Talent Times November 2011 - Abu Dhabi Edition

Inside this issue….

Wild Wadi Swim Burj 2011

Libra Performing Arts

Spooky Week!

Performing Arts Camp

Mind Coach UAE

Staff Awards

Term Two Registrations!

ENS Schools!

November 2011 - Abu Dhabi Edition

Talent Times

Welcome to our November issue! Welcome to the latest edition of Talent Times! Packed full of updates from our academies and

with a special focus this month on what is happening in our Performing Arts Academy.

We are almost at the end of term one, and what an exciting time it has been! We are delighted to

be operating in a number of new venues across the UAE including Emirates National Schools, the

American University in Dubai and Regent School, Dubai. We have welcomed a number of new staff to the

team this term including a former Olympian Champion - swim coach, Faten! Our portfolio of

activities continues to expand and we are now offering Adult Zumba, NLP study support and even more

activities at Libra Adventure.

We hope you enjoy the rest of term – don’t forget to sign up early to secure your places for term two and

don’t miss out on our early booking discount for Winter Camps!

David Jenns (CEO Libra Education)

For more information about

Libra Swimming Academy email [email protected]

Libra Swimming Academy at the Wild Wadi Swim Burj Al Arab 2011! Libra Swimming Academy, Greenfield Community School Swim Squad and Adult Improvers joined Coach

Hannah in participating in the Wild Wadi’s Swim Burj Al Arab 2011 on Friday 11th November. The event is

held annually and raises money for the international charity, Medecins Sans Frontieres (MSF).

Head of Libra Swimming Academy Coach Hannah said, “I would like to thank the team

for joining me in swimming around the Burj Al Arab. This was such a great event to be a part

of and we raised almost 2000 dirhams for MSF!

What a great challenge for the swimmers and a fantastic achievement… I was very proud of them!

Make sure you put the date in your diary for next year swimmers

because we plan to do it again even bigger and better!

Congratulations to all of our swimmers who took part!”

mailto:[email protected]

Focus on Libra PA! This month we focus on what’s happening in Libra Performing Arts Academy....

Headed up by Suzi McMillan, our Performing Arts Academy delivers a wide range of dance and performing arts classes at our venues across the UAE.

Assisted by Miss Alise, Miss Amy and Miss Ami (or Amy Y and Ami I as they are fondly know), the team plays to their strengths and are able to offer our

students a varied dance and performing arts curriculum.

Congratulations!

We recently received our exam marks from the imperial with 100% pass rate, congratulations to all our students whose hard work paid off with fantastic results. We are very proud of you! A special thanks to

Ms Brittan, for showing our students such a lovely day and for also featuring Libra PA in Their international dance magazine.

The following students passed their exams: Elise Wiseman, Annika Hermans, Lara Forde, Ella Wiseman, Scarlett Grace Haywood, Ariana Stepanek, Yana Duseja, Ashley Caincross, Laila Hosny, Amy Sami, Maddie Raad,

Alise Lockhart, Talia Johannsen, Ceydar Johannsen, Oliver Barwell, Mahika Duseja, Laurn Crannell, Jasmine Pearson, Chloe Wahl Dassule, Nisha Kapitzki, Sophie Morath, Elisha Male, Victoria Armstrong, Ciara Wallace, Aya Okumura, Harriet Murray, Jo Vanden Auweele, Shan Coley, Jessica Schonberg, Sara Klimes, Clare Barwell, Elena Barwell - well done to all of you!

For more information about

Libra Dance and Performing Arts activities email [email protected]

Pictured Miss Suzi and Miss Alise

with Victoria Armstrong, Ciara Wallace and Aya Okumura

Faculty Update! Miss Suzi Our Academy Head, Miss Suzi went off to New York City again this summer, to train at The

Pulse with Broadway Dance Centre with the ‘So you think you can Dance!’ team. Choreographers and teaching mentors such as Brian Friedman, Robert Hoffman, Wade Robson, Chris Judd and Tyce Diorio were involved. Miss Suzi said they were a true inspiration.

Miss Suzi is pictured left with Brian Friedman. Miss Suzi will be offering master classes and staff professional development for teachers and coaches. For more info email [email protected]

Miss Alise Huge congratulations to Miss Alise for passing her higher level imperial teaching examination

during the summer.

