As part of Alton Convent School's 70th Jubilee celebrations, parents and friends were invited to an evening of art, music and dance. The evening started with a colourful display of Maypole dancing from pupils of year 5 and line dancing from year 6. Parents listened to the many musical solos from senior school girls and watched entranced as Sophie, recently named "Young Dancer of the Year", performed several ballet dances. From the Prep school, Joe impressed fellow pupils and parents alike with his interpretation of Pachelbel's Canon on the electric guitar. Joe, who has his own band, has recently won a musical scholarship to a major public school.

Alton Convent School is delighted to announce that 12 year old Sophie in Form 1B won The Fonteyn Nureyev Young Dancers Competition on Sunday 13th April. Over many weeks Sophie has been training exhaustively to make her way through the various heats to reach Sunday's final at the Bloomsbury Theatre, London. As one of twenty finalists, she danced before a panel comprising Dame Antoinette Sibley DBE, Sir John Tooley and Wayne Sleep OBE. The dancers performed exclusively choreographed variations, choreographed for the competition by Gillian Lynne, in front of a live audience and the judges.

There were two levels competing on Sunday and Sophie won the Level 1 competition for dancers between the ages of 10 and under 13. Dancers were judged on technique, music, performance, and a combination of strength with feminity and character. She was named as “Young Dancer of the Year” in her level and was presented with a beautiful glass trophy and £1500 prize money.

Our own version of Chanel 4's architecture and construction show continues apace here at Alton Convent School. A number of parents have commented recently on how well the Arts Centre is taking shape, with roof tiles and windows now giving the outside of the building something of a 'nearly there' appearance.

A bit more work still needs doing on the inside, but we're hoping that the building will be handed over after Easter, and in full use across the art, drama and music curriculum for the new Academic Year. Internal accommodation is very impressive, with a large drama studio, media suite, classrooms purpose built for music and art and music practice rooms and a proper photographic dark room. A few photos showing progress inside the building are now online.