HOLIDAYS AND RE-OPENING IN 2014

HAPPY HOLIDAYS EVERYONE.

 THE SCHOOL IS CLOSED FOR CLASSES BUT......................

We will be answering mail and telephone calls so please leave your messages and telephone number carefully.  It also helps if you repeat the number. We will get back to everyone as soon as possible

THE SCHOOL RE-OPENS  MONDAY 20 JANUARY

Meanwhile have a happy, safe and healthy holiday.

Thank you to all the students and their parents for making this such an enjoyable year of training and performing. 

I was particularly pleased with the performances of  ALL the dancers at each and every Parent Day.  I found the comments of the parents and grandparents very interesting.  Thank you for the many kind words.  They are appreciated.

And to the gifts. So thoughtfully chosen.  I shall  enjoy each and every one.  Thank you.

http://www.youtube.com/user/DanceCrewBalletCo 

Our Be A Dancer for a Day was such a happy event and this is the video clip on You Tube to prove it.
Thank  you everyone for making this a great day.  

We will most definitely be having another one next  year and also one for  young dancers. 

BALLET DANCER DAD

Looking at some of the pics I had taken over the years

 I came across this one.

Kayla & Dad Eugene

This was and is a brave Dad.  He brought his daughter Kayla for her trial ballet lesson about five years ago.  Jokingly I suggested he get up and try what we were doing and see if he thought it was so easy after  he had attempted it.  

Up, all many meters of him jumped, totally happy and prepared to support his little girl.  And he is continuing to do so to this day.  And it is paying off as my butterfly is emerging beautifully.  Kayla that is.

But now comes the kicker Eugene and all Dads like him.  Doing it for a minute or two is one thing - doing it for an hour plus is another.  So I throw down the gauntlet to all you strong guys COME AND BE A DANCER FOR A DAY  16TH NOVEMBER AT 12 - 13.30.  Show us what you are made of and also support our Bursary fund.  R100 a dancer on the floor.  I know a way to a man's heart is through his stomach so Tribakery is laying on their great coffee and eats - all proceeds also going to our Bursary fund - but  you only get to eat after the class!

Many of the Moms and friends are booked in already and some of the brave guys so now it is over to you guys who are hovering on the brink of their tippy toes.

BE A DANCER FOR A DAY FUND RAISER

Queries and applications are coming in so please book your place.  These photos are to encourage you.

                                                     

An interesting fact is that we have more men booked in at present than ladies. But.......


Our adult fun class won't be doing pointe work but I thought this might encourage everyone and get you in the mood.

4TH TERM OCTOBER 2013

A view from my office window

FEE INCREASE  From the 1^st Term 2014 fees will increase by + 5%  My school building rates have been increased by 30% and we all know about petrol and electricity increases and I won’t mention food.  However I have decided to increase the numbers of students rather than increase the fees too dramatically. Help in this direction will be appreciated.

Parents Days The last week of November we will be inviting parents and grandparents, family and friends to sit in on the last class of the term for each level.  You will receive a notice to this effect closer to the time.

Precious Gems DVDs will be available in the 4^th term.  They will be R100 each.  You may pay by means of a direct deposit or cash.  Please - whichever way you pay make sure you let me know, email or written note, you have done so and that the payment is for the DVD.

Additional Classes Reminder to those attending Thursday 3.15 class your 2^nd class will be starting on Tuesday 1^st at 4.15. – These times are also relevant for those I have shifted from the Saturday 8.30 class. If in doubt please call me.  I did hand out notices to all concerned about these changes but am aware people forget and things go astray.

Extension of Class Times Another reminder that the Monday and Wednesday 4.15 class will now start at 4.00 and finish at 5.00  I did hand out notices re this change but if you are not sure of anything please call me.

SOUVENIRS OF PRECIOUS GEMS Photos printed on Canvas by Victoria

These have been delivered and invoiced.  As soon as payment is made you may collect your order which is at the studio.

PERFORMANCES IN DECEMBER I am waiting for confirmation and will inform relevant dancers as soon as the dates are confirmed.

ImagineMag! An online South African Arts and Culture Magazine

Our site is www.imaginemag.co.za  If you would like to be included on our data base so that you get a reminder as each new issue goes live (every 2^nd month) please email me on info@imaginemag.co.za  The same if you would like to advertise and promote your business.

