BREAKING NEWS! AMBER BUNT- WINNER JUNIOR CLASSICAL SCHOLARSHIP

Hey- pics and news to follow but the breaking news is that Amber Bunt not only qualified for the Forbes Eisteddfod Scholarship but was also the winner of it! CONGRATULATIONS! WE ARE SO PROUD!

Dubbo Eisteddfod Results

Whoah Phone is already beeping with incredible results from Forbes so thought I better share our Dubbo successes. I hope everyone is enjoying their holidays! Some of our dancers are very busy at Forbes Eisteddfod!
SENIORS WEEKEND-( please note that majority of senior division had 30 competitors in each section and reflected very strong competition.) 13/14 yrs Contemporary Solo- 3rd Paris Burns, 13/14 yrs Modern Solo- 1st Paris Burns, Intermediate Ballet Championship- 2nd Paris Burns, Highly Commended Open Contemporary Championship- Paris Burns.
Open Jazz Solo- 2nd Anthony Bartley, Open Entertainment Solo- 1st Anthony Bartley.
Unfortunately Courtney Hart was out of competition due to a sprained ankle but in true Courtney style was in the audience cheering us on.
Lachy Pilon- Highly Commended Open Jazz/ Hip Hop. Excellent performances were also enjoyed by Rebecca Richardson, Brandi McGuire and Melissa McDonald.
JUNIORS- H.C 11/12 yrs Res Modern- Amelia Rice. Congratulations to Sophia Dickerson, Sabine O'Connor, Georgia Erskine and Cleo Ferrari for beautiful performances.
Laura Keizer wowed the crowd with her Baby Dance. Jade Bunt did a fantastic job dancing in Opens for her first year with excellent performances in Her Demi, Classical, Jazz & Modern Solos ( and Impros!) Holly Keizer was 3rd in her Under 8s jazz, H.C in her Classical, 3rd in her Modern with awesome performances in her Tap and Demi routines. Congratulations to Cleo Ferrari for 1st in 11/12 Restricted Jazz, 3rd to Sophia Dickerson and brilliant routines from Imogen Slack-Smith, Sabine OConnor & Georgia Erskine.
Brinley Catto received 2nd in her Open Under 8s Jazz Solo, H.C in her Classical and Modern Solo. Ondine Slack-Smith received 1sts in Open Under 8 Classical & Open Under 8 Jazz Solos. Kacey Crisante was 3rd in her 10 yrs Jazz Solo and Meg Keizer H.C.. Meg also danced beautifully in her Tap, Modern, Classical sections and did a roof raising duo with Jade Bunt. Emma Blake also did a sensational job with her first year dancing in Open Division. Quite a feat to qualify for this girls!!
Amber Bunt had a very successful Eisteddfod with Hc Open Jazz, 1st Modern Impro, 1st 12 yrs Contemporary, HC 12 yrs Ballet Impro, sensational Own Choreography and brilliant Championship routines.
Well done to Onny Slack-Smith & Holly Keizer who despite only being 7 danced in the under 12 Jazz Duos with ten other pairs and received 3rd place. They also received a HC in the Under 12s Classical Duo.
Imogen Slack-Smith gave a very emotive performance in 12 yrs Contemporary and received 3rd. Big congratulations also to Hannah Hodginskin for her solo debut!
WELL DONE TO ALL OF OUR SOLOISTS! I HOPE I HAVE REMEMBERED YOU ALL.
GROUPS- HC 10 yrs Contemporary, 3rd 12 yrs Modern, 3rd 12 yrs Jazz, 3rd 10 yrs Jazz, 2nd 14 yrs Jazz, 3rd 14 yrs Modern, 2nd 14 yrs Contemporary and 3rd Open Jazz. Fantastic competition from local and afar dance schools ( GO DANCE UNLIMITED! My dear friend's Tanya school!)

