Testimonials - Mel_Simpson

"Hello Everyone. HAPPY HALF-TERM!!!

My girls just had an end of half-term workshop with Mel Simpson and it was completely WONDERFUL. Mel's energy is out of this world (somehow through a computer!?) and she was just brilliant with my girls. I could seriously not recommend enough. She taught a fab Fosse routine and the smiles on the girls faces was lovely to watch. I wanted to give them something fun to end this tricky time on. A little message from a student below;

Miss thank you so much for the workshop! It made me smile so much and made me realise how much I miss dance and how great it can make you feel! Can’t wait to be back in the studio!! ---Book with Mel!"--- STEPHANIE J (BOOKED FOR KS3/KS4 DANCERS)

"A huge thank you to Mel Simpson Dance for our Samba workshop for RSL Level 3 yesterday. Mel was so enthusiastic even with the students working remotely. Context of the style was given by Mel with reference to key movement and stylistic features. Individual feedback points were also given by Mel for students to improve and reflect on. We always use Mel for our external provision including Rambert and Jazz workshops for our AQA A Level course, set phrases for GCSE Dance and stylistic workshops for the provision of our RSL students. Mel is always so positive and has a natural ability to building students confidence with any style. Thank you Mel" - JHNCC Birmingham

Evidence of impact measurement on raising attainment in GCSE / A Level / BTEC Dance and supporting testimonials:

Mel Simpson Dance practical workshops are specifically tailored to develop the skills students need to achieve for current expectations of current Dance curriculum standards. They have a proven track record in raising subject motivation and attainment in Dance departments across the UK and internationally in Dubai and Singapore. Numerous centres have emailed to express their gratitude, saying that they are delighted that their lower level students achieved more than they ever thought possible, and that their top level students did indeed achieve top band grades in the practical elements of the course, which is great feedback to hear!

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Nic, Wirral Grammar:

We recently had the pleasure of the amazing Mel Simpson (Strawberry Dance) who worked alongside our Year 11s for the day. Mel finely tuned the two set phrases, and her use of vocabulary and imagery really stuck with our girls. The difference was HUGE! Mel then gave all of our students individual choreo feedback and finished with creative tasks that challenged our girls to a new level.

Mel is worth her weight in gold and was just fantastic with our students. HIGHLY HIGHLY recommend.

Claire, Teacher of Dance:

Thoroughly recommend! Excellent performance and technique workshop with Mel today; 5 full hours of GCSE technical and creative tasks tailored to the individual school. Thank you Mel Simpson Dance we will be booking again for our A Level students. Fantastic content. Best department funding we have spent all year!

Sara, Hitchin Girls School:

Amazing workshop this afternoon with Mel for the Set Phrases; students made the most amazing progress. Thanks again Mel.

Orleans Park:

Thank you so much to Mel Simpson Dance for running a fantastic workshop yesterday. This was so helpful in enabling the students to understand what is needed to access the higher grade bands. Mel was also brilliant at analysing our trio/duos and improving the content to showcase their individual skills. My students mainly struggle with being expressive, the workshop really helped with this and has made me feel a lot more confident.

Chloe Taylor:

My GCSE group had a fantastic workshop today with Mel Simpson. She worked them incredibly hard and they learnt and created some excellent rep for their trio performance piece. Highly recommend Mel for pushing students expressive skills and making them physically believe in themselves. X

K Watts:

Would like to highly recommend Mel Simpson as a practitioner. Mel helped some of our students with their choreography ideas on the weekend. She developed confidence in our pupils, really encouraging them to think further when exploring their ideas. Mel was amazingly positive and highly professional in every respect. She’s fab!!

Sydenham School:

Mel is awesome! I would definitely recommend!

Lisa-Marie:

Fab workshop today with Mel Simpson Dance! Our Year 10s and 11s learnt their piece for comp 2 in one day! All that Jazz Hot Honey Rag was a great choice for all abilities (particularly for engaging the lower). Thanks Mel for a great day!

