LARONDINA DANCE

COMPANY

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LARONDINA DANCE

COMPANY

Dr Ronald Heavey MB A pioneer and visionary, Dr

Ronald Heavey MBE dedicated

his life to convincing an often

sceptical world that many special

needs children, far from being an

embarrassment to be sidelined,

could be radically transformed

into citizens of confidence and

worth with good physical, mental

and language skills.

As a young man Dr Heavey's strong humanitarian principles were out-

raged when he visited a special needs school. Apathetic pupils were

locked in a room with an equally apathetic teacher. It was considered

inadvisable at that time to allow the children to run free.

Dr Heavey vowed to change this retrograde thinking. Over the years, he

succeeded in that and much, much more.

His early working life was spent as a top West End dancer, but he was

forced to quit the stage after developing asthma and angina. He turned

to teaching, obtained a doctorate, and decided to work with special

needs people.

He eventually became headmaster of Mill House School in St Helen's,

Lancashire. He now had the scope to put his visionary ideas into prac-

tice. Those with special needs, he contended, should not lead isolated

and inactive lives.

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They should be gently but firmly stretched; and the medium of

dance was the ideal way because of its marked power to enhance

mental, physical and social abilities while using methods that

were soothing and entertaining.

All aspects of the learning process would be affected, language,

numeracy, social, and even geographical skills (folk dance would

teach much about the cultures of other countries).

The end product would be an individual whose brain and body

had been stimulated in such a way that permanent and highly

beneficial change had been effected. Out went apathy. In came a

heads-up confidence born of new-found abilities.

Experts and parents alike were so impressed and moved by Dr

Heavey's signal achievements that they pressed him to dissemi-

nate his methods as widely as possible. So he formed a dance

company that travelled nationally and internationally to demon-

strate conclusively that those with special needs often had latent

but very real artistic and other abilities that could, with patience

and devotion, be uncovered.

Proficient in ballet, modem dance and tap, the company high-

lighted how its repertoire could be adapted for use with any spe-

cial needs difficulties.

The company's reputation grew to the point where the President of

the United States invited it to perform in the White House. Film

actors Arnold Schwarzenegger and Danny de Vito had two of the

dancers appear on stage at the premiere of their film The Twins.

Dr Heavey died in 2001 but his great pioneering work continues

to be spread by his protege and named successor, Angelina

Alessendre.

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Angelina Alessendre, MBE At just three years old, Ange-

lina Alessendre started training

in classical dance at the much-

acclaimed Vaccani School in

London’s Knightsbridge,

where, for instance, various

members of the royal family

attended classes in ballet, ball-

room and Scottish dancing.

In her teens while still training,

she performed on the West End

stage, elsewhere in England and abroad. At the same time, she

studied the Martha Graham style of modern dance, but her passion

remained with classical ballet.

She gave up her professional dancing career early to concentrate

on bringing up her two children. Later, she rejoined the Vaccani

School to teach dance alongside her childhood ballet teacher.

During this ten-year period, the Royal Ballet invited Angelina to a

special needs school in London¹s Barbican centre to witness a trial

course in dance and mime for youngsters with a variety of physi-

cal disabilities.

She expected this to be a rather sombre experience but was de-

lighted to find happy, well-adjusted children in an atmosphere of

joy and optimism. All the children were eager to learn, and even

those with quite severe problems were able to participate, often

miming the part they were given.

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This experience reminded Angelina of the time when as a teen-

ager in 1959 she lived in Hungary , where her father had been

posted as a foreign correspondent. She witnessed the work of Bu-

dapest’s internationally-renowned Peto Institute. Its structured and

disciplined exercise regime transformed the lives of many chil-

dren with cerebral palsy and associated conditions.

Angelina saw plainly that the Peto offered abundant hope for its

charges by gently stretching them until they reached their highest

possible potential.

The Barbican special needs dance course together with her recol-

lection of the Peto Institute, so moved and inspired Angelina that

she was determined to start her own dance school for those with

learning difficulties.

She began to write a syllabus which would create an atmosphere

of normality and fun, an objective reinforced by a young boy she

met who had attended a variety of therapy classes. He told her:

"I'm sick of being theraped,"

a novel but telling variation on a word.

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Angelina then worked extensively in special needs schools before

starting her own classes. for children with a variety of disabilities.

Later, she saw on television two Down’s Syndrome youngsters

dancing to a number from

Phantom of the Opera. In at-

tendance was the star of the

show, Michael Crawford,

who made a moving presen-

tation to the dancers.

Angelina rang the BBC

which put her in touch with

Dr Ronald Heavey MBE, the

dancers’ teacher. He had won

world-wide renown for the

brilliance of his work. His

dance company had per-

formed across Europe and

even in the White House in

Washington.

