Bird College:::dance and theatre performance:::

welcome from the principal
welcome to Bird
mission statement
Ofsted report
about Bird College
location
facilities
faculty profiles
admissions
policy statements
legal statements
the courses
the degree
the diploma
foundation degree
pre-vocational foundation
masters degree
short courses
college news
key dates
success stories
staff appointments
graduate gallery
summer show
the Bird experience
auditions
settling in
tutorial scheme
academic study
college contacts
contact bird college

Welcome to Bird College

Founded by Doreen Bird 60 years ago, Bird College is an acknowledged centre of excellence for dance and theatre performance. Our patrons are Gillian Lynn and Liz Robertson.

Discovery of your own strengths and weaknesses is a challenging experience. We all have particular abilities in certain areas and success can only be achieved through self-awareness and by developing an individual artistry that is uniquely your own.

The College's programmes are committed to your needs, an approach which is reflected in the dedication and expertise of our staff, a stimulating, creative ethos and the provision of a quality vocational environment. Our aim is to enable you to identify, develop and nurture your own special skills, perfecting a professional attitude and an inner confidence with which you can flourish.

Our reputation lives in the successful careers of our ex-students; their expertise informs our core values and confirms that our realistic vision, comprehensive study programme and intensive course structure really produces results. We look beyond immediate goals to our students' long term futures, which will offer a range of progressive career opportunities, both in the theatre business and in its associated fields. We are committed to providing a balanced, evolving and stimulating environment in which to develop the broad range of skills which students will need to achieve their full potential.

Bird College wins bid to provide music services for Borough of Bexley

Bird College is delighted to announce that they have been successful in their bid to deliver the music services in the Borough of Bexley, with music provision under the directorship of Andrew Chatburn.

In addition to peripatetic teachers and group conductors, Bird College wishes to engage and employ Licensed Teachers to deliver individual instrumental and vocal tuition. This fits with Bird College’s current practice and will put all newly engaged staff on the same terms and conditions of employment as those enjoyed by the College’s current employees.

The new service will be formally launched on Monday 29th October and student registration for individual licensed teaching, group membership, and ABRSM/Trinity Guildhall exams begins17th September at 27 Station Road, Sidcup.

The timetable for set-up is ambitious and we are now recruiting both peripatetic and licensed teachers for all disciplines alongside leaders and conductors for our orchestras, bands, choirs and small ensembles. If you would be interested in applying for any position please submit your CV with details of the discipline(s) – instrumental and/or vocal – in which you are qualified, along with the days and times you are available to: Bird College, The Birkbeck Centre, Birkbeck Road, Sidcup, Kent, DA14 4DE. Or by e-mail to luis.deabreu@birdcollege.co.uk Please mark your envelope, or include in your e-mail subject the reference line ‘Music Department Application’.

Licensed teaching and group activities will begin initially at 27 Station Road and Townley Grammar School for Girls. Our aspiration is to extend this to other areas in the Borough over time.

The hourly rate of pay for peripatetic and licensed teaching will be up to £26 per hour; for group conductors/leaders, it will start at £30 per hour.

Bird College is delighted to have this rare and exciting opportunity to establish a great service working in partnership with schools and other community organisations.
Read the statement from London Borough of Bexley

Mission Statement

The mission of Bird College is to preserve and build upon its reputation for excellence as a leading and unique provider of vocational education and training in dance, music and theatre performance.

Six key principles support this mission:

The recruitment, without prejudice, of the most talented students, who show the necessary passion for their craft and whom the College prepares for distinctive, life-long careers in the performance industry as articulate, creative and versatile artists.
The setting of demanding training programmes within a nurturing environment in which each student is treated equally and as an individual artist, and where his/her talent is respected in order to steer personal ambitions regardless of any differences.
The work of the College is closely aligned to the profession and securely rooted within the community sector, and draws upon and contributes to the expertise of the specialist vocation training sector.
The regular review of programmes, partnerships and operations which ensures their worth in order to provide meaningful opportunities for students and a dynamic workplace for staff.
The recruitment of the best staff, each an expert in his or her own field.
An organisation that is well-managed, open and accountable, and gives all staff and students a voice.

OfSTED (Office for Standards in Education) Report
OfSTED is the Government Agency responsible for conducting rigorous inspections of all educational institutions in the UK.

Bird College was inspected in May 2004.
The reporting inspector was David Hornbrook HMI.

They reported as follows:

Bird College is an independent, dance-based, performing arts college, founded in 1954, which is based at four sites in and around Sidcup, Kent, around 30 minutes by rail from central London. The college is a company limited by guarantee and wholly owned by a charity, the Doreen Bird Foundation.

Bird College offers a three-year professional dance and theatre arts course leading to the national diploma in music theatre, and some of the students are in receipt of financial awards from the Department for Education and Skills. The college also offers a degree course validated by the University of Greenwich.

At the time of the inspection in May 2004, 80 students were enrolled on the three-year diploma course. Some 25 students out of 27 in the first year of the course, 25 students out of 28 in the second year and 20 out of 25 in the third year were in receipt of Department for Education and Skills dance and drama awards.

There are nine full-time teachers, 12 part-time teachers and additional guest teachers working on the diploma course, supported by two full-time and four part-time administrative staff, and a part-time physiotherapist.

The last full inspection of the Bird College took place in June 2002, when achievement and standards, and the quality of education and training in dance and theatre performance were graded outstanding, and leadership and management were graded good. The June 2002 report can be downloaded from the OfSTED website: www.ofsted.gov.uk

On the basis of the short inspection carried out in May 2004, inspectors are satisfied that the outstanding standards reported at the last inspection have been maintained.

Part B: Leadership and management

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Inspectors judged leadership and management to be outstanding (Grade 1)

Strengths

* strong leadership with a clear strategic vision
* very effective operational management
* outstanding staff development
* many improvements since the last inspection

Weaknesses

* no monitoring of equal opportunities
* too little use of data to inform planning

1. The college aims to provide students with opportunities to develop a range of high- level performance skills, and to use these in pursuit of professional excellence; it continues to be successful in this aim. Strategic aims are very clear, and managers and staff share a clear view of the nature of the training and of the college's role in preparing students for employment.

2. The course and the college continue to be led and managed very well. The governing body has been strengthened since the last inspection; six non-executive directors now supplement the chief executive and the finance director, and there are staff and student representatives. A number of governors' sub-committees oversee aspects of the college's work. Governors share responsibility for strategic planning with the chief executive, including major plans for the relocation of the college in Chatham. A small management team takes responsibility for operational matters; this is led by the chief executive, who is also the artistic director and is closely involved in monitoring the quality of the training. There are programme leaders for both the diploma and degree courses, and each major area of work, for example, ballet, has a subject leader. The college is working towards greater clarity in the management relationship between programme and subject leaders. The diploma programme leader provides effective leadership for the course team, monitors students' progress and directly oversees the delivery of the course. Overall, management arrangements are very effective, allowing the chief executive to carry out her strategic role while, at the same time, keeping herself informed about the students' progress.

3. Staff communicate effectively. There are regular meetings of staff at all levels. Heads of subjects and programme leaders meet weekly as a group with the chief executive; the programme board (diploma team) meets every term. Planning, quality assurance, and students' welfare and progress are agenda items for the meetings of teachers in subject areas and for the meetings of the programme board; there are also meetings each term attended by all staff. The auditions panel, the committee for appeals over financial awards and the committee for appeals against assessment outcomes are formally constituted as part of the management structure. Grounds for appeal are clearly defined and disseminated. These arrangements protect the rights of students. The committee structure is well designed and works effectively.

