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Album Review
Joseph Hall, Dance Academic of Excellence
Name: Joseph Martin Hall
Talent: Dancer, businessman, instructor, Britain’s Got Talent semi-finalist
Age: 36
Place of birth: St Ann’s and grew up in Mapperley Park, Nottingham
Education: Gedling and Elliot Durham Comprehensive schools, Nottingham
Previous jobs: Worked in schools as a mentor to support disaffected kids
Entrepreneur spirit: Owner of QMX Dance Academy, Nottingham
Reason for starting his own business: To help kids achieve their potential
through dance
CV entries: BBC 1 Britain’s Got Talent 2013 (Semi- finalist)
SKY 1 Got to Dance 2011 (Semi-finalists)
BBC 3 Move Like Michael Jackson 2009 (Semi-finalist)
BBC 1 Strictly Dance Fever 2005 (Winner)
Heineken Advert 2011 (Director)
In my mind- Kia Sol Hamster commercial (Director)
Who are you most inspired by? Sammy Davis Junior, Nicholas Brothers, Gene Kelly, James
Brown, Michael Jackson
Dance style inspiration: dance artistry of the 1920s
What are your thoughts on dance in the future since Diversity?
I think dance technique will go backwards. One of the styles that will emerge will come from
deep within African and Indian traditions. I think they will submerge and come out. African
American dance like the styles of the Nicolas Brothers, the ‘shoe shine’ tap dance style will
also emerge again. Take a look at street dance. It looks fantastic with flips and gymnastic
moves but is because it is merging with different traditions.
What are you up to at the moment?
I am touring. I have danced in London, Glasgow, Nottingham for Roland Klein and many other cities.
Do you have an agent? World Dance Management,
London.
Tell us about your successful appearance
on Britain’s Got Talent.
It was a fantastic experience. It was another
opportunity to reawaken a force that was almost
a sleep inside me. I just came home one day and
spoke to my partner and said I wanted to go on
the programme. She looked on line, completed
the application and sent me forward to do it.
What did you learn from Britain’s Got Talent? I
learnt that it is never too late! I learnt that you can keep
going; you can redesign your dance and always develop
and learn something new. I am shocked and amazed at the
performance I did on the day because of my delivery and the
sense of giving honour back to great dancers of their generation.
They are talented people that I have learnt from. I think the Gods
were happy that day!
Contact:
21
Nottingham connected
www.qmxacademy.co.uk
126 Lower Parliament Street
Nottingham NG1 1EH
Tel: 0115 9411953
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=habNR8FdIIE
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wbkmbYOlDcU
Back to the Garden by Mellonie Page
Producers: Errol M & Winnie William
Nottingham singing talent, Mellonie
Page’s debut album brought back
memories of youthful nights spent in
house parties in 1980’s Nottingham: slow
dancing to lovers’ rock, old skool and
revival, memories brought back from the
garden of youth.
This fifteen track album reignites that
1980’s musical spirit by capturing the
essence of nature through its sultry and
smooth style achieved in a way that you
have to listen and feel free.
The album’s spiritual and lovers rock tone
was inspired by Mellonie’s Christian faith
and vision. “I was lying on the floor at my
sister’s house and all of a sudden waves
were moving up and down my body and
when I opening my eyes, I was transported
to a garden. Everything was so vivid.
The grass was massaging me, the breeze was ministering me and soothing. I felt I was taken to a
heavenly garden. Obviously you think of the Garden of Eden and I often wonder what it would
be like to go back to that garden,” said Mellonie as she prepared for an evening performing
at the Contemporary Art Gallery, Lace Market, Nottingham. “Lenroy ‘Bassie’ Guiste from the
Nottingham dub band the Natural Ites (including Percydread and Ossie Samms) played on the
beautiful track titled, ‘I Will Rise’, one of the tracks I really enjoy,” said Mellonie.
Originally from Basford, Nottingham, Mellonie started her musical career as a youngster singing
in church and at Alderman Derbyshire secondary school, Nottingham before going on to study
Performing Arts at Clarendon College, Nottingham and for a degree in Contemporary Arts at
Nottingham Trent University. In 1994, Mellonie toured with Black Mind, one of the biggest
theatre companies in the UK. She now teaches singing in the city to help and encourage young
people into the music industry.
“Train as much as you can and learn about your craft. Go to concerts, get to know other artists
and try to get a mentor. Dr Martin Glenn was my mentor and took me under his wing. He
taught me to write poems and said if I could write poems, then I could write songs and if I could
write songs then I could write plays. He really encouraged me from a young age,” said Mellonie.
“Use your home area as your training ground. Serve in your training ground. Don’t charge
people; just sing for free, people get to know who you are as well. It’s not always about the
money. Believe in yourself first!” said Mellonie radiating the wisdom and knowledge gained
through the years and through the blossom of her successful singing career.
Back to the Garden album
costs only £10 and is available at:
[email protected]
www.facebook.com/mellonie.page
www.twitter.com/melloniepage