Wednesday, December 23, 2009

GOODBYE & GOOD LUCK VINCENT


Tonight we farewelled our beautiful Vincent! We love you and wish you the world.

“Some people come into our lives and quickly go.

Some moves our souls to dance.

They awaken us to new understanding

with the passing whisper of their wisdom.

Some people make the sky more beautiful to gaze upon.

They stay in our lives for awhile,

leave footprints on our hearts

and we are never, ever the same.”

-Anonymous

Tuesday, December 22, 2009

MERRY CHRISTMAS


On behalf of my family, The Slack-Smiths and of course my other family, Stepping Out, may I extend our very best wishes for a Most Magical Christmas and a Truly Wondrous New Year! Thank you for making 2009 so special for us. May your homes be filled with love and laughter.
Christmas waves a magic wand over this world, and behold, everything is softer and more beautiful. ~Norman Vincent Peale

Saturday, December 12, 2009

GOOD LUCK ORANGE & FORBES

I am so excited to go to Orange tomorrow and watch the genius of Miss Leesa, Miss Emma, Miss Rachel & Miss Steph. I know it will be incredible so I will pack the tissues. Good Luck to all Performers. I can't wait to meet up with those who I have already met and excited to meet new little faces. It's going to be AWESOME! And, Miss Leesa, I know how you feel!

I HOPE YOU DANCE

Big thanks to everyone who has contacted me by text, calls or emails to day to congratulate the studio on their excellent performance. A Lot of people also commented on the poem used in the program so I have added it here in full. It really is beautiful and is my wish for all of our dancers.
I hope you never lose your sense of wonder,
You get your fill to eat but always keep that hunger,
May you never take one single breath for granted,
GOD forbid love ever leave you empty handed,
I hope you still feel small when you stand beside the ocean,
Whenever one door closes I hope one more opens,
Promise me that you'll give faith a fighting chance,
And when you get the choice to sit it out or dance.

I hope you dance....I hope you dance.

I hope you never fear those mountains in the distance,
Never settle for the path of least resistance
Livin' might mean takin' chances but they're worth takin',
Lovin' might be a mistake but it's worth makin',
Don't let some hell bent heart leave you bitter,
When you come close to sellin' out reconsider,
Give the heavens above more than just a passing glance,
And when you get the choice to sit it out or dance.

I hope you dance....I hope you dance.
I hope you dance....I hope you dance.
(Time is a wheel in constant motion always rolling us along,
Tell me who wants to look back on their years and wonder where those years have gone.)

I hope you still feel small when you stand beside the ocean,
Whenever one door closes I hope one more opens,
Promise me that you'll give faith a fighting chance,
And when you get the choice to sit it out or dance.

Dance....I hope you dance.
I hope you dance....I hope you dance.
I hope you dance....I hope you dance..
(Time is a wheel in constant motion always rolling us along
Tell me who wants to look back on their years and wonder where those years have gone)

Lee Ann Womack

WOW- We are still pinching ourselves

I have just had the post mortem phone call with Miss Emma ( she taught in Forbes all day today) and we are both so over the moon with the incredible performance given by all of our students last night. CONGRATULATIONS! We can't wait for the DVD but our back stage glimpse was absolutely stunning. Behind the curtains was very chaotic- I can not believe the costume changes kids made in record time to get onto stage. Special mention must go to Holly Keizer and my apologies- the music started and she had literally 30 seconds to change a tutu. I in my nerves gave the cue to start music and then realised that Holly had a change. She is such a little professional- she was so poised and calm and just waited for her opportunity in the wings and then ran into place without missing a beat. BUT THEN IT MUST BE GENETIC-Darienne (mum of Holly) deserves a medal for the costume changes she made not only for her 3 daughters but for all others backstage with quick changes. Thankyou so much and she is always so cool, calm and helpful. Jade "ROCK ON" Bunt also had a very quick change and she is fortunate that her mum Narelle is also an absolute wizard and runs the backstage costume changes like clockwork. Jade basically managed the impossible in her change..............I heard she had a team swoop down, lift her from ground and like magic transform her. Thankyou also to Narelle who was a tremendous help and calming influence back stage.
Thanks to Sonya for changing my girls Immy & Onny with lightning speed and me hovering beside like a maniac as I watched groups performed. Other backstage performers of note were Glenys Weldon, our gorgeous Miss Leesa & Miss Emma and of course all of the MUMS. Thankyou to Karen McGuire who was a huge help with organisation as well.
It would be hilarious to film a documentary on what goes on behind the scenes. VERY FUNNY and lucky we all have a sense of humour and realise that its all about the kids and of course, OUR VISION. (ahahahahah)
I loved our compere this year, Mr Zac Beavon Collin- he did an incredible job and really brought to life our Musical Tributes.
To our audience, wow, what a warm and receptive group you were. Thankyou for your applause- it means so much to the kids to feel the love and energy within the room.
I can't pick out a favourite routine- I loved it all. Alot of the kids said to me today they wanted to wake up today and do it all over again.....I said yes, as long as I could sit in the audience this time. I don't think my nerves could cope. SIGH- OH WHAT A NIGHT!!