4. The staff handbook contains policies for equality of opportunity and for the health and safety of students and employees. The college actively promotes equality of opportunity and is involved in activities aimed at widening participation in training for the performing arts. It runs short courses in the Easter and summer holidays for a variety of students, including some with learning difficulties. Some of these students consider training in performing arts and wish to improve their skills prior to an application. Such courses also provide valuable opportunities for college students to extend their expertise and experience by helping potential applicants to improve the standard of their work. However, although the gender and ethnicity of applicants and students are monitored, the college has still to establish procedures for monitoring progress in implementing its equal opportunities policies policy. A short disability statement makes clear the college's commitment to the appropriate treatment of applicants with disabilities. A disability access audit is being carried out in preparation for the creation of an action plan in line with the requirements of the Special Educational Needs and Disability Act (SENDA) 2001.

5. The college continues to respond to concerns raised by the students. Students' views of the course are sought through annual questionnaires and there are student representatives at managers' meetings. Staff discuss concerns about the quality of aspects of the course at their meetings and take action to effect improvements. They are aware of, and seek to apply, high standards in professional training. Teachers observe each other's classes and provide informal feedback; training is programmed for summer 2004 to support heads of faculty in a more formal programme of lesson observation. A staff appraisal process, which encompasses both full and part-time members of staff, has been piloted since the last inspection. There are excellent opportunities for development for all staff. By the end of 2004, 19 staff will have gained certificates of education after participating in an ongoing course run at the site by Christ Church College, Canterbury. The college has also supported teachers on voice and Pilates training.

6. Quality assurance procedures have been significantly improved since the last inspection. Quality assurance is now a standing item on programme board meetings and a wide variety of student data are now readily available. For example, the reasons why a few students leave the course before completion are recorded, summarised and presented to managers. Destination data are recorded and charted in great detail, although the use of these data to identify trends and inform planning is underdeveloped. The self-assessment report sent to inspectors before the inspection was a full and informative document with narrative well-supported by charts. Strengths and weaknesses were clearly, and often accurately, identified, although the key section on achievement and standards lacked incisiveness. Training is programmed for summer 2004 in order to help teachers review the work of subjects and participate more fully in the college's self-assessment process.

7. Managers work to an annual budget, approved by trustees, who receive three reports a year, including a financial report and a budget for the year ahead. The college now has a five-year financial plan, and detailed relocation costings based on a comprehensive feasibility study. The college manages its resources effectively and has reserve funds to protect it against unforeseen variations.

© CROWN COPYRIGHT 2004. This report may be reproduced in whole or in part for non-commercial educational purposes, provided that all extracts quoted are reproduced verbatim without adaptation and on condition that the source and date thereof are stated.
Inspection reports are available on the Ofsted web site (www.ofsted.gov.uk).

Location

getting you closer to the West End!

We are located in a pleasant suburb, close to the centre of London with easy access by train to Charing Cross.

Sidcup is a thriving commercial and cultural centre which is well served by the motorway network, making the town easily accessible from all parts of the country and abroad.

For detailed directions to the College, click on the link below which will take you to the Google Maps website, then click on the Bird College link on the left then click "directions to here" and enter your postcode.

find us with Google Maps

Bird College
Birkbeck Centre
Birkbeck Road
Sidcup Kent DA14 4DE

Rail
From London, trains to Sidcup run every half hour from Charing Cross, Waterloo and London Bridge. Journey time is around 30minutes.

Bus
A comprehensive service exists for the local area and for central London.

Road
Exit 3 off the M25, then follow the A20 into Sidcup.
From London follow signs to A20 New Cross, Lewisham and A222 Sidcup.

International
The College is within easy travelling distance for Channel ferries and tunnel. Gatwick airport is just 32 miles away; take the train to London Victoria and then bus or taxi to Charing Cross. From Heathrow airport Underground trains connect directly to central London. There is a regular coach service available direct from Victoria to Sidcup and private taxis are available from both airports.

Facilities

The Campus is in 3 main buildings.

The Birkbeck Centre provides the common room, canteen, medical room, weight training and body conditioning studio and practice studios.
The adjacent Admin Cottage houses the administrative support staff.
Nearby, Studio House incorporates a resource centre with IT facilities, library, study and classrooms, Studio Theatre, further studios and staff rooms. The College also utilises lecture theatre/studio facilities in the Bexley Music and Dance Centre and St John’s Hall.

Faculty Profiles

highly motivated staff with outstanding professional qualifications

Our staff team has been carefully selected on the basis of their specialist skills and commitment to education.
Our administrative group ensures that every student gets the support that they require and that everything runs smoothly. The teaching team has a unique breadth of professional experience complemented by formal academic qualifications to enable them to pass on their wealth of knowledge.

Staff Profiles

Principal and Chief Executive

Shirley Coen BA (Hons) FRSA heads the executive team. She has been at the College for seven years and was appointed an Executive Director by
Doreen Bird, Founder, in 2002. In her roles as Executive Director, Deputy Chief Executive and Director of Finance, she has been responsible for all funding-related and commercial activities and has been pro active in the development of the Dance and Drama Award Scheme.

She spent her early career gaining experience in business and finance, before working with differe nt public and charitable institutions for 16 years.
During this time, she became an expert in managing, motivating and leading teams whilst successfully facing difficult commercial and financial challenges.

Since joining Bird College, she has worked to support our artistic and educational vision, whilst developing the College¹s financial affairs so that the College has a sound basis for further development.

Vice Principal Artistic Director

Luis De Abreu MA, PGCE
Vice Principal - Artistic Director and Foundation Degree Programme Leader

After training at the Doreen Bird College of Performing Arts, under the direction of Doreen Bird, Luis De Abreu went on to train in Drama at the Poor School where his tutors included Paul Caister, Bardy Thomas, George Hall and John James. Other training has included a Script and Story Structure Course with Robert McKee, Approaches to Physical Theatre at Middlesex University a Mask Workshop with the Pleiades Company and Kasm Mask, and Commedia dell'arte with Antonio Fava. He has also completed an MA in Physical Theatre at the University of Surrey and Royal Holloway University of London, and a PGCE at Canterbury Christ Church University College. Performing roles include Heinz in Today, Albert Parker in When We Are Married, Toby in Ways and Means, Mr Burnum in Hands Across The Sea and Lucio in Measure for Measure.

Luis was also one of the original Bird Theatre Company members. He Joined the College as a Drama Tutor in 1996 and was later promoted to Head of Drama and Performance Studies. He was also Agency Manager for Bird Personnel Management from 1998 - 2005. As a director, he has worked on Hands Across the Sea, Bouncers, Barnum, The Wiz, The Owl And The Pussycat, Line, Teechers, Infidelities!, Road, Habeus Corpus, Children of Eden, Private Wars and Commedia dell¹arte.
Other productions include choreography and direction for Dentro Da Minha Cabeça and choreography for Metamorphosis (Dance Theatre). Publications include A Career into Dance for CDET. He was part of an AHRB Innovation Research Project, 19th Century theatre rehearsal process, which was headed by Dr G Bush-Bailey & Dr J Bratton at Royal Holloway University of London. He wrote and designed the Foundation Degree in Creative Industries: Acting for Bird College which was successfully validated by University of Greenwich for five years. He is currently External Examiner for the BA (Hons) Physical Theatre programme at St Mary's College, Surrey University.

Vice Principal Academic Director

Dr. Nigel Morgan, B. Education (Exeter),
PhD (Manchester)
Vice Principal Academic Director, BA (Hons) Programme Leader and Diploma Programme Leader

Having qualified as a music teacher, playing in a rock band introduced Nigel to the stage and so began a fascination for stage design and technology. For the next 20 years he followed a career in lighting design in the theatre and commercial sector. Highlights include lighting world premiere plays for Caryl Churchill, Steven Jeffries and Tom Kempinski, and lighting a play that won a Fringe First at the Edinburgh Festival. Parallel to this he developed UG and PG lighting programmes in higher education, and taught in a number of leading drama schools and higher education institutions including The Central School of Speech and Drama and Rose Bruford College.

