th anniversary of the Battle of Quebec.
 
Soldiers Three a 'piece d'occasion' for the Westerham Wolfe Weekend, was choreographed by Anna Meadmore, and set to mid 18th century music by William Boyce and John Marsh and songs of the Redcoats. The ballet, which was also danced within the 09 season,  depicted scenes from the childhood and youth of James Wolfe and his brother, Edward, who were born and raised in Westerham, and their boyhood friend, George Warde, who lived in nearby Squerryes Court. On the Saturday evening a reception was held in the garden at Squerryes, followed by a formal dinner in a Marquee, at which the beautifully costumed ballet was performed against a stunning set by Ashton Taylor-Smith. It was a magical experience.

During the afternoon the  NYB Junior Associates danced Ship Ahoy in the parkland in front of the lake at Squerryes and the NYB Outreach team; Katy Lowenhoff and Jo Meredith staged a Fit to Dance workshop with The Churchill School children and the public.

The following day, Sunday 13th September, three of the dancers were asked to participate in filming for the BBC and Quebec House. 

"It was really exciting to be part of a new ballet and to be the first cast to ever perform it, especially because the story is so historic.  I enjoyed the ballet everywhere we performed it, but when we danced at Squerres Court it all made perfect sense. It was a very special experience to perform at the dinner, knowing that everyone there knew the story and that some of the guests were direct descendants of the people we were playing.

The next day at Quebec house was very exciting. It was amazing to think that I was sitting and playing exactly where Edward once lived and played and it made my character very real for me. The filming was a very different experience to being on stage, but was really interesting. My funniest bit was where the director asked me 'to die a bit further away from the tree!

I really enjoyed being part of Soldiers Three. It was an amazing experience." Toby

21st century James Woolfe with iPod!