Studio News - Term 3

5 days ago

2 min read

Thank you everyone who came to our annual Jazz Collectives performance Spies, Spooks and Sleuths it was high energy and exciting for everyone involved. It is so interesting watching our young dancers learn and remember so much choreography. Then watching them appear on stage and be so proud to present themselves, their whole class and indeed the whole performance to an audience who applauds and appreciates their performance.

Backstage is always busy

In the theatre our young dancers watch everything thats going on around them as they move from last minute rehearsals, make-up, costuming and finally, the most important final touch, lipstick. They are quick on their feet and focused as they encounter so many unusual moments that either involve them or someone else. Lighting, music or listening to people chatting as they take their seats in the auditorium.

There is a lot to do in a short time backstage. Erin, Gypsy and Scarlett all had to work very quickly to cover students who missed the performance. If a dancer misses a performance the choreography has to be reworked - the missing cast member is someone's partner, has a musical entrance and a place in every part of the choreography. Our young dancers have rehearsed for a long time and then in an instant asked to re-learn, entrances, placements and partnerships while we are running out of time. They did so well, under pressure - Thank you!!

Children are very sensitive to the professionalism of performing on stage and they are to be commended their attention and focus so close to 'Curtain-up' -

The Australian Ballet

Inspiring!!

It was very busy having The Australian Ballet staff and dancers our studios while they were in Alice Springs with their performance of The Nutcracker. All four studios were full with classes and rehearsals, three extra administration staff in reception and physiotherapists in the pilates studio. We had Master Classes in the evenings and the Telstra Let's Dance programme. The Let's Dance programme was so much fun - the students loved their bright blue tutu's with the ballet boys in bright blue leg warmers. Telstra has sponsored The Australian Ballet for as long as I can remember and has been a big part of the regional tour development.

The Australian Ballet dancers flew in from Darwin to Alice. Their performance at Araluen was their last show. The majority of the Australian Ballet dancers were final year students graduating from the Australian Ballet School. The Regional Tour is a part of their final assessment before they graduate. Touring is challenging, lots of travelling, different studios and stages and young dancers looking after themselves. It was refreshing to see how well they were managing and they were sad to see the tour coming to an end.

Tour leaders, teachers and rehearsal directors Steven Heathcoat, Paul Knobloch and Andrew Murphy have all been and worked in our studios before and they love being here and at Araluen.

They are very generous with their time, allowing our full-time students to take morning class with the company which they appreciate enormously. It is an intense exciting time and a rare opportunity.