He went on to specialise in quality assurance and programme design as a senior manager at London Contemporary Dance School, and has served as a specialist assessor for the Quality Assurance Agency. Nigel gained a PhD in 2003 for researching the origins of lighting design in Britain, and has had two books published: Stage Lighting for Theatre Designers, an undergraduate course book, and Stage Lighting in Britain: the Emergence of the Lighting Designer, which is based on his thesis.

BA(Hons) Degree Programme Leader

Foundation Degree Programme Leader

Gillian McKinsey, MA

Gillian's career as an Information Scientist was based in the pharmaceutical industry where she was primarily responsible for disseminating specific project research information to a wider scientific community. In 1996 she decided to pursue her love of dance and studied at Roehampton Institute where she gained an MA in Ballet Studies. Gillian joined Bird in 2000 and is the Programme Co-ordinator for the BA (Hons) in Dance and Theatre Performance. She also advises on academic writing skills and tutors dissertations.

Diploma Programme Leader

Ballet Faculty

Susan Town
Head of Ballet

Susan Town was trained at the Rambert School of Ballet and studied with Dame Marie Rambert,Errol Addison, Eileen Ward and Marion Lane, having had her preliminary training at Bird College. Her performing experiences include Maurice Bejart’s Ballet of the 20th Century, Brussels, Ballet Lydia Chagol in Belgium and further freelance contracts in Luxembourg, Trier and Dusseldorf and working with Hans Van Manen. An article about her approach to Teaching the Male Dancer was published in the Royal Academy of Dance Gazette and she has given lectures on her approach at the Royal Academy of Dance Assembly to teachers from around the world. Other work includes Scholarship classes, lectures and choreography for the Imperial Awards. Sue is a dance director for the Bird Theatre Company travelling extensively in Europe, Singapore and New Zealand

Lai-Sheung Chan Adv Dip Performing Arts, Dip RBS (TCPD), Cert Ed
Ballet Tutor

Lai-Sheung Chan graduated from The Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts where she majored in Dance and received an Advanced Diploma. After graduation she joined the Hong Kong Ballet Company and has participated in many productions. Chan has furthered her studies in the Teachers’ Course for Professional Dancers at the Royal Ballet School in London. She has been teaching and coaching classical ballet worldwide and was Ballet Mistress for the Hong Kong Ballet Group’s Winter Production in 2001. Chan is performing alongside her teaching. She is the guest artist for the Chinese Cultural Centre in London and has been regularly performed in U.K and also aboard.

Marlene Pasquet
Ballet Tutor

Trained at the Hammond School, Chester, where she studied with the founder Betty Hassall and Valerie Taylor, former soloist with the Royal Ballet Company. She has toured in many Musical Theatre productions, which include the lead, Louisa, in Carousel. Most importantly she was associated with the Royal Ballet’s educational touring company, Ballet For All, under the direction of Peter Brinson. Marlene Pasquet’s teaching career began at Bird College in the late sixties when she was responsible for students on the full-time diploma course and played an important teaching role in the junior school. She assisted Michael Berkut’s Character course and continued this work at the College. She toured Russia as ballet mistress for the Ballet Pastel Company and has taught on various summer schools, she is also an international guest teacher. Marlene has recently gained a Certificate in Education.

Andrew Wilson
Ballet tutor

Andrew Wilson was born in Dublin and trained with Jill Wigham, Bird College where he graduated in 1983, and The Royal Ballet School where he was chosen to represent the school at the 1984 Prix de Lausanne. He was a member of Sadler’s Wells Royal Ballet, promoted to Corphyée in 1989 and to Soloist of The Birmingham Royal Ballet in 1991.
Andrew’s principal/soloist roles included leads in Elite Syncopations and Danses Concertantes (Macmillan), Giselle and The Nutcracker (Wright), Card Game (Cranko), Theme and Variations (Balanchine), Jazz Calendar and Façade (Ashton), Brahm’s Handel Variations and Hobson’s Choice (Bintley). He has also danced in other works by De Valois, Massine, Van Manen, De Mille and Joos.
In 1995 he gained distinction on the Professional Dancer’s Teaching Course at The Royal Academy of Dance and was Head of Boys Ballet at Elmhurst Ballet School. He joined the staff of Bird College in 2000 and teaches Classical Ballet on both courses and is responsible for the teaching of pas de deux to all years. He is the company manager and a resident choreographer for the Bird Theatre Company and has toured New Zealand, Singapore, Portugal, Austria and the UK with the company. He is frequently asked to teach in Rotterdam, The Hungarian Dance Academy, Budapest and also for the ISTD and RAD in Japan and Italy.

Contemporary & Choreography Faculty

Luisa Figuerola
Head of Department

Luisa Figuerola trained in Contemporary and Ballet technique at Escola Superior de Danca. Luisa graduated in 1993 with a BA (Hons) in Choreography. She continued her training at the Laban Centre, London where she completed a professional Diploma in Dance Studies. She then joined Transitions Dance Company and during 1995/6 toured extensively in England and abroad including performing in Oslo, Prague and Tokyo.
On leaving Transitions Luisa joined The Cholmondeleys, directed by Lea Anderson for their tour of Flesh and Blood. Since then she has worked with BIMA Dance Company and was assistant choreographer for Theatre Encorps directed by Ana Sanchez.
As a dance teacher, Luisa has taught in several schools and companies in England and overseas, including the Laban Centre, Middlesex University, Greenwich Dance Agency and Companhia Portuguesa de Bailado Contemporaneo in Lisbon.

Joana Simas
Contemporary Tutor

Joana is Portuguese and trained at the Ginasiano Dance School. After spending a year in Brazil working with Corpo Dance Company, she came to London to complete her training at the Laban Centre. She has performed with Edwards and Watton in the award winning ‘House of Delights’, Amanda Gough Dance Company, Akram Khan, Double Vision Dance Company and Theatre Encorps. In September 2001 she worked with the Siobhan Davies Dance Company in the recreation and performance of ‘Bank 2001’. She is a founder member of Melanie Clarke’s blue white dance company and continues to perform regularly with them. Joana has a Laban Masters Degree in Aesthetics, Education and Dance Documentation and Reconstruction.

Maxine Doyle, BA, MA
Choreography Tutor

Maxine Doyle trained at Roehampton Institute and the Laban Centre and is now Artistic Director of First Person. She has been supported by London Arts, South-East Arts, South-East Year of the Artist, South-East Touring Agency and the Robin Howard Foundation. She was the recipient of the Bonnie Bird Award for Choreography in 1999. Regular teaching includes the Laban Centre, Bird College, Roehampton Institute and St. Mary’s College.

Marcia Pook
Choreography tutor

Marcia’s professional career started in 1993 after attending The Hub Theatre School in Cornwall. The director of Attik Dance approached her with an invitation to join her company where she worked with choreographers such as Yolanda Snaith and Lois Taylor. She went on to develop her dance training at the Laban Centre for Movement and Dance. Since graduating she has worked for V-Tol Dance Company, performing in The Snow Ball effect which was devised for the BBC2’s Dance on Camera series, Frantic Assembly, Union dance Company, Angela Woodhouse. First Person and Trading Faces. As a choreographer her work has been performed in the UK, Copenhagen, New York and Russia. As well as ‘Pure Dance’ Marcia has also collaborated with physical theatre mask work, her latest work being Creaking Shadows, which goes on tour in September.

Jazz Faculty

Sue Brice
Head of Jazz

Sue Brice trained at Laine Theatre Arts; she has danced, taught and choreographed extensively all over the country as well as in Germany and Vancouver, Canada. She currently works for Performers College and Bird College as a jazz tutor. Sue was made an ISTD Modern Examiner in 2000 and regularly teaches freelance and for the Imperial Society.

