They shared news of some of the theatre companies, performers and entertainers they hope to welcome to the city over an extended festival weekend.
Freedom Performing Arts has opened new studios at the former Castle Girls School in Knaresborough.
The arts school, which has 380 students aged three to 18, has operated out of the town’s Aspin Park Academy since 2010.
It will continue to run two classes every night at Aspin as well as one nightly class at the new venue in Castle Yard.
Amy Meikle, principal at Freedom Performing Arts, received the keys for the new premises in December last year after plans to open a museum on the site fell through.
Students at Friday’s opening.
She said it cost £25,000 to fully restore the building, which had been empty since it hosted Knaresborough and Harrogate Dance Centre pre-covid.
A ribbon was cut to mark Friday’s opening, which was attended by retired well known local dance teacher Miss Wenda (pictured below), who taught ballet and tap at Freedom before retiring in 2016.
Ms Meikle said being in the Castle Yard, close to the town centre, made the school feel like part of the community:
“I have loved seeing all the new businesses open in Knaresborough this month with more on the way. The town seems to be thriving and we feel super proud to have brought part of our school into the heart of the town centre.
“It really is a dream come true, I can’t believe this is real and I’m so grateful to everyone in my life who has helped make this possible.”
The studio has been completely renovated.
How the building looked in December.
Freedom runs a wide range of classes including ballet, tap, street, jazz, musical theatre, modern and acrobatics.
The building holds a strong personal connection for Ms Meikle, who said:
“I was born and bred in Knaresborough and my mum actually attended school in this building back in the 1950s/60s so it really has come full circle.”
The school has been nominated for four awards at Saturday’s Knaresborough Business Awards, organised by Knaresborough Business Collective.
The two-storey former girls school also hosts the 1st Scriven Scout Group.
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Talented sisters praise Harrogate Associated Sixth Form for “warm welcome”
This story is sponsored by St. Aidan’s & St. John Fisher Associated Sixth Form.
St. Aidan’s & St. John Fisher Associated Sixth Form is based in the heart of Harrogate neighbouring the famous Stray. With excellent bus and rail links, it provides an easily accessible and outstanding education for students already familiar with either school and offers a welcoming environment for new students.
Ahead of the Information Evening which takes place on Thursday January 19, the Stray Ferret spoke to two talented sisters who joined the Associated Sixth Form as newcomers moving to the area from South Africa and who are grateful to the schools for helping them to achieve their dreams.
Hannah Carey studied Dance, Biology and Spanish at A Level and is now training full-time at the prestigious Rambert Dance Company in London.
Previously at school in South Africa, Hannah had the challenge of adapting to not only a new school but a new country. She explained how she found it:
“In the Associated Sixth Form, I did not find myself to be the only dancer in my year group (as I had been at my old school) so I was presented with an array of opportunities.
“As I studied for my A Levels, it of course got harder and harder to manage the commitment demanded by my education and my developing dance career outside of school.
“My dance teachers were incredible and al of the staff in the Associated Sixth Form were really supportive throughout this time, towards me and other athletes in school. Their support enabled me and other students to achieve success in academic subjects and follow our dreams, whether that was to study dance as in my case or to pursue other sports or performance activities to an elite level.
“I can say without a doubt that I would not be where I am now, if it wasn’t for the support and encouragement I received from the Associated Sixth Form.”
Rower Lauren Carey is a student at the prestigious Ivy League Yale University in the US, where she is studying Economics and is a member of Yale Women’s Crew. She also competes annually at the World Championships with U23 Team GB and dreams of reaching the Olympics.
Joining the Sixth Form for Year 13 only, the invaluable pastoral support the Associated Sixth Form offers to newcomers was essential to Lauren. She studied Maths, Physics and Chemistry at A Level in the Associated Sixth Form and we asked her about the welcome she received:
“Diving headfirst into my final year of A Levels was always going to be tricky and I had the added concern of making new friends when friendship groups had already been formed. The friendly ethos of the Association and the staff and students made this much easier. I met some amazing people who had a real impact on me.
“Furthermore, academically the institution is brilliant. I struggled a little because I was transferring my South African education to a British one, but I was met with an overwhelming offering of help.”
The Sixth Form is well known for excellent results in academic subjects but actively encourages students to get involved with the extended curriculum. Lauren recalled how she experienced the support of the Sixth Form with her commitment to sport:
“St. Aidan’s & St. John Fisher Associated Sixth Form was a really understanding institution when it came to my sports. Whether it was allowing me to leave class 10 minutes early so that I could sprint to the train to get training on time, or the agreement that I could use my free periods to run to the gym to lift some weights.
The shared Christian ethos of both St Aidan’s Church of England High School and St John Fisher Catholic High School continues to thrive in the Associated Sixth Form and this is reflected in the personal qualities of the students who attend the schools, as Lauren explains:
“The Associated Sixth Form taught me to be hard working, kind and determined. The teachers inspired me and pushed me towards my dreams, something I am forever grateful for.”
St Aidan’s Associated Sixth Form Information Evening takes place on Thursday 19 January 2023. For further details and to book your place today, click or tap here.
The event provides the opportunity for parents/carers of Year 11 students currently attending either of the schools and new students and their parents/carers to meet subject teachers, current Sixth Form students and key staff. There will also be a presentation at which you can find out more about the excellent academic standards and pastoral support available.
Carnival to return to Harrogate this monthCarnival is set to take place in Harrogate this month with an international parade through the town centre and a celebration featuring music and dance in Valley Gardens.
