Energy Plus - School of Dance

Anne-Marie Bentick is celebrating the 20 year anniversary of her Energy Plus dance school in Mullingar by holding an open day to show case her new studio on the Lynn Road.On Saturday May 9 Anne-Marie will be opening her doors and providing trial dance classes in both dance studios at her new, purpose built centre.The dance teacher will be already familiar to most people in Mullingar and as she approaches the 20th anniversary of her dance school, Anne-Marie is now teaching the children of her former students who also want the learn the discipline through dance and most importantly, want to have fun.Originally from Coventry Anne-Marie has been dancing since she was just four years old. After working her way through many dance examinations Anne-Marie was assisting her own dance teacher Hazel Hathaway by the time she was just 15. She also worked as principle dancer and choreographer for professional dance troupe Energy for five years and choreographed for "The Great and Small Theatre Company" before moving to Mullingar in 1989 where she set up her own dance school.Since arriving in Mullingar, the mum of three has choreographed Showboat, Sweet Charity, Billy, Little Shop of Horrors and Joseph for Lakeland productions. She has also choreographed Joseph, Oklahoma and Back to the 80s for St Joseph"s in Rochfortbridge.Anne-Marie currently teaches six days a week and is in the middle of preparations for the highlight of Energy Plus"s year: the annual show at the Arts Centre which will take place on May 20.The show which will feature songs and dances from The Wizard of Oz and Westside Story (amongst others) will see children as young as three take to the stage to show off the skills they have learned from Anne-Marie"s ballet, jazz, tap, disco and modern dance classes.This September Energy Plus will be adding drama coaching to its list of classes but Anne-Marie"s students are already well-versed in the dramatic arts as anyone who has seen one of their fabulous shows at the Arts Centre can testify to. Energy Plus is now also offering a boys only class.Energy Plus is a member of the Midland International Arts Association which is a recognised member of The Theatre Dance Council International and through the dance school students are able to take their examinations through to qualifying as dance teachers themselves.'I still have girls, who are in their mid-20s, getting off buses and trains from work and college coming into me on a Friday night to practise for exams,' said Anne-Marie.'They will come in at 7.30pm and dance until 10.45pm without stopping, they just love dancing, which is what it"s really all about-having fun.'Students can start taking lessons here from the age of three and I suppose the best thing about the job that I do is seeing them grow up into great young people.'Our year is set out in three terms; September to Christmas holiday, January to Easter Holidays and Easter to summer holidays. We have a dance festival in October which is a full day of competitions, our exams take place in February, followed by certificate presentations in March and the highlight of our year, the dancing feet show, is in May. Students love the shows and I would say that while the younger students get excited, its the older ones, even those in their twenties who still get a real buzz from getting up there and performing.'Dance does teach discipline of course but essentially students love the fun of performing. I"m looking forward to celebrating the anniversary, I can hardly believe that its been 20 years and I would welcome everyone who is interested to come along on May 9 from 11am to 5pm to see the new studios and if they wish to, to take part in the trial classes which will be running all day.'Students from Energy Plus said:'I love Energy Plus because I love dancing. Miss Anne-Marie is very nice and she is a very good dancer. She teaches us to be good dancers too.'Aoife Doherty (aged 8).'I like dancing because it"s a good sport and you get to perform on stage in front of our parents. Miss Anne-Marie is a very good teacher. You can wear lots of nice things. I think it"s really good.'Jean Armitage (aged 8).'I"ve been dancing in Energy Plus since I was three. i am now 12 and I"m still dancing. Energy Plus and dancing means the world to me- I love it O especially love ballet and one day hope to make a living out of dancing. I love dancing on the stage in the show and performing in front of the judge ib the festival. I just love dancing.'Jill Leavy (12).'Energy Plus is so much more than just a dance school it"s a place to make friends have fun and obviously dance as well. What Energy Plus means to me is a great way to keep fit, listen to extremely loud music, learn how to dance and socialise and have fun.And yeah. Anne-Marie does shout a bit but that"s what makes us better!. I have been going to Energy Plus for six years and I have never looked back. I would recommend it to any body.'Hazel Gavigan (Aged 12).Now enrolling for Dance Summer Camp in July andSeptember term; for more details contact Anne-Marie Bentick, Energy Plus School of Dance, 5 Brosna Business Park, Lynn Road, Mullingar.Tel: 044 9342129