New Team Members - Biogs! Amy Crawford hails from Edinburgh and trained at the prestigious Ballet West and The

Performing Arts Studio, Scotland, achieving her BA Honours in Dance. Since graduating Amy has performed professionally in touring shows around the world, including The Nutcracker and has successfully taught and led students through RAD examinations throughout the UK.

Amy’s fresh, energized approach to her work makes her a true credit to the team and she is very excited about her new challenge in the UAE. Amy has thoroughly enjoyed her first few weeks @Libra PA.

Ami Egdell also trained at the prestigious Ballet West gaining BA Honours however this Ami’s roots are from Northumberland! Specialising in RAD ballet, Ami is really excited to

guide our students through their examination process. Ami has just returned from China touring with The Nutcracker as corps de ballet and also recently performed in the UK tour of Romeo and Juliet. After teaching in the UK for 3 years, Ami is excited to be part of the

Libra family.

Pictured - Libra Performing Arts Team.

Clockwise from left Miss Alise,

Miss Amy, Miss Suzi and Miss Ami



Something for the grown ups

Party your way to fitness with Zumba Fitness!

Libra Dance are delighted to announce the return of Zumba

classes to our adult dance curriculum. Amy Y is our very

own Zumba Instructor and takes Zumba at Raha International

School every Wednesday evening, 7pm – 8pm.

Zumba classes feature exotic rhythms set to high-energy

Latin and international beats. Before you know it, you’re

getting fit and your energy levels are soaring! It’s easy to do, lots

of fun, effective and totally

exhilarating.

Coming soon to a centre near you!

Email [email protected] for more information!

Winter Showcase 2011!

Our Winter Showcase is almost upon us. We will be using our stage facility at Mohammad bin Zayed City

Emirates National School on Saturday the 10th of December at 5pm, to house our end of term performance.

Each of our classes will perform a piece to showcase what they have learnt with us in Term One. This 30

minute performance is open to all friends and family of Libra students, completely free of charge. We look

forward to seeing you there!

Libra Dance does spooky week........mwha ha ha ha ha ha ha haaaaa…..

We hope our students had as much fun as our instructors did in our Bring a friend and dress up for

spooky week! Our classes with a spooky twist were a little light hearted fun in the midst of all our students

hard work and seeing how much effort went into the costumes certainly put a smile on all our faces.

Pliés to the Monster Mash and Port de Bras to Harry Potter had us all giggling! Thriller made an appearance in

hip hop, as did a very theatrical dead pirate in drama! Halloween swept the academy with sheer zombie

madness!

Miss Suzi said, “Thanks to all our students for making such a great effort. We truly had a very special week and we are glad your friends were there to join in the fun. NOW back to work!” Pictured below our students at spooky

week.


Winter Swimming Gala! Libra Swimming Academy is proud to announce that our Winter Gala will be taking place at Al Raha International School, Khalifa City A, Abu Dhabi on Friday 9th December.

All swimmers from Learn to Swim and Squads are welcome to come along.

Gala Times: 8.30 arrive 9.00 start for seahorses, turtles, whales and

10.30 arrive for 11.00 start for whales, dolphins, sharks and squads

Cost Entrance Fee is AED 50, and swimmers can compete in as many events as they wish. Entrance fee includes a participation medal. For two siblings entrance fee is AED 90.

Cut-off date for entry is Thursday 1st December. Please submit your entry forms directly to your onsite Relationship Development Manager (RDM) – NOT to Libra Head Office.

Libra Performing Arts Academy Parents Association

NEEDS YOU! We are looking for around 15 volunteers to form a Libra Performing Arts Parents Association.

We value your input and opinions greatly and this will be a great way to source your feedback and ideas on events the academy will be engaging in throughout our academic year.

Events for the academy would include showcases, annual examinations and our annual academy show. The areas we need help on include sourcing show venues, costuming and helping at the academy show.

When we have such events coming up we will contact the Parents Association to get together and discuss ways you can help support our activities. We will make sure we provide you with some nice coffee and biscuits each time you meet and all Libra Parents Association members will qualify for discounts throughout our academic year.

If being part of the Libra PA’s Parents Association is something you would be interested in, then please contact [email protected]

We Need You!

Libra does Strictly Come Dancing! Libra Performing Arts Academy and Dance Abu Dhabi have teamed up to bring adult classes, such as Dance Social, Latin American, Street Latin and Ballroom Dance lessons to Libra venues.

