Publicity


What headteachers say about SSD Limited:

"We have found 'Strictly School Dancing' to be professional, hardworking, enthusiastic and energetic colleagues. They have introduced the children to numerous dance styles and techniques. The children are positive, active and enjoy the variety of curriculum that having skilled dance teachers can provide. Neil and Sarka are very popular both with children and staff. They are always prepared to go the extra mile and play an important part as team members who genuinely wish to get the very best out of all children. As a relatively new venture they have always been approachable and are willing to listen to feedback. Our Student Senate have very positive observations and last years sell-out summer dance show was a real highlight for the school, the after school club is also very popular and we hope will run for many years."

John D. F. Martin
Headteacher, Castle Hill Junior School
"I have worked with SSD since they started and I have to say they are a well-run company, which enables all the children to thrive and develop their confidence. As a school we have always found them flexible, hard working and very dedicated. Neil and Sarka have a superb rapport with the children and I would recommend SSD to every school. It enriches the children's learning journey and enables them to excel in a form of dancing they may not experience anywhere else. If you want your child to experience something different I would recommend SSD - this is a well-run company with children at its heart...(and it is great value for money!!!)"

David Harris
Head Teacher, Ravenscote Junior School
"The children thoroughly enjoy the dance sessions led by SSD. Extremely professional and very approachable. Highly recommended."

Jeff Maidment
Head Teacher, North Waltham Primary School

Some of the articles written about SSD Limited:




Former dance champ doesn't miss a beat with teenage students

"But Dancing with the Stars-style TV shows, including StarDance in the Czech Republic, are generating interest again, says Šarka Turonová, a well-known Czech dancer who won the ballroom dance championship here twice, as well as several other championships in other world capitals. “It’s much more popular than it used to be, and it’s getting more popular all over the world,” Turonová says. “People love it, and they’ll always love it.”















"STRICTLY School Dancing Amateur Club (SSDAC) will hold a Halloween Dance Festival charity event this month.

The show at Everest Community Academy on Friday, October 28 at 7pm, will feature all of the Basingstoke club’s members performing 21 numbers covering a range of choreographed ballroom and Latin
American dances, including a special finale.

The club’s coach, two time Czech National Champion Sarka Brock and her partner Pavel Dvorak – multiple Czech National Ballroom Champion – will also give a special performance.

Part of the show’s proceeds will be donated to Help for Heroes and the rest will be used within the club for the benefit of its child members’ ongoing training and development in dance.

SSDAC is a non-profit making club for juvenile and junior ballroom and Latin American dancers aged from six to 13 years-old in Basingstoke and the surrounding area. Club members train up to six hours per week and compete on weekends in dance competitions both locally and nationally.

Its members recently closed the first half of the Lord Mayor’s Variety Show in The Anvil and they are currently planning events in Festival Place and in residential homes in the area."

Click here to read the rest of the article.


Shadow minister’s praise for ‘shining light’ school

A BASINGSTOKE school is a shining example for other schools across the country to look towards, according to a senior politician. Conservative Shadow Schools Minister Nick Gibb was glowing in his praise of Castle Hill Junior School, in Winklebury, when he toured it on Monday.

"It's an inspiring school," he said. "If we can just have more schools like this, we won't have any educational problems in this country." The school was classed as good with some outstanding elements at its last Ofsted inspection in January and, like the inspectors, Mr Gibb noted the quality of leadership shown by headteacher John Martin and his team.

Head boy Scott Callaway, 11, and head girl Cara Barton, 11, took the MP on a tour of the school. The blazers that all the pupils wore particularly impressed Mr Gibb. He said the £12 blazers helped pupils be successful because they would be treated as young adults rather than children, and everyone wearing the same uniform eliminated problems caused by people coming from different backgrounds.

The politician said he liked the happy, but serious, attitude of pupils, was pleased they were doing regular homework and thought the various extra-curricular activities, such as ballroom dancing and the award-winning allotment club, were good.

Mr Gibb added: "I hope that we can learn from this school and how they have created an atmosphere where children are happy."

11:45am Thursday 1st May 2008
By David Connop Price