Nick French
Tap tutor

Nick French trained at Laine Theatre Arts. West End experience includes 42nd Street,
Me and My Girl, West Side Story, La Cage aux Folles in concert, Mack and Mabel in concert, This and That, and A Glamorous Evening with Evelyn Laye.
Film experience includes Firelight and Emma. He has taught at various schools and is an examiner for the Imperial Modern Theatre Dance Branch. His Cert Ed was gained in 2002.

Thereza Theodoulou
Jazz/Tap tutor

Tereza Theodoulou began her training with Joy Spriggs in North London ultimately achieving Fellowship status with Distinction in both Modern and Tap. In America she studied at the Alvin Ailey School and further explored the rich diversity of Jazz and Tap at various studios in New York.
As a co-founder and choreographer of her own company called Overtures, Tereza created and performed in numerous productions. She has also worked with the British Theatre for the Deaf, culminating in a workshop presentation of My Fair Lady at the Edinburgh Festival. Her previous college teaching experiences include Head of Modern Dance at London College Bedford and also Laine Theatre Arts. She is currently teaching at the Deborah Capon College and has recently returned to Bird College. She is also a freelance tutor for status exams and frequently examines and teaches abroad. Tereza is a member of the creative teams that have developed the Jazz Awards, Grade 3 and 4 Modern and more recently the new Bronze, Silver and Gold Tap Awards, She is presently involved in the creation of Grades 5 and 6 for the Modern Theatre Faculty.

Thedi Jeannou
Jazz/Tap Tutor

Having trained at the Stella Mann School of Dancing where she was twice awarded student of the year. Thedi undertook a further year’s training at the London Contemporary Dance School. She has performed in and choreographed many musicals, pantomimes and operas and holds the ISTD Fellowship Examination in modern, tap and ballet. Thedi examines and lectures for the ISTD and has taken classes for the Janet Cram Awards, Imperial Ballet Awards and Congress and is part of the training team for the new modern and tap work.. Thedi is currently teaching at Bird College, Italia Conti Academy, Masters Performing Arts College and Tiffany Theatre College.

Geoffrey Unkovich
Jazz Tutor

Geoffery is Australian born and trained in Classical, Jazz and Tap Dance. As a teenager he spent one year touring with the West Australian Junior Ballet Company and a further year with the National Theatre at the Playhouse while appearing on Television variety shows. He then danced for five years throughout Australia and Asia in theatre and television, followed by an acclaimed performance in the Australian production of ‘A Chorus Line’ before coming to London in nineteen seventy-nine. In Europe and England Geoffery continued to dance in television before turning to Choreography and Teaching. He choreographed for Theatre, Film and Television while developing an extensive teaching reputation in Jazz Dance. This has taken him to Norway, Denmark, Japan and Australia as well as dance colleges and schools throughout England. Geoffery is a Dance Movement Therapist who works with Special Needs schools and in Mental Health and Psychiatry. He is employed as a Dance Specialist by The Royal Ballet School where he devised and runs workshops for their Dance Inclusion Programme. At Bird College he teaches Jazz Dance and runs workshops for the Bird College Outreach programme with Special Needs Schools. He will soon complete a Post Graduate Certificate in Education and is currently researching the implications of male gender for a MA in Dance Movement Therapy.

Nikki O’Hara
Jazz/Contact tutor

Nikki O’Hara graduated from Bird College in 2001 with a First Class BA(Hons) degree, and having toured extensively with the Bird Theatre Company, Nikki then joined Motionhouse Dance Theatre in September 2001, completing the tour of Fearless, then devising and touring their latest production Volatile. She is currently freelancing, teaching and choreographing.

Tap Faculty

Nick French
Head of Department

Nick French trained at Laine Theatre Arts. West End experience includes 42nd Street,
Me and My Girl, West Side Story, La Cage aux Folles in concert, Mack and Mabel in concert, This and That, and A Glamorous Evening with Evelyn Laye.
Film experience includes Firelight and Emma. He has taught at various schools and is an examiner for the Imperial Modern Theatre Dance Branch. His Cert Ed was gained in 2002.

Graeme Henderson
Tap Tutor

Graeme has a strong American connection with his work starting when he played ‘Billy Lawlor’ in '42nd St' at the Theatre Royal Drury Lane opposite Catherine Zeta-Jones. It continued with Danny Daniels (choreographer of ‘The Tap Dance Kid’ on Broadway) and more recently with Graeme’s improvisational skills at the Swing 46 Club. He danced alongside Savion Glover, Max Pollack, Barbara Duffy, Roxane Butterfly, and Buster Brown. He has also trained in New York with Charles Goddertz, Germaine Goodson, Phil Black and Margaret Morrison.

Work with British choreographers includes Gillian Gregory, Frank Thompson, Stephanie Carter, Jenny Arnold, Stephen Mear, Chrissy Ling, Johnny Worthy and Mark Bruce.

Graeme has choreographed many shows himself which include ‘No No Nannette’ (Guildford School of Acting), ‘Rhythm ‘N’ Shoes’ (for the Spirit of the Dance UK tour) ‘Flora The Red Menace’ (London revival), ‘Ain’t We Got Fun’ (Prince of Wales Theatre with Barbara King) ‘Crazy Rhythm’ (for the Dance Spectacular at the Hackney Empire) and ‘Steppin Out’ for Jon Peterson (QE2 World Cruise) and pantomime at Newbury. For the last two years he has choreographed Panto at the Theatre Royal, Bury St. Edmunds.

He was Assistant Choreographer to Jenny Arnold on the award-winning ‘Jerry Springer The Opera’ at the National Theatre and at the Cambridge Theatre in the West End.

Graeme has co-written, choreographed and performed two critically acclaimed one-man shows at the Edinburgh Festival: ‘A Drop Of Fred’ (1991) and ‘Tapestry’ (2000)

He has taught at the Italia Conti School, Doreen Bird College, the Urdang Academy, Judith Sylvester School, Arts Educational School, SLP College Leeds, Liverpool Theatre School & College, Reynolds Performing Arts and the Elliott-Clarke School. He currently teaches rhythm tap at Laine Theatre Arts and the Midlands Academy as well as lecturing on many occasions for the IDTA, ISTD, BATD, ADA, BDTA , NCDTA and NATD.

He is an honorary member of both the IDTA and the BATD in recognition of his contribution to dance and in addition to his Carl Alan Teachers Award was most recently awarded the coveted Carl Alan Professional Award by the Stage Dance Council.

Graeme is currently developing ‘The Great Big Tap Show’ in conjunction with Artisanda UK.

Drama Faculty

Luis de Abreu MA, PGCE
Vice Principal - Artistic Director and Foundation Degree Programme Leader

After training at the Doreen Bird College of Performing Arts, under the direction of Doreen Bird, Luis De Abreu went on to train in Drama at the Poor School where his tutors included Paul Caister, Bardy Thomas, George Hall and John James. Other training has included a Script and Story Structure Course with Robert McKee, Approaches to Physical Theatre at Middlesex University a Mask Workshop with the Pleiades Company and Kasm Mask, and Commedia dell'arte with Antonio Fava. He has also completed an MA in Physical Theatre at the University of Surrey and Royal Holloway University of London, and a PGCE at Canterbury Christ Church University College. Performing roles include Heinz in Today, Albert Parker in When We Are Married, Toby in Ways and Means, Mr Burnum in Hands Across The Sea and Lucio in Measure for Measure.