Rachel W, Leeds (Ambassador, One Dance UK):

If you are looking for someone to run a brilliant dance workshop/ choreographic session for GCSE / RSL or dance repertoire for C2, I must recommend Mel Simpson. Check her out on Facebook! Made my life so much easier teaching pro rep and giving the students a fab start to their new unit!

Chew Valley School:

A recommendation for Mel Simpson- Set Phrases workshop. I really can't praise her enough. The pace and pitch of each session was perfect for the students to be challenged and to ensure progress. The detail that she was able to cover for each Set Phrase in one day, was a whole terms worth of support and has certainly given the students lots to work with as they prepare for their exam. The students loved it! Thanks again Mel

Littlehampton Academy:

Today we had Mel Simpson Dance come in to work with the students on the performance work. It was a BRILLIANT day! Mel was fabulous with the students and even the weakest dancers managed to pick up Breathe and Shift before lunchtime. They were inspired by Mel to work really hard and all really enjoyed a full focused day on the performance work. After lunch Mel taught phrases from Flux and Scoop to base their performance pieces on and then the students did some workshop tasks with these phrases. It was a truly great day and I would highly recommend.

Luke, Sydney Russell:

Anyone looking for a great technical workshop for your dancers? I'd like to take this time to say how amazing Mel Simpson was last week with my dancers. She delivered a full day of workshops to develop dancers' technique and improve their performance quality. I had both Year 9 & 10 GCSE dancers in the class and they absolutely loved the workshop. It amazed me how much Mel was able to get out of the dancers in such a short space of time. I highly recommend that you book Mel to work with your dancers; a fabulous day of dance.

R. Jackson - Class Participant:

Mel's versatility and wide range of skills are perfect for helping students of any age improve in many styles of dance. Not only is she a fantastic teacher but she also radiates enthusiasm and offers encouragement which helps make her classes even more exciting and fun. She takes the time to ensure you have mastered a move correctly by physically manipulating your body or practising alongside you, and then puts you to the test by challenging you to perform solo. I thoroughly enjoy her classes as she has a lovely warm character but she can also push you to achieve your optimum performance.

Mrs Pais, Teacher of Dance:

I would highly recommend Mel as she is full of energy and has extremely high expectations of all students. She is able to get them all moving and improving throughout the day. Bringing out the best in their dance abilities... She has been very supportive as well to me as a teacher, correcting and giving me tips and ideas which has ultimately contributed to my own CPD… will be booking again!

JCOSS:

Fabulous workshop tailored to students needs, brilliantly organised and run by Mel Simpson (Strawberry Dance), promoting professionalism to students. Highly recommended for GCSE and A Level students. Thank you Mel.

Beth Veness:

Fab A Level workshop with Mel Simpson / Starwberry Dance this week. Three hours of professional rep from Chicago, West Side Story and Rooster. The girls absolutely loved Mel's intensive training and thorough teaching of the works. The afternoon enhanced practical and theoretical understanding of all three works and gave us as teachers the time to plan the linear course out in depth with regards to both components. Contact Mel Simpson Dance for GCSE, BTEC and A Level workshops tailored to your students. Thank you Mel!

V Cross:

We had Mel visit us this week to deliver a GCSE workshop. She taught the entire performance unit - inspirational for the pupils and very useful for me - I cannot recommend her enough - well worth using your budget for!

Louisa, Teacher of Dance:

Thank you so much to Mel Simpson for running a fantastic workshop yesterday. This was so helpful in enabling the students to understand what is needed to access the higher grade bands. Mel was also brilliant at analysing our trio/duos and improving the content to showcase their individual skills. My students mainly struggle with being expressive, the workshop really helped with this and has made me feel a lot more confident.

K Watts:

Head of Performing Arts:

A really great contact work session this afternoon, for our Year 11 students, run by Mel Simpson Dance. Duo/trio piece now complete, thank you for sharing and teaching some great dance material. Again we would highly recommend Mel as a practitioner, she's fab!!