Dance Social These are group events, where dancers of all dance styles and levels can meet, socialise and dance. Beginners can learn by watching and trying new steps; experienced dancers get a chance to practise with others and learn even more steps! We play music for any

of the dance styles - Salsa, Tango, Waltz, Samba, Jive, Cha-cha, Merengue, Foxtrot, etc. We also organise simple group dances, which we teach to you. These are fun dances meant to promote social interaction and rhythmic co-ordination.

Latin American and Street Latin

How many times have you listened to tantalising music at a dinner dance and thought, how I wish I could dance to this! Well, this is your chance. You can learn the cheeky Cha-cha-cha, the sexy Samba, sensuous Rumba! Try the Jive, then throw in some Salsa, Mambo, Merengue, and have a go at the Lambada as well! And how about the graceful intricacies of the Argentine Tango? At our Latin American and Street Latin classes you can learn to do them all. You will find that once you have mastered the first dance, the

others are easy to slip into, and you will never want to stop learning new moves!

Modern Ballroom These dances are ageless. Learn the Waltz to dance at a wedding, or simply to float dreamily in your partners arms. Try the social

Foxtrot or get energised with the Quickstep or the sharp movements of the Ballroom Tango.

Our first Dance Social will launch in January at Raha International School dance studio.

To book your space for our first ever dance social - please contact [email protected]. Look forward to seeing you there!!



Libra Birthday Parties! Libra Academies have teamed up to produce a birthday party that will rock your child's world at one of

our superb venues, whether the party is for boys, girls, or a mixture of both. Our bespoke packages can be tailored specifically to meet your needs. Please email [email protected] for more information.

It’s a new season at Libra Adventure, and the

team are ready to take you on an outdoor

adventure of your own. ….. With a stunning centre based on an inland lagoon

juxtapose the stunning high dunes and the clear waters of the Arabian Gulf, Libra Adventure is the perfect location for your adventure experience.

Libra Adventure offers a variety of outdoor experiential learning and adventure education opportunities which are ideal for schools, corporate groups wishing to focus on

personal development, teambuilding, environmental education or exploring leadership potential.

Libra Adventure Centre, based at Umm Al Quwain boasts dorms for over 80 persons, (corporate guests can also stay in a nearby hotel if they wish) a kitchen with three chefs,

climbing wall and a boat that can accommodate 100 persons. The wildlife of the lagoon, or Khorr, comprises of pristine

mangrove islands where you will get the chance to see dolphins, sea turtles, pipe fish, flamingos and thousands of sea birds. Kayaking through this eco-

system you will be within meters of the local wildlife. All of this is overseen by our highly trained and

professional instructors who will supervise you and assist you thoughout your time with us.

To book an adventure day or days email [email protected] or call 050 884 2635

We look forward to hearing from you and starting your adventure….

Libra Adventure Birthday Parties for your Child! New to 2011 – Libra Adventure offers birthday parties at the centre or at home. For more information please email

[email protected] for a bespoke birthday party package just for you!

Libra now has Relationship Development Managers in all our schools! To support the delivery of our programmes across all our sites, we have a team of Relationship Development Managers.

ENS Mohamed Bin Zayed City Campus Senior Relationship Development Manager Kerry Nichols

Raha International School Relationship Development Manager James Bedford American International School and The British International School Relationship Development Manager Ryan McNeil

Abu Dhabi City Campus Relationship Development Manager Ryan Clark

To contact any of our Relationship Development Managers email [email protected] or call 800 LIBRA (54272) or 055 922 8362.





Staff Conference 28th - 30th August 2011 sponsored by Holborn Assets Libra Education held it’s inaugural staff conference during the summer break. It was an excellent opportunity to welcome new staff to the team and provide continuous professional development opportunities for our existing staff. Over 30 members of staff

attended the conference which was held at Jumeira Baccalaureate School in Dubai. Topics covered included Child Protection, Communication, Professionalism and Cultural Sensitivity. Staff also had the opportunity to get to know their teams and learn more about their individual job roles. Sponsored by Holborn Assets, the conference ended with an awards and celebration evening for

all Libra staff.

Awards were given for Employee of the Year, Teaching and Learning , sponsored by Holborn Assets (awarded to Head of

Libra Football Academy, Coach Adrian John)

Employee of the Year, Support Services (awarded to Communications Manager, Katie Mills)

We’d like to say a huge thank you to Holborn Assets for sponsoring

our event. Holborn Assets are a leading International Financial Services Company based in Dubai. Holborn Assets provides clients with a range of financial advice including advice on how to save money for your children’s long term educational future…..