3RD TERM 2013 NEWSLETTER

CLASSES START MONDAY 15TH                       

Thank you to all who participated and assisted in so many different ways in `Precious Gems’, our latest production.  We have had a good and interesting response from a wide variety of sources.

A very positive response for me has been the attitude adopted by the young ones who were not part of the production but attended as members of the audience.  Besides obviously enjoying the show they seemed to pick up on the work ethic and the need to work and repeat movements and get it right.  I notice a marked change in the way they are learning.

SOUVENIRS OF PRECIOUS GEMS Photos printed on Canvas by Victoria

These have been uploaded to our Blogg site at www.theatreonmain.co.za.  Choose which you prefer and contact Victoria directly with your orders. victoria@photoganic.co.za

Three Films and YouTube 

Creating little dancing Precious gems - Classical Suite – Precious Gems will be available for sale on CD or flash drive. They will be ready shortly. All proceeds to our Bursary fund.

We have uploaded three of our short films at DanceCrewBalletCo  http://youtu.be/lCBOsiXVgS8

Promotional Leaflet

We have developed a promotional leaflet for the school and company.  It will be distributed in a variety of ways.  You can immediately check it out on my blogg site on www.theatreonmain.co.za

If you can help with the distribution process please let me know. The printed form will be in the entrance hall at the school.  It can be emailed as well or downloaded from our blogg and forwarded directly to people you think might be interested.

RE Tulbagh Performance

I sent out notices requesting people to simply tick a box saying yes or no.  There was a two week period to respond.  I constantly reminded everyone in the classes to return the forms.  The term end was approaching and I had to inform the Tulbagh organizers for them to formalize arrangements. Only one person returned a `no’ response, twelve did not respond at all.  Everyone else was very supportive as usual.  One responded positively a week after the date I had given as the deadline.  With this result I decided to cancel the performance which I was very unhappy to do, which caused the Tulbagh organizers distress as well as all those who responded positively.

I am accessible by land line, by cell phone, by email, in person six days a week, via the notice, why was it impossible to communicate with me?  If there were complexities we could have discussed and hopefully resolved them. We have in the past.

I noted that the majority of these non-responsive people came from two classes and it leaves me in doubt as to their commitment for the future. I would be interested in having a response.

Request for Bursary sponsorship

We have developed a short two page email request to send to business, corporate and private individuals.  It is not a blanket email to send to all and sundry but if you know of anyone who might assist please let me know and we will forward this email to you. If people would put their own cover letter with it that would possibly be best.  Should you prefer the email to come directly from me, forward relevant details and I will carry on from there.

Request of another kind

I urge anyone who can assist with this please to do so.  I will be the conduit and see that the products are delivered.

Shirley Feris, 082 598 1852 teaches the remedial stream at two schools: Kalksteenfontein Primary School, and C.L. Wilmot Primary School in Uitsig/Ravensmead.

They need puzzles, any educational toys and of course story books are always welcome.

Let us use our imagination here everyone, these are children, and we all know what children need, so go beyond what is asked for.  Shirley Feris may be contacted if you have any queries, suggestions or bright ideas.

Please Join me

In wishing Gordon Mackay a speedy recuperation.  In the holidays he had a heart attack and was rushed to hospital.  He is recovering at home and will soon be fit as the fiddle that he plays with such dexterity.

Marketing Team

We have formed a group to promote and market everything that we do.  The team is chaired by Leanne Ferris with Alex Mears handling the ImagineMag! marketing.  The group includes Victoria Romburgh, Gordon Mackay Tanya de Villiers and me. Anyone reading this and would like to help with good ideas please contact me. 

As you might have gathered we are already in the implementation stage of many of the good ideas that were put forward. Thank you marketing team.

More performing is something else we are looking forward to doing and the most reliable will only be considered for this.  We cannot work with absentees no matter how talented they might be.

ImagineMag!

Our site is www.imaginemag.co.za  If you would like to be included on our data base so that you get a reminder as each new issue goes live (every 2^nd month) please email me on info@imaginemag.co.za  The same if you would like to advertise and promote your business.

Amy Gould

Photogenic Precious Gems Photos

Choose your pics and contact Victoria directly. 

You may drop off your order forms at the studio. 

Term starts Monday 15th July 

www.photoganic.co.za

OUR NEW PROMO LEAFLET

This will be in print form as well with a very wide distribution. Please let me know if you can assist with the print, facebook, email or website promotion.