Congratulations Paris- Finalist City of Sydney Eisteddfod

DUBBO EISTEDDFOD

I intend to sit down and write up all our fantastic solo and group results ASAP. Stepping Out has had an incredibly busy term and I have been trying to catch up on all the happenings as well as busily prepare for my next big production, BABY NUMBER 5 so look out for the comprehensive list of solo results and group ones in next few days! In the meantime, here are some pics!!

DUBBO EISTEDDFOD- MAJOR AWARD RECIPIENTS

Congratulations To Anthony Bartley who won the Open Entertainment Solo, 2nd in Open Jazz and sensational performances in Open Contemporary and Open Own Choreography! Anthony was also awarded the Adjudicators Choice Trophy for her favourite solo performance 13 yrs and over at Dubbo Eisteddfod. Huge congrats to Anthony!
Paris Burns was awarded the Encouragement Trophy at Dubbo Eisteddfod and danced beautifully winning 14 yrs & U Modern Solo, 3rd 14 yrs & U Contemporary Solo, 2nd Ballet Championship and Highly Commended in Open Contemporary Championship. Competition was incredibly strong and there were very large sections to well done to both students for the honour of being awarded major awards.
BREAKING NEWS! Paris has just rung from Sydney where she is competing in the City of Sydney Eisteddfod ( a most prestigious dance competition) with some very exciting news. She is one of 6 finalists out of 70 competitors in the Contemporary Solo section. WOW PARIS!! This is an awesome achievement! BEST WISHES for the remainder of your performances and of course your Finals.

COWRA EISTEDDFOD

Paris Burns travelled to Cowra Eisteddfod in May and had an outstanding Eisteddfd. Paris gained 1st places in very large sections, with her 14 yrs & U Modern Solo, Contemporary Solo, Demi Character Solo, 2nd place in Classical Ballet Solo and 2nd place in Open Ballet Championship. Paris was also one of eight finalists selected for the Scholarship (out of 30 competitors) with the eventual winner being a Genee Awards Bronze Medallist. ( so Paris was in very fine company!) Paris was also awarded the Most Promising Dancer Trophy and the Highest Pointscore Trophy! Congratulations Paris!

HI ALL- LONG TIME NO SEE

I write from under a haze of sequins, lack of sleep and of course laundry! Since my Gulgong posts, we here at Stepping Out Dance Factory have been like little pixies working into the night in our preparations for Cowra & Dubbo Eisteddfod. Along with this, is the ever pressing in utero rehearsals for the big debut in August, of Baby Slack-Smith! So many exciting things are happening and we couldn't be more thrilled with the successes of our students at recent Eisteddfods and of course the many good times we have shared. So, throughout the day, I will be sharing all our good news and insights!Congratulations to all of our students from Dubbo, Orange & Forbes. There were so many instances when we were able to appreciate not only your magnificence on stage but your brilliance off stage with your sense of fun, friendliness and outstanding team spirit and sportsmanship! It truly is an honour to share in so many wonderful young people's lives and I thank their families and them for being such fantastic people. There are no DIVAS at Stepping Out! Hallejuah!! Big thanks also to the other studios who came together in a celebration of dance.

