Amanda Hemmer
Winner of the award for outstanding teaching, training and learning practitioner, Amanda Hemmer teaches visually impaired students at the Royal National College for the Blind in Hereford.
Amanda has instigated weekly dance and drama workshops for students during lunch breaks at the Royal National College for the Blind, as well as running evening theatre trips and workshops with visiting performers. These extra-curricular opportunities are aimed to motivate Amanda's students to excel and to encourage a passion for their subject.
Amanda's encouragement has indeed inspired several of her learners to go on and enjoy success in the arts industry. In return Amanda says that the students have given her enthusiasm for her work, and that winning a STAR award was fantastic.
Amanda proposes to use her STARlight funding to undertake a study trip to Seville, where she will investigate flamenco as a means of developing her dance teaching to visually impaired students, through its vocal and percussive elements.