Luis was also one of the original Bird Theatre Company members. He Joined the College as a Drama Tutor in 1996 and was later promoted to Head of Drama and Performance Studies. He was also Agency Manager for Bird Personnel Management from 1998 - 2005. As a director, he has worked on Hands Across the Sea, Bouncers, Barnum, The Wiz, The Owl And The Pussycat, Line, Teechers, Infidelities!, Road, Habeus Corpus, Children of Eden, Private Wars and Commedia dell'arte. Other productions include choreography and direction for Dentro Da Minha Cabeça and choreography for Metamorphosis (Dance Theatre). Publications include A Career into Dance for CDET. He was part of an AHRB Innovation Research Project, 19th Century theatre rehearsal process, which was headed by Dr G Bush-Bailey & Dr J Bratton at Royal Holloway University of London. He wrote and designed the Foundation Degree in Creative Industries: Acting for Bird College which was successfully validated by University of Greenwich for five years. He is currently External Examiner for the BA (Hons) Physical Theatre programme at St Mary's College, Surrey University.

Sharrone Comber BA (Hons) MA (Voice Studies)
Voice Tutor

Sharrone started her career training at The Italia Conti Academy of Performing Arts where her tutors included Alan Harding, Bonnie Lythgoe, Steffan Griff, Linda James and Roy Gregory. Television appearances include The Brian Conley Show, Crimewatch UK and various commercials. Whilst training for her Performing Arts Diploma she also gained LAMDA Diplomas in Verse and Prose. She then attended The Rose Bruford School of Speech and Dram where she was chosen for the Carlton Hobbs Radio Competition, was winner of the Woolwich Bursary Award and was also a nominee for the Laurence Olivier Bursary Award. Roles include Antigone in Antigone, Adriana in The Comedy Of Errors, Hero in Much Ado About Nothing, Hedda in Hedda Gabler, Marlena in The Bitter Tears Of Petra Von Kant and Viv in Hard Feelings. She has acted in Film, TV and Theatre roles including Suzanne Aubin in the West End Production Under The Doctor with Anton Rodgers, Peter Davison and Harriet Thorpe. Having worked professionally for a number of years Sharrone then studied for an MA in Voice Studies at The Central School of Speech and Drama where various tutors and workshop leaders included Joe Windley, David Carey, Andrew Wade, Cicely Berry, Frankie Armstrong, Barbara Houseman, Joanna weir Ouston and Gillyanne Kayes. Sharrone has been Voice Coach for London Talent 2004 at The Hammersmith Lyric Theatre; recently she has completed her MA Dissertation and is delighted to be joining Bird College.

Bill Curtis
Acting for Television Tutor

Bill Curtis has worked for the television industry for over twenty years. His professional career began in medical physics when lightweight electronic camera systems were a new innovation. He moved into television studio management and engineering and with assistance from Channel 4, set up Video Engineering and Training (VET) to service the needs of independent filmmakers moving into video acquisition and post-production.

He has trained and consulted in all aspects of television, and is knowledgeable about craft as well as technology. He joined Ravensbourne in 1986 as senior lecturer in vision systems, cameras and lighting, and developed short-course training packages for the industry marketed by Ravensbourne.

As a trainer, he has an extensive network of contacts throughout Independent television and the BBC, and is a full member of the Guild of Television Cameramen and the Society of Television Lighting Directors. As a trainer and lecturer, he has worked extensively with performing arts students, devising training programmes and coaching them in acting and presentation methods for broadcast production.

2002 won the contract to train camera assistants and commentary operators for the Japan and Korea world cup, and wrote the training manuals for the host broadcaster.

2001 won the contract for Journalist diversity training for London News Network and designed a modular series of television broadcast journalism short courses.

1989 - 1994 worked for ‘graduate fashion week’ alongside BBC’s ‘Clothes Show’ and directed multi camera live recordings of the shows providing broadcast masters for the universities and colleges.

1988 worked with Sony Broadcast and set up the structure for crewing the broadcast press coverage at the Wimbledon Tennis championships, which is still in operation each year to date.

He has produced and directed corporate promos for Vinten Broadcast, Strand Lighting Avolites and Optex International.

He has designed and run management team-skills and media training courses for The Vitec Group, Vinten Broadcast, Drake Communications, Linklaters Alliance, Police Complaints Authority and MBA programmes for Roffey Park Management Centre.

Bill is a writer and book reviewer for Butterworth Heinemann/Elsevier Science and holds a Full Technological Certificate in Industrial Electronics.

Claire Lindsay MA, BA (Hons)
Physical Theatre Tutor

Claire trained theatre at Huddersfield University majoring in Directing and gained a Masters in Physical Performance from Exeter University where she trained under Phillip B. Zarrilli. Claire has accumulated twelve months of intensive training in India in traditional martial-dance and dance-drama with internationally renowned practitioners C. Mohammed Sherif and Ettumanoor P. Kannan. She has experience in the training systems of Jacques Lecoq, Garzeniche, Butoh, Authentic Movement, Yoga, Tai Chi Chuan, and Pansori. Claire has taught and lectured across the UK for a variety of theatre companies, universities and colleges. She has published an article on the relationship between mind and body in Japanese Noh Theatre and is in the process of writing an article on emotions in Indian Kathakali theatre. She has been accepted for a practice based PhD with Phillip B. Zarrilli and is short-listed to receive funding. Directing credits include A Midsummer Night’s Dream (TITP, London), Low Level Panic, Christie in Love, and Peaches (Corridor Theatre). Performing credits include lead roles in Die Nacht and Blood Memory (Dust Physical Theatre), The Seen and the Unseen (Phillip B. Zarrilli) and Njangalude Antigone (Abhinaya Acting company, India). Claire’s work involves the application of intercultural techniques to training and performance to increase personal expressiveness and create innovative theatre performances.

Singing & Music Faculty

Paul Herbert
Head of Department

Paul Herbert trained at Middlesex University where he gained a BA(Hons) in Performing Arts specialising in music.
Since graduating in 1995, he has worked extensively in the London area as a freelance musician, performer, singing teacher, musical director, lecturer
and workshop leader. Until 1999 the main focus of his teaching career was at Middlesex University within the Performing Arts degree programme. As a visiting lecturer, Paul has taught and assessed a programme of modules including Vocal Performance, Musical Theatre, Music Theory, Pop Music, and Opera and has devised interdisciplinary shows.
Paul is part of a band which performs regularly within venues in and around the capital. He has extensive experience working within the recording studio and continues to lead and perform in recording sessions for various projects. Paul composes his own music ranging from Musical Theatre to Pop and is able to use this skill within his teaching role.

Brian Alverson, B. Mus
Musical Director

Brian trained at Berklee College of Music in Boston, Massachusetts where he obtained a B. Mus. in Music Business/Management. Since graduating in 1997, he has worked in musical theatre as a music director and assistant music director in the United States and Europe. Recently Brian was the assistant music director for the European tour of Footloose. Prior to relocating to London 2002, Brian was living in New York City where worked on various workshops and other projects. He also worked extensively for The Goodspeed Opera House in the state of Connecticut, credits include; George M., Redhead, The Pajama Game, Summer of ’42, Lizzie Borden, Heart Land, Mirette and Just So. Brian has also worked as a synthesiser programmer and music copyist on many Broadway and Off-Broadway productions and U.S. National tours, credits include; Kiss Me Kate, Ragtime, Jekyll and Hyde, Bat Boy and more. Recent credits as a music copyist also include the feature films The Lord of the Rings, The Two Towers, Die Another Day, 25th Hour, Big Fish and Troy.