Rachael L:

A recommendation for Mel Simpson- Set Phrases workshop. I really can?t praise her enough. The pace and pitch of each session was perfect for the students to be challenged and to ensure progress. The detail that she was able to cover for each Set Phrase in one day, was a whole terms worth of support and has certainly given the students lots to work with as they prepare for their exam. The students loved it! Thanks again Mel

Sue:

Today we had Mel Simpson come in to work with the students on the performance work. It was a BRILLIANT day! Mel was fabulous with the students and even the weakest dancers managed to pick up Breathe and Shift before lunchtime. They were inspired by Mel to work really hard and all really enjoyed a full focused day on the performance work. After lunch Mel taught phrases from Flux and Scoop to base their performance pieces on and then the students did some workshop tasks with these phrases. It was a truly great day and I would highly recommend.

Becky, Ipswich:

We had a fab workshop a couple of weeks ago with Mel Simpson / Strawberry Dance... can't recommend highly enough. The students loved it, and got so much out of the tasks and training!

A Percy, St Joseph's:

Thank you so much to Mel Simpson Dance for a fantastic dance workshop with my Year 10s in building their Trios! They absolutely loved it!!! It really helped them to build emotion into their own choreography which will be brilliant for all their practical work! It was great CPD for me also, definitely learnt a lot so thank you!

R Stevens:

Huge thank you to Mel Simpson for a fantastic Set Phrases workshop. It was a great experience for the students and invaluable for us as staff.

Jenny D, Maidstone:

My students for both GCSE and A Level Dance had a fantastic workshop with the lovely Mel Simpson this week. She worked on the Duet/Trio with my GCSE class and then focused on a variety of different practitioners with my A Level group, working on their solo performance pieces. My school is fairly challenging but she cracked the whip and got the best out of them all. I would thoroughly recommend her to anyone! Thank you Mel!

Mrs Ande, Teacher of Dance, Camden:

Thank you to Mel Simpson who has been absolutely amazing!!!! We have learnt so much. Mel helped to build up the students confidence, stretched their minds and bodies to absorb new ideas for choreography and encouraged their performance skills. A lovely woman to work with.

Mrs Kay:

Fab workshop yesterday with the amazing Mel Simpson, my Y11s were pushed and encouraged all day & were absolutely buzzing afterwards. They worked on Performance duo/trios, learnt the full dance throughout the day so now they have plenty of time to rehearse and refine - would highly recommend one of Mel's workshops, she worked wonders on my Y11s.

K Robinson:

Fantastic workshop today with Mel Simpson Dance, she worked my students so hard on their performances and set phrases! Stretch and challenge fully achieved with a few aching legs too!! Highly recommend her and thank you Mel.

Emma, Dance Teacher:

I had Mel Simpson complete a day at my school for the duet/trio and it was awesome! Managed to complete a whole trio in a day with a really mixed ability class! She was wonderful so if you need any help with it all I would really recommend Mel! She does lots of other stuff too so if you need anything just get in touch with her!

R Curness, Milton Keynes:

A fab day with Mel Simpson Dance; both Phrases intensely worked on. My students' confidence has certainly grown. Thank you

Nicola Lindsey:

Today we had a fantastic workshop for our Year11/10 students by the fabulous Mel Simpson. She had managed to smash through a performance piece and set phrases which challenged all our students. Mel you are a diamond

A Gray:

Fantastic workshop with Mel today for my GCSE girls. Really exploring the stimulus through motif development. So inspiring and the girls were all able to develop their confidence and finally begin thinking outside the box!!!

S England:

We have recently had two excellent workshops (GCSE and A level) lead by Mel Simpson Dance. Mel worked her magic with a class of challenging year 11 GCSE students, working them hard to refine set phrases and focusing on drawing out their performance skills in both the duet and set phrases. Mel pushed the students out of their comfort zones resulting in work that they were more passionate and proud of. Mel also worked on GCSE choreographies giving personalised feedback to each student to develop their ideas more effectively.

The year 13 workshop focused on drawing out performance skills in the solo and quartet as well as focusing on practitioners' stylistic features from the solos. Mel's passion, energy & enthusiasm really inspired our dancers. Thank you from the department and our students, we will definitely be using you again!