THE BENEFITS OF PERFORMING

Jade - Kirsten & Julie Anne

Having had time to think about all that has taken place in the last two months that we have been performing I have made some interesting observations.

From the dancers perspective the benefits are more obvious.  There are certain skills that one can never acquire in the classroom or during rehearsals no matter how good the training. Performers need to feel the audience,  to learn how to deal with different types of audiences and their reactions. Being able to cope with the unexpected, make split second decisions when working in a group and something  goes wrong and  handling nerves when facing the audience is of critical importance. By performing repeatedly over a period one is able to improve on the work and listen to critism and advice on what people watching see.  

After this season we had a number of people reporting back from the audience, from fellow dancers as well as the technical staff  and it was very helpful and interesting.  Having the production filmed also helps as one can look at the work from yet another perspective.  

We will shortly be uploading snippets onto youtube.

During this run there were a number of our young dancers in the audience whose attitude to their classwork seemed to much more focussed and determined after watching the show.  Many told me they wanted to dance like Ruby or Amethyst and more important they seemed determined to work hard in the class and do their work in order to achieve this aim. I have seen this before but this time it seemed much more defined and as yet have not worked out why this should be the case.  Am only so pleased that it has happened and will definitely build on that.

Now the teenagers have to become human again and have their hormones reach an acceptable level and the future looks rosy indeed.

                

Precious Gem season completed

Our final performances were not without some drama and excitement.  Having the electricity trip on us during Ruby's performance on Friday night was upsetting but  it did bring about some interesting comments.  One such from a member of the audience was, `I told you Ruby was just too hot!'

The last show on Sunday afternoon brought people flooding in and gave new meaning to the phrase, packed out.  We had to put extra chairs in to accommodate everyone as they were so keen to see the show.  Another good reason to run the season for longer as the word gets out and people start to talk.

The younger dancers were impressive in their self-discipline and much credit must go to the backstage parents who saw that they stepped out immaculately groomed at every performance. 

The support from our audience for this production has been overwhelming and almost makes me believe we are doing something right.

The contribution of wonderful eats and coffee from Tribakery in the Blue Route Mall was an exceptionally generous contribution and one our audinece thoroughly appreciated and supported.  Probably the only time I encouraged people to eat some more and why not have another slice of that cheese cake.  Pity my own nerves gets in the way of my eating at shows and this time I know I missed out big time.  But Tribakery is only down the road from the theatre so when I need a relaxing coffee break guess where I will be heading?

The total proceeds of all sales have been contributed by Tribakery to our company funds and we are extremely grateful.  Thank you Chantal and Brenden you really are part of our team.

And now all the washing of costumes complete - not quite dry though - everything packed and sorted - and once again the  premises returned  to a training venue.  The curtains, screen, lights and everything that makes the magic of the theatre packed away for the next time.  Our building is very versatile and we keep adding bits and pieces to make things more efficient.  This includes wonderful storage space for our sets nearly in the roof which was previously dead space.  The creator of this  was our composer Gordon, who works with wood as well as he works with music.

And to our costumier Glendalene who stayed backstage at every performance checking and altering even slight adjustments to straps or anything else the dancers wanted,  a sincere thanks.  She, as ever, was ably assisted by Sandra who kept a gimlet eye on everything. And big thanks to all the volunteers who were the front of house people who controlled and welcomed the audience - such an important part of a theatrical experience.

We are now planning our visit to Tulbagh and to performing with a live band - as apposed to a dead one !

Our last three performances of Precious Gems takes place in May before we take the production to Tulbagh in the Spring.  Book early to avoid disappointment.

Suitable for all ages.  Only one critism - theaudience wanted more.  Is that a criticism?  Better to leave them wanting more than saying thank goodness there wasn't more.

The Ruby dress is not for sale and is under lock and key just in case!  Remember it is not the dress that makes the dancer but the dancer that makes the dress.

DVD's of the production will be available shortly.

May Season

TALKING DANCE

TALKING DANCE

Some of the Dance Crew dancers in rehearsal for `Ruby' from our new work on Precious Gem

Read the articles written by choreographer Amy Gould  and Gordon Mackay composer on how this work was created in  April edition 21 of ImagineMag! at www.imaginemag.co.za

ImagineMag edition 21 - April/May 2013

 

ImagineMag! and we come of age in our April/May edition 21

So we are wishing ourselves Happy Birthday and we hope all our readers will join us.

To read this South African Arts & Culture online magazine please go to www.imaginemag.co.za

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