File:Doreenbird.gif Doreen Bird - FISTD, ARAD, Hon MA (University of Greenwich) (27th January 1928 - 4th February 2004)
Doreen Bird was the founder of the Doreen Bird College of Performing Arts in Sidcup, Kent. Opening as the Doreen Bird School of Dance in 1945, it first offered full time training in 1951 and has since grown to become one of the UK's most respected colleges for dance and musical theatre. The junior school closed some years ago as the focus moved towards improving and expanding the college and now, 62 years later, the college continues to thrive under its current name Bird College, Dance & Theatre Performance. In recognition of her work in the field of dance and musical theatre, Doreen Bird was awarded an Honorary MA Degree from the University of Greenwich in 1999.
History of Bird College
Initially, Miss Bird taught students in her parents' living room (rolling up the carpet), and later opened her full-time training school with just seven students. Today, over 120 students attend the college and the college currently occupies three sites in the town, two large dance facilities and one office building.
Ever forward thinking, the college recently added the research based MA Degree in Dance & Musical Theatre to it's range of courses, becoming the first independent dance college of its kind to have such a course. The college also offers the National Diploma in Musical Theatre, the BA (Hons) in Dance & Theatre Performance, The Foundation Degree in Creative Industries: Acting, a pre-vocational foundation course as well as a wide range of short courses, summer schools, seminars and workshops. Its professional qualifications are validated by either Trinity College or The University of Greenwich.
Bird was the principal of the college until 1998, whereupon the management of the college became the responsibility of Sue Passmore, a member of the ISTD Council and former Head of Theatre at the Bush Davis School. Since Passmore's retirement in 2005, the college has been managed by a board of Directors, under its current Executive Director, Shirley Coen and Artistic Director (Vice-Principal), Luis de Abreu, who is himself a former student of Doreen Bird. Today the college boasts an impressive resume of Patrons, Trustees and other supporters who work for its continued success. These include actor Matthew Kelly, former Royal Ballet dancer and Internationally renown choreographer Gillian Lynne, West End producer and former Bird Student David Morgan, Phrosso Pfister and Sian Phillips.
The College Buildings
STUDIO HOUSE
Studio House is the first of the colleges current buildings to have been purchased by Miss Bird and occupies the corner plot of Station Road and Crescent Road. Originally featuring dance facilities to the lower floor and private residential quarters to the upper floor the building was completely altered after the upper floor was no longer needed as a pivate residence.
Studio House now features a library, changing rooms, toilets and showers to the lower floor, with a staff room, computer room and offices to the first floor. A large extension was built to the rear of the property in the 70's at a cost of over £20,000, which now houses the colleges main dance studios. Once known as the Covent Garden Studios, there is one large space, which can be partitioned down the centre to form two large and fully equipt dance studios. The building also doubles as a studio theatre, for in-house presentations.
BIRKBECK CENTRE
Birkbeck Centre is the largest of the colleges buildings and is it's principal facility. A Victorian school building acquired in the 1970s, the building was officially re-opened as a dance college by former Prime Minister, Sir Edward Heath.
On the lower floor, the building houses the smallest of the colleges dance studios (formerly Sadler's Wells Studi), typically used for tap classes. There is also a canteen and changing/shower facilities for both boys and girls, a small kitchen and pysiotherapy room. The first floor is taken up by the largest of the colleges dance studios (Colliseum/Drury Lane Studio), which runs the full length of the building. To the rear of the first floor there is also a small gymnasium used for body conditioning sessions.
The colleges third building, Admin Cottage, is immediately next door to Birkbeck Centre.
ADMIN COTTAGE
Admin Cottage, as the name suggests, houses the colleges administrative and management staff. Formerly a residential property and maintaining its traditional exterior and character, the building houses offices for the administrative, marketing and finance team, the principals office and a teachers rest room and kitchen.
To the rear of Admin Cottage is a large pre-fab type building, which is anothe large dance studio (fondly known as The Palace)
Notable Students
As a lasting demonstration of her power and exceptional vitality as one of our great visionary teachers of dance and theatre, Miss Birds students continue to appear in dance and theatre throughout the World, with many currently starring in some of the West Ends biggest selling musicals.
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Gavin Lee, currently starring in the lead role of Bert in "Mary Poppins the Musical" on Broadway, a role which he created for both West End and Broadway productions.
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Gary Avis, Principal Character Artist with the Royal Ballet, Covent Garden. Previously soloist with both the Royal Ballet & English National Ballet Companies.
