Term
3 Newsletter 2004
Hello Again Everyone
We would like to extend a warm welcome to our new
students and hope you are settling in to your classes and enjoying dancing.
Farewell to Katie Burton:
We were all very sorry to have to farewell Contemporary
Dance tutor Katie Burton who is currently in Europe attending the "Impulse
Tanz Dance Festival". After her final night teaching last term Katie
and the Contemporary Dance students all came back to Marian's house for
a farewell get together. Everyone got a chance to wish Katie well for
her travels and a lovely time was had by all. Katie keeps in touch with
Marian via email and is having a fabulous time overseas.
Welcome to Rachel Atkinson:
We are fortunate to have found a wonderful replacement
for Katie and wish to extend a warm welcome to Rachel Atkinson as our
Contemporary Dance tutor. Rachel studied Contemporary dance at the "New
Zealand School of Dance" and has worked professionally with "Black
Grace Dance Company". She has a lot to offer our students and we
all look forward to getting to know her and sharing her expertise.
Choreography Day:
This was held near the end of term 2 and was
a great success. It was exciting to see the obvious enthusiasm for choreography
in the students. A wide range of different aged students participated
with our youngest choreographer/performer being only 8 years old. We had
groups, duets and solos perform in a range of genre - from lyrical to
dramatic to humorous. Katie Burton gave positive feedback on each performance
and was most impressed with the level of commitment and professionalism.
The performers thoroughly enjoyed the day and said it felt like it was
a real show as there was such a good audience of onlookers. Everyone was
very supportive of each other. We plan to hold another choreography day
next year and would like to encourage even more students to participate.
The Show
Performances:
Saturday, October 30 - 6.30pm
Sunday, October 31- 1.00pm & 4.30pm
Term three is always a fun and exciting term as we
start to learn and rehearse dances for our annual show which will be performed
at Centrestage Theatre, Orewa early in term four.
This year the show will be bigger than ever and we
will need to perform it three times to cater for the increasing audience
numbers. To cater for the needs of the younger students, Level 1 Ballet
students will dance in one performance only, and Level 2 and 3 Ballet
students will perform in two performances - details will follow closer
to the time.
Theatre Rehearsals:
Friday, Oct 29 - 4.00pm onwards - All Ballet students
Saturday, Oct 30 - 8.00am onwards - Senior Ballet students, Contemporary
Dance students and Jazz students.
The older students are well underway with learning their performance pieces
and the younger students will be beginning to learn their dances from
now on.
To all our students we wish to encourage your total
commitment to this production. It is an important part of the ballet programme
and one of the positive alternatives we offer to ballet exams. It is an
opportunity for you all to demonstrate your very best dancing in a positive
and supportive environment. We are confident you will all enjoy the challenge
and rewards of dancing on stage. It is very important that you try hard
to make it to all your classes and rehearsals on time each week - it is
very frustrating for everyone if people are missing.
The opening item will be an exciting ballet story
called "The Pearl" which will be performed by the younger ballet
students up to Pre Elementary Level with a few Senior students taking
key roles. There will also be other items including some by our Contemporary
and Jazz students. The main item will be a Classical ballet performed
by our Intermediate and Advanced Ballet students and will include students
dancing en Pointe.
Show Notice Board:
This will be on display later on this term. Please check it regularly
for information. Notices will be sent home from time to time too.
Helpers Wanted Please:
We need lots of people to each undertake a small job in preparation for
this production. Please volunteer to help us … many hands make light
work. We have some hand and machine sewing jobs available. Most costumes
are already made but some may need altering or mending. We also need 1
person from each class to volunteer to take charge of the costumes for
their group. Please see or phone Marian if you are willing to help.
Ph. 473 7665.
Dressing Room Coordinator Needed:
We need a kind and willing person to take on the task of organising everyone
in the dressing rooms backstage over the show weekend. You need to be
a good organiser who can keep calm under pressure. You will need to liase
with Marian and will be responsible for organising the parent helpers
and performers and working out how best to utilise the available dressing
room spaces.
Props Needed:
We need to borrow the following props - 1 fisherman's net - big enough
to throw over a group of about 15 dancers. 1 very small boat - Optimist
or similar would be great. A selection of Nautical theme items - life
jackets, buoys, oars, life saving rings, anchor etc.
The Rewards:
We have been so fortunate to have had such wonderful teams of helpers
over the years. With everyone's help we are building a fantastic community
resource of fabulous costumes. Every year we hear proud parents and friends
commenting on the beautiful costumes and how lovely it was to watch the
beaming smiles of the students during the performances. Thank you all
for your help and enthusiasm- we couldn't do it without you.
We are looking forward to a great show.
Marian
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