Nathan Martin
Musical Director/Singing Teacher

Singer/pianist Nathan Martin has performed extensively in concert and cabaret all over the world, and recently made his second sell out appearance at Pizza On The Park. He has performed solo shows several times at Jermyn Street Theatre, as well as at Covent Garden Theatre Museum, Dulwich Picture Gallery, Lauderdale House, Giardini del Baraccano - Bologna, for two engagements at Don't Tell Mama - NYC, and for Holland America cruises.
Nathan was seen in Dorothy Fields Forever directed by David Kernan at the King's Head Theatre, London as Musical Director/Arranger and performer. Other UK theatre credits as Musical Director include Helen Lederer's One Night Stand (national tour), Assassins (New End), High Spirits (Bridewell), After The Fair (King's Head), Bastien and Bastienne (BAC), Charlotte: Life? Or Theatre? (Drill Hall), Veronique-A Life Long Cult (Gatehouse), Glitter And Twisted (Diorama) and The Three Divas, Chalk and Cheese and Threesome, at Jermyn Street theatre. He also played piano on Romance Romance (Gielgud), Side By Side By Sondheim (Civic, Chelmsford and The Stables, Wavendon), Miss Saigon (Drury Lane) and The Lion King (Lyceum).
For the past five years, Nathan has worked on the MAC award winning show Simply Barbra starring Steven Brinberg playing at Jermyn Street Theatre. The Arts Theatre and The Playhouse Theatre (London), the Pleasance Theatre - Edinburgh, L'Alp d'Huez - France and tours of the U K, Australia, New Zealand, Hong Kong, Singapore and the United States.
He has also been Musical Director for such performers as Kaye Ballard, Brent Barrett, Deborah Boily, Claiborne Cary, David Campbell, Chris Coleman, Fenella Fielding, Lindsay Hamilton, Linzi Hateley, Paul Hull, Lee Lessack, Jessica Martin, Marin Mazzie, Tim McArthur, Morag McClaren, Kristopher McDowell, Robert Meadmore, Angela Richards, Liz Robertson, Georga Osborne and Gay Soper.
He has made several albums including Simply Barbra - original London cast (TER), Lindsay Hamilton - It's Me!, Chris Coleman - Time For Roses, Jo Jo de la Cerna - Trust The Wind, Paul Hull - I Wish You Love, James Gillan's self titled debut album and most recently, Linzi Hateley - True Colours.
Nathan recently released his debut CD - Anywhere With You, available on LML music.

Dominic Haslam
Musical Director

Dominic Haslam studied at Newcastle and Bretton Hall universities obtaining a degree in Contemporary Musics.
Work as musical director includes: ‘Scott and Zelda, the Endless Carnival by The Sea' (King's Head Theatre), 'From Here to Eternity' (Bridewell Theatre and ongoing, overseen by Tim Rice), ‘Marilyn’,‘Goblins Don’t Scare Us’ and ‘Bronte’ showcases (Greenwich Playhouse), 'The Rose and The Ring', 'Little Me', and 'Honk' (Stage 65 - Salisbury Playhouse), 'Dick Whittington' and 'Cinderella' (Cambridge Arts Theatre, with Christopher Biggins), Bugsy Malone, Guys and Dolls (Whizz Kids –Mumford Theatre, Cambridge), ‘Seven Brides for Seven Brothers’ (Epsom Playhouse) and ‘Pirates of Penzance’ (Leatherhead Theatre).
Dominic has composed music for several theatre productions, including 'Journeys Among the Dead' (Young Vic), 'Madness In Valencia' (R.S.C.), 'Dancing at Lughnasa' (Watermill and Greenwich theatres) ‘The Triumph of Love’, ‘Gentleman of Olmedo’ and ‘The Venetian Twins’ (Watermill theatre), ‘The Merchant of Venice’ (Robinson Theatre, Cambridge), ‘The Crucible’ (Salisbury Playhouse), ‘School of Night’ (R.S.C. Other Place Theatre) and ‘Bird Calls’ (Crucible Studio Theatre, Sheffield).
He has also composed for T.V. and Radio – ‘According to Bex, 'We Are History' (BBC2) and 'Misguided Tours' (BBC Radio 2 pilot), “Museum of Everything” for BBC Radio 4, and ‘Three Men On a Roof’, a short film for the R.S.C.
Dominic is also completing his first musical.
He has also played keyboards for the West End and touring productions of Blood Brothers and has worked as a singing coach, musical director and arranger for Stagecoach Theatre Arts, performing at various venues including Epsom Playhouse, Millenium Dome, Royal Albert Hall and Houses of Parliament.

Nicholas Mojsiejenko
Contextual Studies and Accompanist

Nick Mojsiejenko gained his earliest education as a chorister at St. Paul’s Cathedral, winning a music scholarship to Wellington College and later gaining a first class degree as Organ Scholar at St. John’s College, Oxford. He has lectured at the London School of Contemporary Dance and Goldsmiths College and has taught courses to Accompaniment students of the Guildhall, Performing Arts students at Lewisham College, and students attending the Centre for Young Musicians based at Morley College, London.
Nick Mojsiejenko has had a varied career working in every genre of Music Theatre. For eight years he was music director of Ballet Rambert and then spent four years as Music Director of the London Contemporary Dance Theatre. He has guest conducted for the Ballet Company of the Deutsche Oper in Berlin, the Alvin Alley Dance Company and the Houston Ballet. He has been Musical Director of Threepenny Opera and Happy End at Ipswich, Floyd Collins at the Bridewell Theatre, conducted Cats in Vienna and Antwerp, Chorus Line in the UK and Carmen for Opera East.

Jonathan Burrows
Pianist & Accompanist

Jonathan has been with the College for the past six years. He trained from an early age at the Kent Music School in Canterbury, turning professional after leaving secondary school at 17. His work as a free-lance accompanist has taken him around the world, working with many top artists from home and abroad on board many cruise ships including the QEII. Apart from his work in the college, he is much in demand as an accompanist and free-lance keyboard player, ranging from dancing examinations to pantomime.

Tony Pappano
Pianist / Accompanist

Tony trained at Trinity College of Music and Brunel University, and for the past ten years has worked in many different styles of music. As a producer, session musician and computer music programmer he has released dance related albums and singles under various pseudonyms with compositions aired around the world and TV. He was an original member of ‘Down to the Bone’ band, which had great success in the USA. He continues to be involved in song writing, composition and production with a publishing contract. He has taught piano, is an organist and also performs as an accompanist. Tony is currently studying for a Mphil and a Certificate of Education.

Contextual Studies

Physiotherapy & Body Conditioning

Druanne Roberts MCSP SRP OCPPP
Physiotherapist &Tutor

Having gained experience working for the Remedial Dance Centre, Professor Duffy at the National Orthopaedic Centre in Oxford and previously at Addenbrookes Hospital, Cambridge, Druanne Roberts has specialised in the identification and treatment of injuries for many years. She is currently a member of the Physiotherapy Advisory Group of Dance UK.

Paul Welch
Body Conditioning Tutor

Paul started Gymnastics at a very young age and competed in six piece gymnastics (floor, parallel bars, rings, vault, pommel and high bar) at which he was very successful including a seven year run placed in the top three at the regional championships and qualifying for the National Finals. At the age of 15 Paul joined Bromley Valley Gymnastics Club where he changed disciplines to Sports Acrobatics (partner-work). In this he became the Regional Champion and was seeded fifth in Great Britain. He also competed for the country internationally including a competition in Amsterdam where the team finished fifth. During this time Paul’s team became British Champions at Team Gym and achieved sixth place in the European Championships (Britain’s highest placing). Paul is now a Senior Coach, highly qualified in the teaching of gymnastic skills and different styles of fitness training.

Hannah Barr MSc; BA; LSSM (Dip); MISRM
Anatomy tutor

Hannah graduated from Middlesex University in 2002 with a BA in Dance Studies. She continued her studies at Laban becoming one of the first students to complete the MSc in Dance-Science, graduating in 2003. She recently taught Anatomy and Kineseology at Roehampton University, as well as working as a dance specific fitness trainer.