Gavin Lee, is currently riding high on a wave of success, since creating the lead role of Bert in the West End production of "Mary Poppins The Musical", for which he received an Olivier Award nomination. He recently re-created the role for the new Broadway production of the show. This time, his performance gained him a nomination for a Tony Award, probably the most sought after theatrical awards in the world. His other West End credits include roles in numerous shows, such as Susan Stroman's "Contact", "Peggy Sue Got Married", "Oklahoma!" and "Crazy For You". A constant friend of the college and when time allows, he can often be found guest teaching for masterclasses and workshops.
Also training at the Royal Ballet School, John Partridge starred in the original UK tour of Cats, for which he was also the Dance Captain. He later appeared in the West End production and can also be seen performing the role of Rum-Tum-Tuggger in the official video of the show. His extensive list of West End credits also includes "Starlight Express", "Tommy", "Grease", "The Fix", "Rent", "Notre Dame De Paris" and the Boy George musical "Taboo". John is currently playing the lead role in the UK tour of "Miss Saigon".
Probably the college's most famous ex-student, one Bird Girl needs little describing. A member of the biggest selling girl band in history, Mel C (Melanie Chisholm) found massive success with the Spice Girls. Since the band split, she has continued a hugely successful solo music career and will of course be part of the eagerly awaited Spice Girls re-union world tour.
Gary Avis furthered his dance training at the world reknown Royal Ballet School, joining the Royal Ballet Company in 1989. After being promoted to Soloist level, he later left the company to co-found K-Ballet in Japan, in the process starring in the Channel 4 documentary series "Ballet Boyz". He subsequently returned to the UK as a Senior Soloist with English National Ballet and recently rejoined the Royal Ballet, where he is now a Principal Character Artist.
The most enviable credit for Warren Carlyle is by far, his involvement in the massively successful revival of Mel Brooks' comedy classic "The Producers". Working with International star choreographer Susan Stroman, he worked as Assistant Choreographer for the 2005 hit film. He consequently worked as part of the Broadway revival of the show, which at 12, now holds the record for most Tony Award wins. He played a vital role in re-creating the show for the Theatre Royal, Drury Lane in the West End and is currently involved in the sell-out UK tour.
Rachel Stanley, has gone from strength to strength, with a string of high profile shows under her belt. Most notably, she has not only played a lead role in the West End musical "Chicago", but she has actually played BOTH the lead roles of Roxie Hart and Velma Kelly, as well as appearing as Roxie in the UK touring production. A career highlight was playing Roxie in the West End, opposite Bob Fosse's original Velma Kelly, Broadway and film star, Chitta Rivera.
This is just a brief selection of the massive list of success stories. Ex Bird students have appeared in or are currently still taking to the stage in such West End shows as The Producers, Fame, Showboat, Mary Poppins, Grease, Wicked!, Saturday Night Fever, Evita, We Will Rock You, Cats, Chicago, Billy Elliot, My Fair Lady, Les Miserables, Miss Saigon, Mamma Mia, Starlight Express, Footloose, 42nd Street. Other students are successfully performing with ballet, contemporary and jazz dance companies throughout the world and also in summer season, pantomime, cabaret and cruise ships, film, television and commercial work, as producers, directors, choreographers, agents and a variety of other areas of the entertainments industry.
ISTD
File:Janetcram.gif Photograph: Miss Bird (centre) photographer with the premier prize winners after presenting the awards at the ISTDs 'Janet Cram Awards' in 2002. The Janet Cram awards are a prestigious annual competition, in which ISTD students from all over the UK compete in Modern Theatre Dance.
As well as being committed to her college, Doreen Bird was also an active and much respected teacher, examiner, committee and council member of the ISTD (Imperial Society of Teachers of Dance)
One of the world largest and most respected dance teaching organisations, the ISTD has a history spanning over 100 years. From young children to adults, the ISTD provides a means by which dance students can learn and gain awards in a variety of dance subjects including Classical Ballet, Tap, Modern Theatre Dance, Freestyle, Latin & Ballroom Dance, to name but a few. Based in London, the ISTD has teachers and members throughout the world.
A former member of the ISTD Theatre Dance Council and a committe member of the ISTD Modern Theatre Branch for 16 years (1970-86), Miss Bird helped to compile all the societies new Major Modern and Tap dance syllabi, with much of her work and influence still very much in evidence today.
Miss Bird was appointed an examiner of the Modern Theatre Branch in 1957, National Dance Branch in 1958 and Imperial Ballet Branch in 1964. She served as a council member for the Imperial Society of Teachers of Dancing from 1970 to 1975. She received the Imperial Faculty Award in 1996
Death
Following her death in 2004, friends, family and current and past students of the college
Generations of students will mourn her passing, whilst many of the teachers she has worked with have described thir association as some of the happiest years of their lives.
Many years of consistency and careful planning have taken Doreen Bird from a rolled up living room carpet, to the very top of the British dancing and teaching profession and through her great work, many hundreds more students can now benefit from her great passion.