Impressed with Angelina’s ability and dedication, Dr Heavey

made her his protégé and taught her his unique syllabus, which

she blended with a number of her own ideas to form the core of

her curriculum. The Alessendre Special Needs Dance School and

the Larondina Dance Company were born.

During the Christmas Honours Lists 2009, Angelina Alessendre

received the Medal of the British Empire (MBE) from Her Maj-

esty the Queen Elizabeth II for her invaluable contribution to-

wards people with disabilities.

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Elisabeth Blackwell Elisabeth has been the Excecutive Assistant and got involved with

the dance school and com-

pany for many years, since

her daughter Rebecca at-

tended as one of the first

pupils in the school. Elisa-

beth has contributed to the

success of the school and

company through her inde-

fatigable energy in every

aspect, from coaching and

directing the students to

helping with the costumes

and choreography, to logis-

tics dealing with the events and exhibitions both at home and

abroad.

The Parents The school and company could have not been a success without

the support and commitment provided by the parents.

The Alessendre Special Needs Dance School and its

Dance Company Larondina

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The school has been in existence for only eighteen years but its

marked achievements are such that it is now in demand interna-

tionally. With performances in Russia, Hungary, France, Ger-

many, United States, where the dance company has demonstrated

its accomplishments.

The objective: to bring teachers to London for training in the spe-

cial methods used to fulfil the school’s dual agenda:

1. To uncover the artistic talents latent in people with special

needs. 2. To develop well-adjusted and confident individuals able to lead

fulfilled lives.

The school’s artistic director, Angelina Alessendre, attributes

much of her success to her mentor, Dr Ronald Heavey MBE,

founder of the renowned St Helens’ Special Needs Dance Com-

pany which, over the years, won much international acclaim for

its brilliance. Dr Heavey, unstintingly gave his time, his immense

talent, his love and great heart to transforming the lives of Down’s

Syndrome youngsters. He has chosen Angelina as his successor to

further his pioneering work.

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Using his imaginative syllabus as a solid base, she choreographs

dance sequences to music likely to appeal and motivate. With firm

but good-humoured discipline, patience and – above all – totally

empathy, the pupils’ attention is held as they listen, remember and

gradually connect one movement with another to gain ultimate

mastery of the dance. Classes thus become profound learning ex-

periences.

Positive change – physical, intellectual and social – follows.

Dance can play a useful role in the education of any youngster.

But those with Down’s Syndrome it can be the all-important route

to complete transformation. For them it has especially significant

meanings. They relate to it, automatically and enthusiastically.

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Their movement skill improves; their intellectual development

blossoms from the mental effort needed to master the steps; and

by performing in unison with their peers they create a sense of

togetherness.

This cohesion makes them more aware of themselves and of one

another. They begin to look, listen and respond.

With these heightened intellectual and social skills plus parallel

physical improvement – better posture, balance and co-ordination

– come;

communication, concentration, co-operation and co-ordination

– all of them indispensable life skills which nurture that most vital

of qualities – Confidence.

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More information

Although most of the school's pupils are Down's Syndrome

youngsters, the innovative curriculum can be readily adapted to

embrace all learning difficulties.

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A critic from the Dancing Times, Britain's most prestigious jour-

nal devoted to classical dance, wrote that the school is achieving

"remarkable results".

Several years ago Angelina Alessendre created from among her

pupils a dance troupe, the Larondina Dance Company. It acts as a

showcase for the school's work and has won standing ovations

from audiences in many parts of the country. In London they have

danced at Her Majesty's and the Prince of Wales theatres along-

side stars from musicals playing at that time.

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As a consequence of such high-profile national exposure, a de-

mand for details of the school's work has developed internation-

ally from parents, teachers, doctors and academics.

For example, the company was invited to Moscow to demonstrate

that for many special needs youngsters their condition need be no

bar to a full and useful life. In Russia 90% of children with

Down’s Syndrome are placed in institutions at birth. More than

45% of them die before their first birthdays.

The visit was arranged by the British Moscow-based charity

Downside Up, the only centre of its kind in the Russian capital

offering early intervention for Down's Syndrome children. The

charity offers training to the medical profession, and to parents

and carers. In hospitals it works to keep children with the family.

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The company's per-

formance was very

enthusiastically re-

ceived (the stage was

pelted with flowers),

and was shown as part

of a television docu-

mentary about those

with Down’s Syn-

drome. As a result of

the excellent work of

Downside Up, the in-

stitutionalisation proc-

ess is slowly begin-

ning to change, and

we hope that our per-

formance contributed

in some way towards

this.