Robyn Marie Campbell, BA (Hons), MA
Dance Appreciation & Dance Analysis Tutor and Programme Liaison Officer

Robyn studied humanities at the University of British Columbia and York University (Canada) before completing the Professional Apprenticeship Programme in contemporary dance at MainDance in Vancouver (Canada). Since then she has been awarded a Master of Arts in Dance Studies (Distinction) and Professional Diploma in Community Dance Studies (Distinction) from Laban. Her main research interests include concepts of embodiment in dance in the context of contemporary society, geography and politics, and her work has been delivered at conferences including the International Federation for Theatre Research (India, 2003) and the SCHODHE conference (Bretton Hall, 2003).

Rosemarie Gerhard, MA, PGCE, BA (Hons)
Library Manager and Western Theatre Dance Tutor

After a career in teaching Modern Foreign Languages, Rosemarie Gerhard decided to pursue her long-standing interest in ballet by completing a Master of Arts in Dance Studies at the Laban Centre London. Since then she has lectured in Dance History and Labanotation at the Royal Academy of Dance, tutored dissertations, and worked in the Philip Richardson Library helping to develop the information services there.

Administration

Anne Burger
Diploma Faculty Support Officer

Anne is the Faculty Officer for the National Diploma Programme and assistant to Mandy Payne. She is also the Accommodation Officer for the College.

Sue Danby DCL (Dunelm), FRAD, LRAD, ARAD
College Registrar

Sue Danby was the Principal of the College of the Royal Academy of Dance from 1979 to 1999 where she initiated a BA (Hons) degree in The Art and Teaching of Ballet and, later, a B Phil (Hons) degree in Ballet and Contextual Studies, both validated by the University of Durham. In recognition of her services to classical ballet education the University awarded her with an honorary doctorate and in 2000 the Royal Academy of Dance made her a Fellow. Dr. Danby took up the post at Bird College in 1999.

Erica Lawrence ARAD, AISTD
PA to Chief Executive/Choreographer

Erica trained at Bird College, graduating in 1992 and has appeared in several National tours and Repertory productions including Seven Brides for Seven Brothers (Martha), Me and My Girl, Beauty and the Beast, Magic of the Musicals and The Cotton Club. As a dancer/ choreographer she toured in cabaret in Germany and Portugal and worked for Royal Caribbean Cruise Lines as Dance Captain and Assistant Choreographer.
Further choreographic work includes Our Day Out (People’s Theatre, Birmingham), Seven Brides for Seven Brothers (Epsom Playhouse), Pirates of Penzance (Leatherhead Theatre) and a Gala evening at Her Majesty’s Theatre, London
Erica also set up and ran her own Theatre in Education Company “dancexpress” for several years and has taught at various colleges, gaining her Certificate in Education in 2004.

Kelly Hemblen
PA to Chief Executive / HR Officer

Kelly joined Bird College as the Administrative Assistant and Audition Secretary. She completed an NVQ Level 3 in Business Administration, an NVQ Level 2 in I.T, a technical certificate and an ECDL in her first two and a half years of her employment. Kelly is now the HR Officer and PA to the Chief Executive. Her other duties include being the chair of the Health and Safety committee and also the financial administrator.

David Page
Finance Administrator

David has worked for a number of financial companies in an administrative capacity. He joined Bird College in 2001 and is responsible for all aspects of financial administration.

Ray Pearce
Premises Management

Ray is responsible for the general maintenance and cleaning of the buildings. He also handles the day-to-day issues of Health and Safety.

Admissions

Bird College welcomes applications from all sections of the community regardless of ethnicity, religion or gender. The College is committed to meeting the requirements of learners with special educational needs.

BA(Hons) Dance and Theatre Performance

Applicants to the three year, full-time BA (Hons) Dance and Theatre Performance should normally be 18 years of age before September 1st of the enrolment year and hold two A Levels or one A Level and an equivalent Further Education qualification. Candidates must pass the College Audition.

click here to view and download an application form

National Diploma in Musical Theatre

Applicants to the three year full-time National Diploma in Musical Theatre should normally be 16 years of age before September 1st of the enrolment year and hold a minimum of four GCSE Level certificates or the equivalent. Candidates must pass the College Audition.

click here to view and download an application form

Foundation Degree in Creative Industries: Acting

The College admission policy ensures a high quality intake of students seeking to enter theatre or theatre-related employment. The main criterion for access to the programme is in line with that of the University:

The admission for each student will be based on the reasonable expectation that the student will be able to achieve the learning outcomes and the standard required for the particular award. (1997 University of Greenwich Academic Framework, p.6)

Applicants seeking entry to the Foundation Degree programme are predominantly performers most of whom normally hold traditional qualifications in the form of English GCSE, minimum grade C. 180 points at AS/A Level, with a minimum grade "C" in two A Level subjects; or a BTEC National Diploma in Performing Arts with a high profile; or GNVQ Advanced in Performing Arts. However, candidates who have relevant attainments in the theatre context they wish to pursue can apply without the full range of academic qualifications normally required for a programme in higher education. Care is taken to ensure that only those students with a successful profile of performance/creative work and who show aptitude for the programme are offered places. All applicants must have some drama experience. Applications are welcome from mature entrants, those from over-seas, and those currently working in the arts or related areas and who are able to demonstrate that they have relevant experience and the potential to succeed on the course. Applicants attend an audition and an interview.

click here to view and download an application form

Pre-vocational Foundation Year in Dance and Theatre Performance

This course is for Candidates who are 16+ at the start of the course.
Applicants are normally expected to have received some prior dance training. All candidates must successfully pass the College Audition for this programme. This is a carefully conceived assessment and is conducted by senior teachers to assess potential skills in dance, singing and drama, as well as suitability for a career in the theatre profession. Applicants that have auditioned for the BA (Hons) Degree or the National Diploma will not be required to have an additional audition for the pre vocational course and be offered a place on this course based on their audition.

Through individual interview, personal qualities such as motivation, communication and flexibility are assessed and career aspirations are discussed. Candidates are notified of the audition date and procedure upon receipt of the completed application form, fee and enclosures and after the advertised closing date.

click here to view and download an application form

MA by Research: Dance and Musical Theatre

Entry requirements and conditions:
A first degree at 2.i or above is the normal pre-requisite. In exceptional cases we will interview students with 2.ii degrees or equivalent and appropriate professional experience.

All students that meet the entry criteria will be interviewed. Candidates must be aware that a place cannot be offered unless a suitable specialist supervisor is available.

How to apply:
Application forms for the MA by Research are available from: University of Greenwich enquiries: Email: cinfo@gre.ac.uk; Telephone: 0800 005 006. Candidates are encouraged to make informal enquiries to The Vice Principal – Academic at Bird College to discuss their area of research / dissertation topic before they submit the application form.

The application process is in two parts:

Stage One: Applications, accompanied by a research topic outline of 500 words, should be sent to:
The Postgraduate Admissions Officer, Bird College, Birkbeck Centre, Sidcup, Kent DA14 4DE or emailed to: admin@birdcollege.co.uk. Application forms are available from Bird College on 020 8300 6004

Deadline for completion of a Stage One application is 1st June for a programme start in the following September.

Stage Two: Once Stage One has been approved by Bird College, the candidate will make a formal application to the university. Full details of this second stage will be given following successful completion of Stage One.
Deadline for completion of a Stage Two application is 1st September for a start that month.

Proposals should be emailed to the Vice Principal Academic Director at nigel.morgan@birdcollege.co.uk

Policy Statements

Accessibility

The College’s premises are accessible to all users, and the College works hard to continue to improve its facilities. The College will adjust the timetable to ensure that all candidates successful at audition can benefit from the training in premises that meet their needs. The College’s Access and Inclusion Committee monitors accessibility in all its forms. An independent organisation undertakes an annual Health and Safety check, and the College’s Health and Safety Committee monitors premises regularly.