S Kearns:

Just had the wonderful Mel Simpson in for a GCSE workshop focusing on Trio performance. Must say, she is fab - so much work achieved from all students and a real sense of satisfaction at the end of the day. Mel is able to really draw out choreography ideas from the students and gave them a massive confidence boost! I will most highly recommend to all and will certainly invite her back!

Claire W:

Thanks to Mel Simpson / Strawberry Dance for your work with our GCSE dancers on the set phrases. Our students really responded to your use of imagery to enhance their performance skills. It was great to experience your delivery of the phrases & refresh my knowledge after returning to work from mat. leave also. I would recommend to any teachers using Mel to have already taught the material as she is excellent at refining skills ready for performance. Will use again for sure!

Ambra Z, Stratford:

Thank you so much Mel Simpson for the brilliant set phrase workshop on Wednesday! You were great with the kids, really challenging them and bringing the best out of them. I am looking forward to reminding students of the key information you taught them. I bet a few of them are aching for our lesson today! It was lovely to meet you and work with you. Will definitely see you again in the future

Emily Alexandra:

If anyone is struggling with getting the best out of dancers and would like a workshop for duet/trios Mel Simpson has been fantastic today with my year 11's - she stretched and challenged all dancers to perform a beautiful piece. Within 5 hours my dancers now have a stunning routine to expand upon over the next few months. Thanks again Mel!

Laura Helen:

Thank you so much to Mel Simpson Dance for such an amazing workshop in Manchester this week!

The students gained so much from working with Mel, she was inspiring, knowledgeable and really helped the students engage with the set phrases.

I would highly recommend one of these workshops even for Dance Specialists, as Mel really knew how to get the best out of the students with her expertise and varied dance background.

Really hope to work with you again in the future Mel, thank you so much again!

Amanda J B:

Fantastic Workshop for our year 11's on Wednesday with the fabulous Mel Simpson of Strawberry Dance. They worked so hard and Mel got some great expressive skills from them thank you

Danielle S:

Had an amazing set phrases workshop today run by Mel Simpson. Great experience for both the students, and myself. The students were put through their paces, and I'm pretty sure they will be sore tomorrow however they thoroughly enjoyed it. Thanks again to Mel for the workshop. Highly recommend it.

Yasmin M:

I just wanted to comment on how wonderful our workshop was with Mel Simpson!! The girls learnt the whole dance within 2 hours and I'm so happy with the outcome of the trio! Please get in touch with her as I honestly highly recommend her and will definitely be booking again

Lisa-Marie:

We had a fantastic workshop with Mel today! 3 schools came together to learn Shift and Scoop Set phrases, as well as tweaking our performance piece! A fab day and great chance to network! Thank you Mel

Victoria I:

Absolutely brilliant day working with Mel Simpson / Strawberry Dance. All pupils have walked away feeling so much more confident about the Set Phrases. It also gave me the time to observe and put together an action plan for each individual's needs to move them higher up the marking scheme over the next few precious months. I can't recommend this opportunity enough.

Maria R:

Had a great day today with Mel who taught two of the set solos. It was challenging, so thorough and the progress made was fantastic. Was so simple and easy to arrange too.

Sarah K:

A very big thank you to Mel Simpson for the fantastic Hairspray workshop! The students loved it and the choreography was fab! Will be seeing Mel soon for GCSE workshop next term!

Dawn Maydom:

Amazing workshop this afternoon with Mel for the Set Phrases; students made the most amazing progress. Thanks again Mel!

Michelle S:

Here's a few clips from a very busy and excellent day run by Mel Simpson- the girls (and us) learnt soooo much! I would definitely recommend Mel, she'll work your group hard and stretch them throughout the workshop. We covered Contemporary class, Ruby Tuesday, Little Red Rooster, Jazz class, Fosse, Hot Honey Rag, Robbins, Cool from WSS. An absolute must for any group, no matter what ability. Thank you so much Mel

Dawn P:

Just thought I'd like to say I had Mel Simpson in today at our school for my year 12 students to create material for their quartet and it was fabulous. Highly recommend Mel and I wouldn't hesitate to have her in again. Lovely material and concepts for us to now develop into their final piece. If you can find the money somewhere do book with her

T Brewer:

This is a shout out for Mel Simpson Dance... Thank you for coming in and doing a full day workshop to support my second year dance students for the quartet exam. Mel came in and created a 3min 40sec dance from scratch- the choreography and themes were really accessible for all types of students and allowed them to access the criteria for the exam really well. The students really enjoyed the day and I couldn't recommend this enough! Thanks again!!

