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RND Academy of Dance
Palace Theatre, Redditch
Sunday, July 3rd
READ all about it! RND’s seventh showcase of their extremely capable and entertaining troupe of young dancers took a poignant and purposeful look back at the past two years of the Covid-19 pandemic.
Like many arts groups and dance companies, the uncertainties of the last 24 months saw them cancel their main events, much to everyone’s disappointment, even if we understood why.
However, after a two-year delay, this weekend RND were back with a bang to make up for lost time.
Their three-act show perfectly and poignantly encapsulated the wide range of emotions we’ve all suffered and endured during such uncertain times.
And they did so with incredible energy, joy, skill and celebration. It was hard not to get dragged into the powerful feelings of dismay but ultimately those of elation that the human sprit will always shine through.
From the super-cute minis up to the sensational seniors, and all those age groups in between, RND’s dancer and singers took us on what is an already nostalgic retrospective of life since that initial lockdown back in March 2020.
Normal life as we know it stopped, school was out for what seemed like for ever and we only had ‘Parklife’ to look forward to when seeing our friends and relatives.
Star performer and future news anchor Madison Delmore helped us ‘read all about’ the impact lockdowns had not just on our own lives but of those in theatre-land too, reminding us how lucky we are to see shows like this now we are opened back up again.
The songs and routines of this highly polished ensemble made it hard to fight back the truth we have all been through a hell of lot in recent years, but they ultimately left us with a positive and optimistic outlook.
Closing with ‘I’m Still Standing’ and once more to a rapturous encore, RND showed us it was not all doom and gloom and gave us hope for the future.
Chapeau to dance teachers Nicola Thomas and Rachael Cole who choreographed and directed a brilliant show the whole town should be rightly proud of, especially given the challenges of the pandemic itself.
I for one can’t wait to see what these talented folks deliver next, and hopefully we won’t have to wait so long to see it.
Thanks for an uplifting and entertaining afternoon.
James Iles
· Anyone who wants to get in touch with RND Academy of Dance should email [email protected]