Friday, December 11, 2009

ARGHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH

Today is the day! I am so nervous and so excited! You have had the most amazing rehearsals and we couldn't be prouder! To coin some theatre speak, Break a Leg! We can't wait to see you on stage. As always, you will dazzle us.

Wednesday, December 9, 2009

CONCERT DAY ORGANISATION

Everyone should have received their note about Concert Day. Just as a brief reminder, performers in the first half should be in first costume and assemble in foyer at 5.45pm. All other students may sit with parents or in designated area at back of auditorium and will be called for at start of Interval for their performance in the second half.
Dressing rooms will be allocated for those with numerous costume changes. All other students will be supervised in foyer by stage manager who will take them side stage prior to performance. Please collect your child from foyer after their performance.
CLASS AWARDS WILL NOW BE HANDED OUT AT CONCERT! Our apologies as note did say they will be handed out at dress rehearsals but due to unforseen circumstances we have made some changes to this plan.

First Dress Rehearsal a Resounding Success- Dance Teachers Elated but Exhausted




Hi All, I have been up for a couple of hours now obsessing over everything Concert. The plan was set the alarm for 5.30am and finally fold that laundry up (mmmmm yeah the laundry from several posts ago still sits there) but I got side tracked by my Concert TO DO list. I just had to share a sneak pre view of our Future Stars Ballet class and also congratulate all students involved in yesterday's Dress Rehearsal. WOW! I don't want to say too much for fear it is all a dream but I just can't believe how well you all are performing and the costuming, OH MY! OUR VISION IS COMING TOGETHER! So many incredible acts! Miss Emma is a genius. Big thanks to parents who rushed from work to get their little darlings looking gorgeous! Your children will remember this. I promise! These are the moments that make our childhood so special! ( Meanwhile, I hope my own children don't recall too much of Mummy's Pre Concert behaviour........scary! Hahahahaha)Special thanks to Darienne & Narelle for holding the fort in the foyer. TWO MORE SLEEPS!!!

Sunday, December 6, 2009

WOW- What a Stage Rehearsal



Miss Emma and I are completely gob smacked! Congratulations! AN AMAZING STAGE REHEARSAL TODAY! We are so very proud of you. Thankyou for all of your hard work. I just can't wait to see you all at Dress Rehearsals- I saw (OHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH excuse me- no use crying over spilt TOMATO SAUCE I guess...Immy has just opened the fridge. There was an explosion. Shattered glass. She claims the Tomato sauce threw itself off ledge. The kitchen looks like the aftermath of a massacre. Ho hum - Let's just say Immy is very fortunate that I am on cloud 9 and that rehearsals went well) Oh the ying and the yang- but back to more important matters (drum roll please)OUR CONCERT!!So, as I was saying before the suicidal sauce incident, I saw flashes of costumes and they looked amazing! Very exciting! Thankyou to everyone for your wonderful efforts and to the parents for your continued support in making our concert the most spectacular yet.

Friday, December 4, 2009

COUNTDOWN TO CONCERT

ARGHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH this time next week the curtain closes on our 2009 Dancing year! I have many mixed emotions. Concert coincides with Christmas and so is easily my most favourite time of year but I am both terrified and elated. I am SOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO excited but still in crazed Concert mode. Special thanks to my long suffering husband and family for dealing with my pre concert mood swings. I am sure we can all agree, tis truly the silly season in more ways than one. Don't forget stage craft rehearsals and costume collection this Sunday! Is that the faint whirr of a sewing machine I can hear?? No doubt it is, Sonya is madly sewing into the night to ensure we are all our glittering best very soon. I am mid slide show- my computer has decided to be a little tempremental...............grrrrrr, just to ensure I am kept on my toes or as it seems, teetering dangerously closer to the edge. Miss Emma, Leesa and i can't wait to see you on stage soon. I am juggling Concert and ever growing Santa lists.
We also said farewell to 55 Wheelers Lane last week. One door closes, another one opens and we look forward to sharing our new premises with you in 2010. It also means inevitably that we must farewell students who are moving on for their studies and other challenges. We are therefore reminded of the honour that comes with accompanying these wonderful young people, some for their entire childhood and hope that they will continue to dance through their lives, discover their own beat and in light of this year's concert, ROCK ON.
I still have so much packing to do but have been heartened that the workmen next door have been intrigued and bopping along to our musical selections. Yes, AC DC & Andrew Lloyd Webber!!We are nothing but original.
To all those first time mums, battling with curls, my best wishes. It is all part of the fun and you are contributing to wonderful childhood memories. See you on Sunday! I can't wait- oh but the housework can!!