The school's financial resources, however, impose strict limits on

development. With appropriate funding much more could be

achieved. Angelina would therefore be immensely grateful for any

ideas on possible sources of finance. If, for example, schools were

to devote just one hour a week to teaching the Heavey/Alessendre

method, valuable progress would be made.

Those teaching our basic dance syllabus need not necessarily be

dance teachers, but they must be people with a passion for doing

the work. And, of course, it costs money to train them. The dance

troupe's many talents were highlighted by the Dancing Times'

critic, who wrote in a two-page article titled "Meeting the Chal-

lenge":

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'The class I watched began with a short barre of plies, tendus. releves, port de bras and toe taps to the front and side, and moved on to stretches

and simple turns at the centre, and then to rehearsal of several of these

sequences. All worked hard for the full hour, accepting her command

good-naturedly and correcting their position as she suggested.

"One boy surprised me by turning two perfect cartwheels and then turn-

ing his head in satisfaction right on the musical beat. But 1 was also sur-prised by the variety of steps the students had mastered, the elegant line

the girls achieved in arabesque, and the genuine affection displayed by

each pair of partners."

Once the session ends, the school hall becomes a kind of club where

like-minded students gather to talk and laugh about matters of common

interest. This in no way runs counter to current thinking that integration

within the mainstream community is the best way forward for Down's

Syndrome people. Most of the school's pupils are well integrated at

school and in the community.

There is a place and time for integration. As important as it is for special

needs pupils to spend time in a mixed environment, for both social and

educational purposes, it can be counter-productive as a general routine,

because it will put too much pressure on the special needs pupils while

hindering the progress of the others. This can also cause a feeling of

inadequacy in those not equipped to keep up with the pace that other

pupils can, and may cause these pupils a loss of interest as a result. But

Angelina's experience has been that pupils gain enormously from know-

ing they have one place they can use socially (and they love to socialise)

where everyone is on the same footing. Long-lasting friendships are

made by those facing similar challenges. Parents, too, are able to mix

and empathise with one another.

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Articles and comments...

There have been many articles regarding the work of the School

and the Dance Company

Wandsworth Guardian describes our efforts to get the Larondina

dance Company to Russia in their article Overcoming life's hur-

dles.

Downside Up supported our trip to Russia by hosting a nice arti-

cle about the Larondina Dance Company in their Fundraising

Events page.

The Moscow Times gave a special report by Annabel McGilvray

on the changing attitudes to Down Syndrome, and with special

mention of the Larondina Dance Company visit to Moscow

Barbara Newman of Dancing Times gives a very interesting ac-

count of the school and in particular about the Director Angelina

Alessendre in her article Meeting the Challenge. This article was

written in March 2001 just before the Gala Performance at the

Prince of Wales Theatre.

We discovered an interesting article in This is Lancashire dated 25

September 1997 under the by line Final curtain set to fall, paying

tribute to Dr. Ron Heavey and to St Helens International Special

Needs Dance Company, in what was their last performance after

10 years. The newspaper also published a moving tribute to Ron

by his family after his death, titled Ron saw magic of dance

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Can you help funding?

Although some of the running costs and expenses are funded by

tuition-fees for the Alessendre Special Needs Dance School and

by earnings through performances by the Larondina Dance Com-

pany, they are, by no means, adequate for the survival, and effec-

tive running of either of them.

We need to cover and we welcome donations from any private or

corporate source to help us achieve:

To train both those who already have dance training as well as

those who have no formal training. Experience shows that 2 full

days is required to give the early training to dance teachers.

Those without experience obviously require more.

To subsidise dance classes for those who cannot afford to pay

the fees (on benefits, single parents etc) and to help with pay-

ment for the hire of the hall. It is also worth underlining the so-

cial aspect of parents being able to meet during the Saturday

classes. To purchase and maintain costumes, music and equipment nec-

essary for the classes and shows.

To subsidise the production of educational and promotional

DVDs.

Anyone wishing to obtain full information on our income and ex-

penditure together with complete promotional literature should

contact its Director Angelina Alessendre.

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Comments and suggestions about the Website

Should you have any difficulties or suggestions regarding this

website we would be grateful to hear from you

Please send comments to this address e-mail at webmas-

ter@asneeds.org.uk

Dance Classes Available

Some information on other people who will be taking classes else-

where in the country:

Teacher Location Contact

Bernadine Soul Didcot, Oxford 01235510710

Fiona Sewell Rugby, Warwickshire 07985760758

Lindon Bennett Special

Needs School Hounslow, Middlesex 0208898 0429

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Contact Address

Angelina Alessendre

Director Alesendre Special Needs Dance School

Battersea

London

United Kingdom

Phone: +44 20 7585 2431

Email: info@asneeds.org.uk

Website: www.asneeds.org.uk