2018 Showcase, Dazzlin' Dancin' Holiday Report
Our Dazzlin' Dancin' Holiday WAS dazzling. What a project! The theme called for repeating some of the best routines from the Grease Showcase. A a matter of fact, that theme was an inspired inspiration for the 6 weeks leading up to the event. Second step was the decision to use a marquis. Talk about using dance as a form of expression. Terry Bussard must be firing on all circuits in the creativity section of his brain. Once there is a marquis, there has to be a box office, and a tour bus, and a way to get into the theater and posters of dancers and future shows. And then you need some respite, so a park bench is mandatory and with it the trees and some winter snow....
Many thanks to Terry Bussard for getting the ball rolling when he came up with the theme, Dazzlin' Dancin' Holiday, and then jumped in with both feet and hands to help make it happen.
Biggest impression was made by the tender chandeliers. If you were in Pure Imagination, you know why I call them 'tender.' Terry made them beautiful but they didn't like getting knocked around.
The posters were a big surprise! Don't you LOVE them?
There are a lot of things we could have done better with more people and more time. But it felt pretty good from my vantage point. It was so nice to see some dancers who haven't been part of our school for a long time. Thank you so much to Jane Baginski for coming to the showcase all the way from FL!
Trying to think of my favorite part....maybe seeing it go well, maybe knowing Olga did a job and a half with confidence and skill, maybe being able to accept so much help with the costumes, decorating, food prep, taking care of the door. Maybe it was the relief when the studio was finally ready. Maybe seeing some of the dancers really pull something together with determination and grace--like Andreas and the Carol of the Bells with his mother, Carol. Carol danced in her wedding gown. Andy and I were there at her wedding many years ago and now here she is wearing the same dress, and dancing with her nearly grown son.
Maybe it was seeing Nadia and Valentina Iosue finally performing with the other children. They used to come in, run around, make a lot of noise, chase Greycie Now they come in with some purpose and they were adorable playing the Bells (thank you Sue Smith!).
Maybe it was working with Terry and being able to be on the same page with creating the show.
Maybe it was hearing that this was the best showcase. It definitely was.
Maybe my favorite part was the wholehearted support I got from Andy. He came in like a whirlwind to put the whole brick wall back up when it fell down, messed up the other sets, squashed the Christmas tree, ripped the brick. Then he made all the food and searched for new equipment to make most of the music CDs for us.
Maybe it was seeing how fast Dee Debbie, Ruth, Carol, Ricardo were at painting and decorating and staying for hours on end for nothing but the satisfaction of being involved. Maybe it was knowing all the mothers were in theother room conducting the Christmas ball creations, the pizza party, and cutting the skirts just so for our Waltz of the Flowers.
Maybe it was realizing how attracted all our girls in the youth department were to dancing in Waltz of the Flowers. I did that dance for me; to give me a chance to experiment with doing a solo stars interpretation of Viennese waltz. One of the dancers said,"You want us to have a tiara, a necklace and a wand? Isn't that too much?" I know we were going to use all the decorative accessories because Terry got them for us, but the answer would have been the same no matter what: "No, too much is almost enough in this world." I thought they looked beautiful. It's very funny how all the other girls can't wait to understudy and replace any Waltz of the Flower girls who are absent. When I came out of the foyer and saw them standing next to the Arbor waving their wands, it was very impressive.
It was a lot of fun creating the set and the props. I like knowing it can be done. I like seeing everyone have a few different kinds of responsibilities and being involved with more aspects of the showcase than just the performance dancing..
The physical space is really important. I used to feel that the space wasn't important at all as long as it was big enough. Now I know it makes me feel good to be surrounded by the stuff of imagination, growth, creativity, confidence.
It is REALLY nice and inviting in the studio right now. It's decorated for the holidays. It's cleaned up, except for the office. It's ready for some serious and not so serious dancing. Lessons are continuing all week. Was there almost all day on Sunday, Monday night, and have lesson booked in the day and evening the rest of the week. Since there are no group classes, there are plenty of good time slots for private lessons.
What we need is for you to share your photos and youtube videos so we can have a finished and complete page of memories on our website.
Our Dazzlin' Dancin' Holiday WAS dazzling. What a project! The theme called for repeating some of the best routines from the Grease Showcase. A a matter of fact, that theme was an inspired inspiration for the 6 weeks leading up to the event. Second step was the decision to use a marquis. Talk about using dance as a form of expression. Terry Bussard must be firing on all circuits in the creativity section of his brain. Once there is a marquis, there has to be a box office, and a tour bus, and a way to get into the theater and posters of dancers and future shows. And then you need some respite, so a park bench is mandatory and with it the trees and some winter snow....
Many thanks to Terry Bussard for getting the ball rolling when he came up with the theme, Dazzlin' Dancin' Holiday, and then jumped in with both feet and hands to help make it happen.
Biggest impression was made by the tender chandeliers. If you were in Pure Imagination, you know why I call them 'tender.' Terry made them beautiful but they didn't like getting knocked around.
The posters were a big surprise! Don't you LOVE them?
There are a lot of things we could have done better with more people and more time. But it felt pretty good from my vantage point. It was so nice to see some dancers who haven't been part of our school for a long time. Thank you so much to Jane Baginski for coming to the showcase all the way from FL!
