Armando Braswell takes to the stage at the Juilliard-Nord Anglia Education Performing Arts Programme Event

Armando Braswell takes to the stage at the Juilliard-Nord Anglia Education Performing Arts Programme Event Armando Braswell takes to the stage at the Juilliard-Nord Anglia Education Performing Arts Programme Event

What a wonderful evening was had by all at the Juilliard-Nord Anglia Education Performing Arts Programme Event held in the school theatre on Friday night!

The LCIS school choir, all 110 students, opened the event with a wonderful rendition of ‘Glorious’.

Wendy Ellis, Principal, formally welcomed students, parents and invited guests including Tricia Ross, Managing Director of Site-Based Program Development, Juilliard Global Ventures and Mark Murtagh, Senior Managing Director, Business and Strategy, Juilliard Global Ventures. Ms Ellis described how the programme combines our high quality approach to teaching and learning with Juilliard’s artistic values, tradition and expertise. The aim of the programme is to equip our students with the tools, curiosity and cultural literacy to engage with performing arts all their lives.

‘We are delighted to have been chosen as a launch school for the music programme’ said Ms Ellis. ‘This is in part due to the tremendous efforts and energy Mrs Collier and Mrs Risk put into the performing arts programme, but also as a result of the wonderful participation of our students and the support of their parents.‘

The audience then had a chance to listen to two wonderful performances - ‘Comme Toi’ performed by Anais Guidi, MYP 2, and ‘Gone’ performed by Abigaël Mackenzie, MYP 5.

Tricia Ross, Juilliard Global Ventures described how the programme will put music, drama and dance at the heart of our students’ educational experience. She then went on to introduce Armando Braswell, Juilliard Alumnus.

Armando’s performance was mesmerising and moving. He told his life story through the medium of dance. After a difficult start in life and having overcome many tragedies, he found dance in his teenager years. With the support of his Careers Guidance teacher, he found his passion. Despite an initial rejection from the Juilliard School, he persevered and was accepted on his second attempt. From then on his future was clearer. He worked hard and his time at the Juilliard School has given him the skills and experience to have a successful career as a dancer and a choreographer.

We were thrilled to have been at the world premiere of this dance performance which will be performed again at the TEDxBasel event taking place on May 9, 2015 with the Theme: Past, Present, Future. Following his performance, Armando answered questions from the floor. Following closing remarks by Ms Ellis, the audience were invited to the dining room for a cocktail reception.

There was a great buzz at the cocktail reception. Parents, and students alike, were thrilled to have been part of such a unique and moving event and all are looking forward to many more wonderful events as the Juilliard-Nord Anglia Performing Art Programme develops.