The free, family-friendly festival will take place on Saturday, July 30 and will feature performers from Leeds West Indian Carnival, who will parade through Harrogate town centre joined by Houriat Belly Dancing, Sweep of Swallows kite puppets, Chinese dragon dancers, brass bands and more.
Following the morning parade, an all-day celebration will take place in Valley Gardens including street theatre, interactive workshops, international street food and two stages hosting music and dance performances.
The event, which was previously held in 2019, has been paid for by Harrogate Borough Council‘s tourism body, Destination Harrogate, and will be delivered by Harrogate International Festivals.
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John McGivern, destination events manager at Destination Harrogate, said:
“Carnival is an awesome family-friendly and multicultural event that both local residents and visitors can enjoy, and we’re delighted to be bringing it back to the Harrogate district this year.
“It feels like a great time to celebrate, not only a wonderful event, but with early signs from the recently released STEAM* and STR** figures suggesting a strong start to the summer season, we can look forward to this event also boosting the recovery of our visitor economy.
“Carnival helps to showcase the quality of the Harrogate district as a unique events destination, and we’re excited for our amazing summer continuing with this fantastic celebratory event.”
Sharon Canavar, chief executive, Harrogate International Festivals, said:
The curtain rises for the Ripon Theatre Festival“After an incredibly tough couple of years for our community it is wonderful to be able to celebrate with a huge party and celebration in our beautiful open spaces. The Carnival is free for everyone to attend and celebrate the diversity, colours, costumes, sounds and flavours from the four quarters of the world, right here in Harrogate. With global music and dance stages, themed food zones, art and craft workshops and street theatre, this family-friendly day is a true party in every sense of the word.
“Think Rio in Rhododendrons, parade in the petunias, sounds in the sun colonnades, food in the flora and dancing in the dahlias, and you will begin to get a taste of what the day holds in store.”
Arts and community groups from across the city, are coming together to play a role in the new Ripon Theatre Festival
Taking place from June 23 to 26, the festival aims to brighten the open spaces and venues in the city with professional and community performances.
Plans include puppetry, dance, drama, street theatre, storytelling, children’s activities and family shows.
Festival director Ian Holloway and representatives from the organisations that make up the festival team, introduced themselves to an audience of 40 potential participants, volunteers and supporters at a meeting held in Ripon Arts Hub last week.
Festival team members, from the left: Ian Holloway, Tina Salden, Simon Hewitt, Katie Scott and Julia Whitham
The event is being made possible with funding from a growing number of businesses and organisations, including main sponsor Wolseley, which has been a leading employer in the Ripon area for more than half a century.
Family shows are planned for Ripon’s Spa Gardens
In attendance were representatives of some of the festival’s venues and partners. These included Ripon Arts Hub, Ripon Library, Ripon Workhouse Museum and Ripon Together along with the new Ripon Business Improvement District, represented by BID board director, John Alder.
In addition to the family-focused entertainment at Spa Gardens, plans include open-air Shakespeare at Fountains Abbey, hard-hitting drama at Ripon Bowling Club, living history at the Workhouse Museum along with a community revue at Ripon Arts Hub, storytelling and children’s theatre at Ripon Library and street theatre & entertainers in Ripon City Centre
Volunteers sought
Volunteer Co-ordinator, Tina Salden, said:
“There are many roles for volunteers to help out as stewards and marshals or to serve refreshments, look after visiting artists or direct visitors and audiences.
Help is also needed ahead of the Festival with publicity around the region to ensure that the events are enjoyed by as many people as possible.” Anyone who missed the meeting, but who wants to get involved can contact info@ripontheatrefestival.org.
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Families invited to enjoy the sights and sounds of Ripon
Seven of Ripon’s best-known locations are combining on Saturday March 12 to provide free entertainment and interactive fun for families.
The Sights and Sounds of Ripon programme, organised by Harrogate Borough Council, runs from 11am until 2pm at all venues.
It includes activities ranging from participation in a Victorian school lesson at the Workhouse Museum, to a visit to the bell tower at Ripon Cathedral.
Anyone interested in how fingerprints have been used to catch criminals can find out at the Prison and Police Museum, on St Marygate, where they can try fingerprinting themselves.
The cathedral will host singing, dancing, displays, craft activities and a bell tower tour.
At the nearby Courthouse Museum on Minster Road, visitors can see how the city’s criminals were brought to justice in bygone days.
In addition to the array of activities at the three heritage attractions run by Ripon Museum Trust, the cathedral, which celebrates its 1,350th anniversary this year, will host an exhibition featuring community services provided by 14 local organisations.
There be family crafts and games and performances from local choirs, Ripon City Morris Dancers and Betty Lupton’s Ladle Laikers.
The dancers and the Ladle Laikers will also be performing at the Workhouse Museum, along with singers and a ukulele band, while Punch and Judy shows will take place at 11.30am and 1.30pm.
The city council’s treasured items will be the focus of talks in the Mayor’s Parlour
At Ripon Town Hall, the city’s silverware and other treasures, collected over centuries, will be the focus of talks held on the hour from 11am in the Mayor’s parlour.
Those looking for some interactive entertainment will find it at Ripon Arts Hub on Allhallowgate, where they can view a working rehearsal by Ripon Youth Theatre between 11am and 12 noon and join in live Oliver! workshops at 12.15pm, 1pm and 1.45pm.
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The city’s library will hold storytime readings for 0-6 year-olds from 11am and there will be stories and activities for 7-11-year-olds between 12 noon a 12.45pm.
In addition to the daytime programme at the library, which will feature community information stalls, Ripon Poetry Festival will be staging a free to attend open mic night at 7.30pm, for which places need to be booked in advance.
Further programme details are available here.