Trying to think of my favorite part....maybe seeing it go well, maybe knowing Olga did a job and a half with confidence and skill, maybe being able to accept so much help with the costumes, decorating, food prep, taking care of the door. Maybe it was the relief when the studio was finally ready. Maybe seeing some of the dancers really pull something together with determination and grace--like Andreas and the Carol of the Bells with his mother, Carol. Carol danced in her wedding gown. Andy and I were there at her wedding many years ago and now here she is wearing the same dress, and dancing with her nearly grown son.
Maybe it was seeing Nadia and Valentina Iosue finally performing with the other children. They used to come in, run around, make a lot of noise, chase Greycie Now they come in with some purpose and they were adorable playing the Bells (thank you Sue Smith!).
Maybe it was working with Terry and being able to be on the same page with creating the show.
Maybe it was hearing that this was the best showcase. It definitely was.
Maybe my favorite part was the wholehearted support I got from Andy. He came in like a whirlwind to put the whole brick wall back up when it fell down, messed up the other sets, squashed the Christmas tree, ripped the brick. Then he made all the food and searched for new equipment to make most of the music CDs for us.
Maybe it was seeing how fast Dee Debbie, Ruth, Carol, Ricardo were at painting and decorating and staying for hours on end for nothing but the satisfaction of being involved. Maybe it was knowing all the mothers were in theother room conducting the Christmas ball creations, the pizza party, and cutting the skirts just so for our Waltz of the Flowers.
Maybe it was realizing how attracted all our girls in the youth department were to dancing in Waltz of the Flowers. I did that dance for me; to give me a chance to experiment with doing a solo stars interpretation of Viennese waltz. One of the dancers said,"You want us to have a tiara, a necklace and a wand? Isn't that too much?" I know we were going to use all the decorative accessories because Terry got them for us, but the answer would have been the same no matter what: "No, too much is almost enough in this world." I thought they looked beautiful. It's very funny how all the other girls can't wait to understudy and replace any Waltz of the Flower girls who are absent. When I came out of the foyer and saw them standing next to the Arbor waving their wands, it was very impressive.
It was a lot of fun creating the set and the props. I like knowing it can be done. I like seeing everyone have a few different kinds of responsibilities and being involved with more aspects of the showcase than just the performance dancing..
The physical space is really important. I used to feel that the space wasn't important at all as long as it was big enough. Now I know it makes me feel good to be surrounded by the stuff of imagination, growth, creativity, confidence.
It is REALLY nice and inviting in the studio right now. It's decorated for the holidays. It's cleaned up, except for the office. It's ready for some serious and not so serious dancing. Lessons are continuing all week. Was there almost all day on Sunday, Monday night, and have lesson booked in the day and evening the rest of the week. Since there are no group classes, there are plenty of good time slots for private lessons.
What we need is for you to share your photos and youtube videos so we can have a finished and complete page of memories on our website.
Report on Rehearsal, Dec. 8:
Wow!
You know the rehearsals are not about the dances and the routine. The rehearsal is about the sequence, cues, being ready to perform, knowing how to get onto the floor, when to start, how to finish, how to be part of the program.
Olga and Dee kept everyone coming and going, Michele got everyone up to date with some details, Bob moved the chirs into the room, Andreas propped up the tippy chairs, Julia and Andreas decorated the big tree, Carol, Ruth, Dee, Debbie, Terry painted and cut for hours finishing the bus, the stained glass, the Smile props. Terry and Bob got everything hanging in just the right places....it's a lot of coordinating of efforts and visions.
Our pre-opening number, Pure Imagination, is really a synopsis of the whole process, the inspiration, the feelings, the reasons, the vision for a showcase.
March of the Toy Soldiers is the opening number and will give everyone a chance to be part of the excitement.
Waltz of the Flowers is the big run-on number involving solo stars, an advanced youth couple, an adult social dance class.
White Christmas is another run-on number by an advanced couple and the adult social dance class. It's the same song, different tempo and different vocalist, as last year.
All I Want for Christmas is You is our finale. It is way less elaborate than last year, but should be just as much fun.
The youth dancers' group presentations are using costumes and props. The adult class presentations showcase the social dance classes' recent lesson plans.
Wow!
You know the rehearsals are not about the dances and the routine. The rehearsal is about the sequence, cues, being ready to perform, knowing how to get onto the floor, when to start, how to finish, how to be part of the program.
Olga and Dee kept everyone coming and going, Michele got everyone up to date with some details, Bob moved the chirs into the room, Andreas propped up the tippy chairs, Julia and Andreas decorated the big tree, Carol, Ruth, Dee, Debbie, Terry painted and cut for hours finishing the bus, the stained glass, the Smile props. Terry and Bob got everything hanging in just the right places....it's a lot of coordinating of efforts and visions.
Our pre-opening number, Pure Imagination, is really a synopsis of the whole process, the inspiration, the feelings, the reasons, the vision for a showcase.
March of the Toy Soldiers is the opening number and will give everyone a chance to be part of the excitement.
Waltz of the Flowers is the big run-on number involving solo stars, an advanced youth couple, an adult social dance class.
White Christmas is another run-on number by an advanced couple and the adult social dance class. It's the same song, different tempo and different vocalist, as last year.
All I Want for Christmas is You is our finale. It is way less elaborate than last year, but should be just as much fun.
The youth dancers' group presentations are using costumes and props. The adult class presentations showcase the social dance classes' recent lesson plans.