Education, Education, Education! Tony Blair had it absolutely right when he told us what the priorities were for him back in 1997. What he didn’t tell us was how much it was all going to cost, especially the costs associated with

going to university.

Holborn Assets have joined forces with Royal Skandia who have designed a savings plan to help you save around $140,000 over a 10 year period to cover the cost of your children’s education.

Freedom 10! The Freedom 10 plan is for regular savings with a 10 year horizon. A regular commitment of $750 each month offers you exclusive and unique benefits in terms of costs and charges within the plan. The usual off shore tax benefits are also available

within the plan. Once the 10 year contributions have been made you don’t need to close the account and take the money out, you can leave it there to continue growing until you need to start paying for university fees, accommodation etc. In fact if you were to leave it an extra 5 years there could be a further $75,000 available to you.

If you want to speak to a Holborn adviser today to find out more about this exclusive deal then please contact Deborah Edwards [email protected] or call 050 6391173 or Maurice Cassan [email protected] or call 050 7155875.

Uncover your child’s true learning ability with one to one NLP Coaching Libra Education has partnered with MindCoach UAE to offer one to one coaching sessions for students in Dubai and Abu Dhabi.

Tony Barlow the cofounder of MindCoach UAE specialises in helping students who struggle in school. The sessions are based on

the revolutionary technology of Neuro Linguistic Programming (NLP).

Tony uses NLP to uncover the thought processes of excellent students and then teach these learning strategies to other students who struggle, a process called modeling excellence.

Tony says, “Most students I see who are struggling simply have learning strategies that don't work. There is a big assumption being made that students, without being taught, automatically know how to use their mind to comprehend, learn and memorize. This is the primary reason some students struggle while others find it easy.”

This applies to:

Students from aged 7-8yrs and above who under-achieve in one or more areas of school.

Students who have been told they have "learning difficulties" such as Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD), Dyslexia or Dyscalculia.

Good students who want accelerate learning. College students and graduate students as well as adults who want to go back to school or prepare themselves for promotions or new jobs.

Go to www.learnfastuae.com to find out more or

email [email protected] or call Tony directly on 050 812 6383. Tony Barlow, Master Practitioner, NLP



http://www.learnfastuae.com


Email us at [email protected]

Call us on 800 LIBRA (54272) or 055 922 8362 Visit us at www.libra-uae.com

Want more information?

Check out our facebook page - Libra UAE or follow us on twitter @Libra_UAE.

Libra now delivering in Emirates National Schools in Abu Dhabi and Al Ain! Our new Emirates National School (ENS) campuses are a very exciting prospect for ENS students, Libra and the local community. We are now delivering sports and other after school activities in Al Ain City Campus, Mohamed Bin Zayed Campus and Abu

Dhabi City Campus.

To support the delivery of our programmes across all our ENS sites, we have a team of Relationship Development Managers.

Ahmad Jasim is the Relationship Development Manager for our Al Ain campus. Ahmad says, “The first tour I had of ENS Al Ain was

thrilling as the potential struck home. Four schools on the same site with top class swimming pools, indoor and outdoor football pitches, and tennis and basketball courts. The endless high quality facilities will allow our coaches to deliver their well developed programmes and push beyond the highest level. These sites will quickly develop into a thriving hub for the extended community where all can come and enjoy playing

their sport, extending their education and adding new skills. This is an image mirrored in all the ENS sites with swimming pools and indoor and outdoor facilities ready to be used to their maximum potential. If you are close to any of these sites and would like to get involved then please don’t hesitate to contact us with you queries and ideas.”

Mohamed Bin Zayed City Campus Senior Relationship Development Manager Kerry Nichols 0505387259

Abu Dhabi City Campus Relationship Development Manager Ryan Clark 0508741956 Al Ain Campus Relationship Development Manager Ahmad Jasim 0508747150

To contact any of our Relationship Development Managers email [email protected] or call the relevant

number above.

Re-registration for Libra activities in Term Two Don’t miss out on your places for our term two activities. Beat the January rush and sign up in December!

Existing customers RAHA International School Sunday 4th December 8.30am - 8.00pm

New Customers RAHA International School Sunday 11th December 8.30am - 8.00pm

Our staff will be available to assist you and answer any questions you might have. We accept credit card payments as well as cash and cheques made payable to LIBRA SPORT.


http://www.libra-uae.com


Talent Times November 2011 - Abu Dhabi Edition

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