MORE AMAZING RESULTS

Unfortunately, I had to return to Dubbo to teach but was incredibly excited to hear the familiar beep beep of my phone for remainder of week heralding the following results. Apologies if I miss any as these are the ones my feeble mind are able to recall.
1st- 13/14 yrs Jazz- Melissa McDonald, 1st- 13/14 yrs Restricted Modern- Brandi McGuire, 2nd- 13/14 yrs Restricted Contemporary- Courtney Hart, 1st- 13/14 yrs Open Ballet- Paris Burns, H.C- Courtney Hart, 2nd- Open 13/14 yrs Tap- Brandi McGuire, 2nd- Restricted 11/12yrs Contemporary- Amber Bunt, 3rd Open 11/12 yrs Jazz- Amber Bunt, 1st Modern Expressive Impro- Amber Bunt, H.C - Open Jazz 13/14 yrs- Courtney Hart, 1st- 13/14 yrs Modern Expressive Impro- Brandi McGuire, H.C Entertainment- Brandi McGuire, 1st- 13/14 yrs Modern Expressive Open- Paris Burns, 1st- 11/12 yrs Modern Expressive- Amber Bunt, 1st- 13/14 yrs Open Contemporary Solo Paris Burns, 2nd- Courtney Hart, 3rd 11/12 yrs Jazz Impro- Amber Bunt, 1st 11/12 yrs Demi Impro- Amber Bunt, 3rd- Open age Modern- Paris Burns, Open Age Contemporary- 3rd Paris Burns, 1st- 13/14 years Contemporary Demi Paris Burns, 2nd- Courtney Hart, 1st 13/14 yrs Demi Impro- Courtney Hart. We were absolutely thrilled to discover that Amber Bunt was recipient for Most Promising 11/12 yrs Dancer trophy & that Brandi McGuire was recipient for 13/14 yrs Most Promising Dancer trophy. ( this means Stepping Out kids was awarded this age trophy for all age divisions bar 10 yrs- mighty effort!!!)High point scores were enjoyed by all. Paris Burns did her first ever Ballet Championship and won 1st place with 97 points in each routine in an Open Age Division! WOW! Paris was also awarded the Most Promising Classical Ballet Dancer Trophy. Courtney Hart was beautiful and recived a Highly Commended. Amber did her first Jazz Championship and received 2nd- woo hoo! Other noteworthy Championship dancers were Brandi McGuire and Courtney Hart!
Now that you have read all of this, I am sure you know why I have been too exhausted to update blog, Pride & Joy are very tiring emotions! GO STEPPING OUT!!

GULGONG SOLO RESULTS

Big congrats to little Laura Keizer on her solo stage debut! Laura lit up the stage and we were all so proud of her! Brinley Catto was the delighted recipient of the 6 years "Most Promising Dancer" trophy and won her Classical and Modern Solos in her age section. Holly Keizer received 3rd in her first ever Tap solo, 2nd in her Open Classical Solo, 1st in her Modern Expressive Solo and 3rd in her Jazz Solo. Holly was also the recipient of the "Most Promising Dancer" in the 8 yrs age division which was very exciting. Holly & Ondine Slack-Smith then teamed up for two duos, dancing brilliantly and winning both their Jazz & Classical routines. Onny was also 1st in her Open Classical Solo and 2nd in her Jazz Solo ( my little Wonder Woman.) Congratulations to Meg Keizer for 1st in her Demi Character, H.C in her Classical, 2nd in her Tap solo, 3rd in her Jazz solo and a gorgeous performance in her Modern. Stunning performances and a very noteworthy improvement was evident in Georgia Erskine's three incredible performances in Jazz, Modern & Classical. Cleo Ferrari was amazing, receiving 3rd for her Jazz solo and making an impression with her beautiful Modern solo. Sophia Dickerson rocked the house, winning the 10 yrs Jazz solo and dancing beautifully in her Modern. Jade Bunt was incredible gaining 3rd in her Classical, H.C in her Demi and stunning performances in Open Jazz and Modern. Emma Blake was also a superstar in her first Open Jazz division and beautiful in her Modern, winning a 3rd place. Gorgeous performances by Imogen Slack-Smith with a lovely Modern Solo and a 1st place in her Jazz solo. Big congrats also to Amelia Rice who danced amazingly in both her solos. Kacey Crisante was another Stepping Out wonder gaining 2nd in her Jazz solo. Well done Girls- I was fortunate to be in the audience for most of these performances and I was gobsmacked. Miss Emma and I were so proud.

OUTSTANDING RESULTS AT GULGONG!

I have been very busy and so have neglected the blog but am wading through my TO DO list and just had to share the outstanding results and our immense pride from the wonderful start to our Eisteddfod season. Congratulations to all involved. Results ( literally far too many to list)to follow but I will try are truly jaw dropping amazing and best of all, you all looked to have improved and to be enjoying yourselves. Go Stepping Out!