Claire W:

Thanks Mel Simpson Dance for our recent workshop! The students loved the challenge & high expectations. They really had a strong sense of achievement by the end of the workshop (A-Level Quartet) & have a performance piece to be proud of. Mel's energy & enthusiasm really inspired our dancers & she got them working outside of their comfort zone. A huge improvement in expressive skills! Thank you... Will definitely use you again

S Hawkins:

We had Mel Simpson in last week and she was brilliant! She really pulled out the performamce qualities for GCSE. With A Level, she taught them Graham & Cunningham class, then linked that into Alston & Bruce, in terms of Rambert. Gave them excellent preparation for the exam, fully recommend x

Louisa Church, Alton:

I wanted to say a huge thank you to Mel Simpson for our quartet workshop. She had a lovely manner with the students, was very clear on the choreographic intention and pushed their expression. I couldn't have asked for more!

Laura W:

Mel Simpson did an excellent Jazz workshop for me. The students loved it and they achieved LOTS in a short space of time!

A White:

For any dance teachers who are at the point of "I can't learn any more rep from video!", I would really recommend Mel Simpson for a rep workshop. My year 12s managed to learn the whole of Ruby Tuesday in a day with the added bonus of a technique class in the morning (which my year 9s joined in with and got to experience a professional class) and detailed corrections and pointers that I would never have picked up when learning from video. Was a tiring day but well worth it for the experience for all involved (and my sanity!) and even in other lessons I am seeing the students applying feedback Mel gave them!

Amy P:

Hi all, my school had Mel in for an Ailey workshop today working with students from all years. It was amazing. My L3 students have a piece that can be used for unit 2, which is great. All the students loved it. Mel gave so much feedback to the students in terms of technique and helping boost their confidence. I can highly recommend!!! Thank you Mel Simpson Dance.

Alrac Nobbig:

Just to thank Mel Simpson Dance for a wonderful workshop last week. I am ready to embrace component 2 now. I have a mixed to high ability group of students and I wanted to challenge them. Mel came in and taught a technical warm up followed by 2 minutes of rep. Mel also gave individual students constructive feedback throughout which is perfect for component 2. If you are interested, definitely drop Mel a message as you won't be disappointed. Thank you Mel!

Lucy Emma:

Guys if you are looking for someone to deliver a practical workshop for your students...I can't recommend Mel highly enough...she travelled all the way to our tiny school in the East Midlands...was amazing with the kids having high expectations and treating them as dancers...she was engaging and compassionate as well as knowledgeable and professional...my students had a blast and learnt ALOT in a short space of time...thank you so much.

Josie MV, Eltham:

Hi all, just wanted to say how wonderful the jazz dance workshop was that Mel Simpson delivered today at my school.

It was specific to the BTEC Tech Award with Year 10 students, for Component 1 Learning Aim A, this time closely focused on West Side Story. The students were fully engaged with her fab warm up, technical elements, discussing themes and key features of WSS and then they loved learning a routine to 'Cool' and 'America'.

I would totally recommend her for anyone looking for getting a workshop in for your students! Thanks Mel!

Alice Hayley:

We have recently had the pleasure of Mel Simpson coming in to deliver Jazz and Tap workshops with our level 3 BTEC groups! The workshops were fantastic and I couldn't recommend Mel enough. The Tap/ Jazz workshop in particular was our students favourite and was good for stretching and challenging our high ability dancers! If you are thinking of getting anyone in Mel is fab for a range of styles! Thanks Mel

Charlotte Louise:

Last week we had a fabulous workshop with Mel Simpson, she worked with my year 11/12 dancers on a Jazz workshop for the tech award (comp 2). Highly recommend her workshops, the students got so much support and loved the challenge.