Charity Dance & Fashion Show

On the evenings of Monday 18^th and Tuesday 19^th March the School put on a combined fashion and dance show in order to raise money for Tildy’s Trust – a charity very close to the hearts of Cranleighans. The Trust was set up by the Curran family following the diagnosis of Acute Lymphoblastic Leukaemia their daughter Tilda received in 2008. Tilda was a much loved member of the LVth at Cranleigh, who unfortunately lost her fight in 2010. Since then the School has helped to raise funds for the charity, the main aim of which is to raise money for research into a cure.

The show comprised of nine dances and six walks, in which around 60 students from the School – ranging in ages between 15 and 18 – participated, some also helping to choreograph dances. The variety was astounding, really showing off the immense talent which students have to offer. My personal favorite was the contemporary dance to Skinny Love by Bon Iver, choreographed by Hannah Wallis (LVI) and Beth Andrew (UVI), which was delicate and refreshing in comparison to the more up-beat dances. The 1st XI boys rugby dance (a dance show tradition) was also highly entertaining, proving that Cranleighans get involved with a diverse range of activities.

The walks were choreographed by Lindsay Beale, who did an excellent job of making the students look professional. The models were kindly supplied with clothes from a range of shops. Woodie & Morris – named after the owner’s dogs, one of which made an appearance on stage – provided clothes for both the ‘Denim Walk’ and ‘An Evening Out’. They sell clothes which are affordable, good quality and they have something for everyone. The other Cranleigh shop involved was ‘Labels’, which sells a wide range of designer items for more affordable prices. The boys wore T.M Lewin suits and looked particularly smart in the ‘Prom Walk’ and ‘A Day at the Races’. Members of the audience were even given a £5 voucher to spend in their program. For these walks the girls wore dresses from The Gate in Guildford and all looked beautiful in the wide range displayed. The colourful and energetic ‘African Pyjama’ walk was clearly well received by the audience since many of the students purchased the trousers in the intervals. The models, all members of the VIth Form, seemed to immensely enjoy what they were doing, and coped very well with the quick changes from one walk to the next.

Luke Chitty and Will Jay proved to be an amusing compering duo. The highlight of the evening was when they dragged three unexpecting members of the audience up to have a walk-off. On Monday night this included Mr McConnell-Wood, who won with his signature move, whereas on Tuesday Gabi Hill (UVI, South) was the undeniable favourite as she strutted down the stage.

None of this would have been possible without Mrs Maunder, Miss Parry, Ella Gurdon and Lara Hobson, who managed to put the whole show together with the help of the Technical Crew, headed by Mark Jenkins. A massive thank you for two superb nights.

Katie Seymour (UVI, West)

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