In the 'House Seats'

Send us a text [https://www.buzzsprout.com/twilio/text_messages/1068046/open_sms] This episode comes live from the recent UK stage and ballet scholarships organised by the British Association of Teachers of Dancing where Craig was one of the judges. Here you can listen to some interviews with competitors and parents on what this event means to them and their hopes and aspirations for their future in the performing arts profession. The British Association of Teachers of Dancing [https://batd.co.uk] was the first professional dance teacher’s association to be established in the year 1892. From this early beginning we have now grown to cover the whole of the UK and have members on five continents. The Association organises refresher courses, festivals, seminars, championships, instructional sessions and annual conferences. Professional and amateur examinations are available in Tap, Jazz, Modern Dance, Stage, Ballet, Acro-Gymnastics, Highland, Scottish National, Dance Exercise, Special Needs, Majorette, Freestyle, Rock ‘N’ Roll, Latin American, Modern Ballroom, Club Latino, Classical, European National and Country Western Line Dancing. The British Association of Teachers of Dancing is represented on the British Dance Council, The Royal Scottish Official Board of Highland Dancing, Theatre Dance Council International and is a Council for Dance, Drama and Musical Theatre Validated Awarding Organisation.

Send us a text [https://www.buzzsprout.com/twilio/text_messages/1068046/open_sms] This episode comes from the Surrey Dance Festival where some students had entered one of the heats for Miss Dance of Great Britain competition. These student give there feedback on their experience, the fantastic atmosphere at the theatre and also the support and camaraderie that all the competitors share with each other. Miss Dance of Great Britain is a long running theatre dance [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Theatre_dance] competition for girls, established and organised by the International Dance Teachers Association [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/International_Dance_Teachers_Association]. The national finals are held annually at the Winter Gardens [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Winter_Gardens,_Blackpool] in Blackpool [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blackpool], England [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/England]. The finals also include the judging of the boys competition, Dance Master UK [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dance_Master_UK], and the International Ballet Championships [https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=International_Ballet_Championships&action=edit&redlink=1].

Send us a text [https://www.buzzsprout.com/twilio/text_messages/1068046/open_sms] Craig was the adjudicator of this year's Bright Star Festival and he took some time out to chat with Lydsey, the organiser, along with some of the participants and teachers to understand what makes this festival different from others and what the dancers perceptions are of festivals. This is billed as a "supportive, friendly and encouraging" festival that has had wonderful feedback from all who take part, so have a listen.

Send us a text [https://www.buzzsprout.com/twilio/text_messages/1068046/open_sms] Jonathan Andrew Hume is a professional British screen and stage performer who is highly skilled in both acting and singing and is well-known for his work on Pride, Amazing Grace and 10,000 BC. On stage, he is famous for playing Simba in The Lion King musical, Kevin J, Ali and various other roles in Come from Away and is currently playing the part of Sargeant Paine in the musical adaptation of The Third Man directed by Trevor Nunn at the Menier Chocolate Factory in London. His other theatre projects include Jesus Christ Superstar at the Wyllyotts Theatre; Rufus Longbottom and the Space Rabbit in the UK Tour; Alice in Hinterland with the Rose Youth Company at Rose Theatre and Bernstein’s Mass at the Royal Festival Hall. Jonathan was in the 2018 feature film Mary Poppins Returns. Among his television works is Down to Earth, EastEnders, Disney’s Favourite Songs, Strictly Come Dancing, Hope & Glory, and Anything’s Possible. He has performed at the Musical Meets Opera with the Rotterdam Philharmonic Orchestra (De Deolen, Rotterdam) and he has also worked on various commercials both for the TV and radio abroad and in the UK as well as narrating Anton Marks’ Audible audiobook recording.

Send us a text [https://www.buzzsprout.com/twilio/text_messages/1068046/open_sms] Sam Underwood was born in Woking, Surrey and attended the Winston Churchill School. He trained at the Karen Clarke Theatre Group (now Summerscales Performing Arts). He was taught by vocal coach Phil Wisdom and attended Songtime Theatre Arts. He moved to the United States in 2006 where he studied at the American Musical and Dramatic Academy in New York. After graduating he went on to appear as Marchbanks in George Bernard Shaw's Candida at the Irish Repertory Theatre, New York. In April 2010, he was asked to play the part of Alan Strang in a production of Equus at the John Drew Theater at Guild Hall of East Hampton, co-starring alongside Alec Baldwin. In 2013, Sam was cast in the eighth season of television series Dexter in the recurring role of Zach Hamilton, Dexter Morgan's 'protégé'. He subsequently joined the third season of Homeland as Leo Carras. Beginning in February 2014, Sam took on the dual roles of twins Mark and Luke Gray in the second season of the Fox murder mystery The Following. But after the death of Luke, he was left playing Mark – who had split identities – in its third and final season. In 2017, Sam went on to join the cast of the hit AMC thriller series Fear the Walking Dead in its third season as Jake Otto, the enigmatic son of the colony leader. In 2019, he was cast as Adam Carrington in The CW television series Dynasty, a reboot of the 1980s series of the same name. When this podcast was recorded, he was playing the title role of Holly Martins in the brand new musical production of The Third Man directed by Trevor Nunn at the Menier Chocolate Factory in London.