The diversity of the student body

The pictures displayed on this website and in the Prospectus show the broad mix of students that study at Bird College. The following statistics show this diversity by number (the figures refer to the students on the National Diploma in Professional Musical Theatre programme):

Students commencing in September 2007
Total number of applications:	263
Total number awards accepted:	41 (16 male; 25 female)
Total number of applicants with a disability:	21
Number of applicants with a disability that accepted an award:	6

Ethnicity of all NDPMT students at the College, June 2007: 91% White origin; 4% Mixed origin; 4% Black origin; 2% Asian origin.

Equal Opportunities

Bird College promotes the concept of Equal Opportunities for all. We recognise the need to counteract ideas and instances of individual and institutional discrimination on the grounds of race or ethnic origin, marital status, gender, sexual orientation, religion, age, or disability. We seek to provide a learning environment which dispels ignorance and prejudice, promoting Equal Opportunities by:

a) adopting the use of inclusive language;
b) examining teaching materials within Departments;
c) challenging inappropriate remarks to or about an individual or group;
d) valuing the role of all members of the College and encouraging them to participate and lead in all College activities;
e) considering the practicality, where necessary, of adapting premises and equipment and providing special aids for the disabled;
f) stressing the need for all members of the College to listen to each other as part of a sound work ethic;
g) promoting positive views of all members of the wider community.

All students are selected without regard to race or ethnic origin, gender or sexual orientation. Age and disability are disregarded providing they can successfully complete a physically demanding specialised dance training course of three year’s duration, followed by reasonable expectations of a professional performance career in dance. In cases where this is not thought to be possible the College will seek to guide the applicant towards an appropriate alternative.
The policy will be monitored and will be reviewed annually.

All members of the College are required to observe and comply with this policy.
Any instances of harassment will be dealt with seriously. It will be investigated under the College’s disciplinary or grievance procedures.

Legal Statements

Copyright
1. By viewing the Bird College website the user is deemed to consent to all terms and conditions set out below. If you have any questions regarding the terms and conditions, you should contact the Assistant to the Principal.

2. The College reserves the right at all times to vary, change, alter, amend, add to or remove any of these items. By browsing the website you accept that you are bound by the current terms and conditions and notices and we therefore recommend that you check these each time you visit the site.

3. All copyright and other intellectual property rights in any material contained in this website is either owned by the College or has been licenced to the College by the rights owners. The website contains trademarks, including the College’s name. Use of these trademarks is forbidden unless prior written permission has been obtained from the owner of the trademark.

4. The user may access any part of the site and download or copy material (by printing off individual pages on to paper) or download material onto disc (but not on to any server or other device connected to a network) for personal non-commercial use only. The College shall retain the copyright in such material or where the material has been licenced to the College, by the rights owners of the material.

5. Links to the College website are not permitted other than to the Home Page except with prior written permission. Links to the College website from within a frameset definition are not permitted except with prior permission.

6. You may not remove any copyright, trademark or intellectual property notices contained in the original material from any material downloaded or copied from the website.

7. Copying, distributing or any use of the materials contained on the web site for any commercial purpose is prohibited.

8. You may not create a database by systematically downloading substantial parts of the website.

Disclaimer

1. The content of the website is for general information only and does not constitute any form of advice or recommendation upon which a specific decision should be made. The College has done its best to ensure the accuracy and currency of the materials contained on its website but excludes any warranty express or implied as to quality, accuracy, timeliness, completeness or fitness for a particular purpose of the material contained this website. The College will not be liable for any claims, penalties, loss, damages or expenses arising from the use or the inability to use the website or from any unauthorised access or alteration to the website [by a third party]. This clause shall not exclude liability for death or personal injury directly caused by the negligence of the College.

2. The College accepts no responsibility for loss or damage that may arise from reliance on information or advice contained on its website.

3. The College website includes links to external websites. These links are provided to help you find additional information quickly and easily. The College accepts no responsibility for the content of these websites and specifically excludes to the fullest extent permitted by law all liability that may arise with respect to or as a result of such material causing damage, costs, injury or financial loss of any kind.

4. Whilst the College website may from time to time contain advertising material, the College does not endorse or accept any liability for any of the products or services so advertised, or for any error or inaccuracy in the advertisements. Advertisers and sponsors are responsible for ensuring that material submitted for inclusion on the website complies with all relevant laws.

5. These terms are not intended to confer any benefit on a third party under the provision of the Contracts (Rights of Third Parties) Act 1999.

6. Any rights not expressly granted herein are reserved to the College.

7. The College reserves the rights at any time to suspend or terminate your access to or use of the website.

8. (a)These Terms & Conditions of use shall be construed and interpreted in accordance with English law. The courts of England shall [subject as set out in clause 17(b)] have exclusive jurisdictions in relation to any claim, dispute or other matters arising therefrom.
(b) For the exclusive benefit of the College, it shall retain the right to bring proceedings in the Courts of the country of residence of any user of the website.

9. We may intercept and monitor all communications with the College.

10. If any provision of these terms and conditions is found to be invalid by any Court having competent jurisdiction, the invalidity of that provision will not effect the validity of the remaining provisions of these terms and conditions which shall continue to have full force and effect.

11. The failure by the College to exercise any right or remedy under these terms and conditions shall not constitute a waiver of that right or remedy.

BA(Hons) Dance &Theatre Performance validated by University of Greenwich

The BA (Hons) in Dance and Theatre Performance is a practically based degree programme, providing the same amount of training and performance opportunity as the Diploma, with the increased academic rigour which can enhance career potential. The degree is validated by the University of Greenwich, who continue to support and encourage the College’s independence and unique character.

The College successfully integrates an intensive three year professional training with an internationally recognised degree level qualification. The programme is designed to produce highly skilled performers equipped with professional abilities and transferable skills to enable them to adapt to a rapidly changing work environment. Although study for a degree qualification will require a substantial level of academic work, students will not be spending all their time in a classroom. The course is performance based, which means that dance, drama and singing form the major part of the programme.

Funding for the BA and the FD:
This programme is funded by HEFCE via the University of Greenwich. Student ‘top up’ contributions apply at the current rate, and students may access the student loan system. Full details can be given by the college on request.

Year One
Students study a challenging range of dance disciplines, and are introduced to a supporting framework of theoretical study.

Technique Studies
Ballet
Tap
Jazz
Contemporary

Performance Studies
Dance Composition
Verse and Text in Action
Vocal Technique
Western Theater Dance

Contextual Studies
The Dancers Body
Dance Appreciation & Criticism
Music Theory & Appreciation

Year Two
Students continue to develop a range of skills across the Technique and Performance studies, increasing the level of understanding and awareness of their own versatility. Students are encouraged to critically assess their own work with a growing
confidence and maturity.

Technique Studies
Ballet
Tap
Jazz
Contemporary

Performance Studies
Choreography
Acting & Script Analysis
Vocal Studies

Contextual Studies
Health in Performance
Dance Analysis
Music Appreciation & Analysis
Musical Theatre in Britain

Year Three
The final year presents the opportunity to specialise in certain areas of study in order to develop an individual style in performance. The Contextual Studies also enable research into dance or theatre-related topics through the option of either a written dissertation or a combined presentation of practical and written work.

Technique Studies (options)
Ballet
Tap
Jazz
Contemporary

Performance Studies (options)
Solo performance in Musical Theatre
Solo performance in Dance
Solo performance in Drama

Contextual Studies (options)
Dissertation
Investigatory Project

National Diploma in Musical Theatre validated by Trinity College London

The three year National Diploma in Musical Theatre is designed for those students with a specific vocational focus. It will equip them with the technical and creative skills necessary for a career in the performing arts.

This programme offers the students an intensive professional training. It aims to develop technical, artistic and creative skills to a professional level to prepare students for a successful and diverse career in Theatre Performance.

The Diploma is p