Let’s Get Blogging! What’s Been Going On and What’s To Come?

Let’s Get Blogging!

What’s Been Going On and What’s To Come?

So, here we are, my first ever ‘Blog’! My children are (finally) tucked up in bed asleep and it’s just me, my keyboard and Tinkerbelle, my cat. Quite a rarity really, but a welcome one, since now I have a chance to tell you all about what has been happening in Get Creative in Brighton’s classes and workshops since September and all the exciting events we have got to look forward to this Half Term.

Yay! We did it!                                                        

Firstly, what better way to start than with our BIG and oh, so exciting NEWS….

I am thrilled and delighted to announce that Get Creative in Brighton is a FINALIST for the ‘UK’s Best Arts, Crafts and Skills Activity’ in the Kallikids 2015 Awards. It is wonderfully heart-warming to know that parents and children love coming to my classes, clubs and events as much as I love running them. And may I send out a HUGE THANK YOU for all your support (and all important votes). The winner will be announced in the next couple of weeks so please do keep your fingers tightly crossed. To win would be so amazing and I hope my getting through to the Finals inspires other mums who have an idea and passion for a small business to go ahead and do it! After all, in Einstein’s words, ‘Creativity is contagious. Pass it on’!

Goodbye September…

The DRAMA TOTS term started back bursting with energetic and enthusiastic pre-schoolers sharing their beautiful imaginations through the weekly adventures of Mr Pickles and Pip. Themes chosen by the children this month have included: Circus, Elsa and Dinosaurs, Hairdressers and Musicians, and Superheroes! We are delighted to have welcomed some wonderful newcomers to our class and Heidi, our KalliKids Sponsored Child has continued to flourish . It is lovely seeing the children grow in confidence each week and they are so engaging to watch! My personal Drama Tot highlight for this month has to be the ‘musicians’ impromptu performance in the ‘hairdressers’ – Britain’s Got Talent, here they come!

The children in both the DRAMA AND DANCE AFTER SCHOOL CLUBS have been brilliant! It never ceases to amaze me how much energy youngsters have after a long day at school and it’s great that they are given the opportunity to channel their energy creatively! The improvisations the children perform in Drama have proved very entertaining and imaginative and it is also touching to hear the positive, encouraging comments that the children give to their peers when watching as a member of an audience.

This Term was the ‘debut’ of my DANCE CLUB idea and it appears to have been a hit! Every week the children learn a taster of a different type of dance. I am a strong believer that everyone can dance, we just need to find which type of dance suits us best; so far we have tried Disco, Ballet, The Jive and Tap. Perhaps the best (and most surprising) bit is that we actually have more boys than girls in the class – for the first time in my dance career there have been more than enough enthusiastic boys for couple dancing – so refreshing! Next week the children have requested Street… I’m practising moves as we speak.

As for SATURDAY DRAMA AND CHOREOGRAPHY CLUB, well, that is always a fun place to be. A great opportunity to make new friends, dress up and perform, with the parents being invited back to watch their newly choreographed/improvised pieces at the end of the session. With a new series of Strictly Come Dancing on television, the children’s  ‘judges comments’ in Dance/Choreography have become more ‘Craig, Darcey, Len and Bruno-like’, making every parent giggle inwardly as they listen to the scores being given! Favourite moment has to be a score of 985643281 given to a lively dance  duet to ‘Happy’; when asked why he had awarded such a high score the ‘judge’ casually replied ‘Because I quite liked it!’.

Yes! The rumours are correct! After the success of the trial at the beginning of September, we now run monthly CIRCUS SKILLS FOR ADULTS WORKSHOPS. A chance for us grown ups to learn, or improve, juggling, poi, hula hooping, diablo, plate-spinning, stilt walking and more. A brilliant way to surprise, impress and teach the kiddies when you get home, opening up an opportunity of quality bonding time. ‘Family hula hooping’ is going to be the next new craze to hit Brighton, I am sure! We have a very relaxed and friendly atmosphere and all levels are welcome. The idea for this came in response to a mum whose daughter had come to our summer Circus Crazy Drama Day, who said that it all looked so much fun she wished she could have a go! I thought this a great idea (plus I needed to brush up on my juggling and plate spinning skills myself) so a phone call was made to the talented, circus performer and owner of Pelotas Productions Abby Hills and a trial workshop was set up!

Hello October!

Now Booking….

• Circus Skills for Adult’s Workshop. 20^th October and the 24^th November, 7:30 – 9pm, at Patcham Methodist Hall, so do book yourself a place. 12 places available per session (and look out for the special offer!).

No doubt you have heard about our Spooky Half Term plans:

• Spooky Making Workshop. Halloween themed Arts and Crafts for children aged 18 months to 11 years. 9:30am – 11am, at Patcham Methodist Hall. This is a parent stay, enjoy (and have tea!) event. Children make at least 3 different fun and ‘spooky’ items to take home.
• Spooky Drama Day. A jam-packed day of drama games, improvisations, dressing up, ghost hunts, face paints, spooks and giggles, for children aged 5 – 11 years (9:30am -2:45pm, at Patcham Memorial Hall), culminating in a ‘thrilling’ performance for parents and carers. Join us if you dare!

I hope you and your children are continuing to enjoy all the events that Get Creative in Brighton has to offer. To keep up to date with up and coming events, please keep checking the ‘What’s On’ page on the website and don’t forget to book in to any class or workshop by emailing me directly, or filling in the contact form.

Ideas!

The thoughts that flutter around children’s heads are priceless. My 3 continue to inspire me with new ideas and my mind is buzzing with new creative workshops which I hope to share with you shortly. If you yourself, or your little ones, have any thoughts for future workshops (for both children and adults) please do let me know and I will see what I can do!

Zzzzzzzzz…..

Well that’s the end to my first Blog. Time for myself and Tinkerbelle to join my 3 monkeys in the Land of Slumber, so as to wake up all bright-eyed and spiky-tailed ready for a four year old’s Dinosaur Party tomorrow!

Have a ‘spooktastic’ October and hope to see you all at various events soon!!

Louisa.