Troupe Saturdays

Yesterday was our big troupe day with all the troupes performing during one session. Big day, lots of changes and lots of running around... but honestly so much easier when it's all done at once.

First up we had the girls lyrical troupe (Missing the Mark by Aquilo) which is one of my favourite dances they have ever done. I get emotional every time Maddie is lifted high above the other girls near the end, it's just so pretty! They were awarded second place for it.

Our troupe girls ❤

Next up - Contemporary troupe performing to Take it to the heart by Odette, getting them another second place... notice a trend anyone? 

They have been dancing so well together, so it's really wonderful to see them scoring so well in comps.

Last dance for the day was their Jazz Troupe - with those damn raincoats one last time... thank goodness we can retire them now, we all hate them with a passion haha. 

How about that, another second place! Imagine that.

Their jazz troupe has a few extra people, which makes it a lot more fun on stage, there was a lot of laughs backstage beforehand. They love to mess about and make noise.

Our favourite girls with Miss Amelie, who has choreographed all these dances and been here with the troupes for a long time now. We are so grateful for her, she is seriously the best.

Maddie also had our friend Ari from church come along to watch her which was the actual best. She is a dancer as well and I know Maddie really looks up to her and loved having here there.

Of course dance comps just aren't normal without these three causing a ruckus. They laugh and laugh and laugh. I am so glad we have such a wonderful bunch from being a part of dancing. ❤

 

Country Dance Challenge 2022

Last year, our dance school entered some troupes in the Country Dance Challenge, held in Northam, where I grew up. I attended Northam Senior High School, where the majority of the competition was held. These two girls, watched the own choreography section of the competition last year and spent the whole time saying, "We could do better than that! Oh my goodness, that was terrible. What was that." They were pretty underwhelmed by the section, so they decided that they could indeed do better than that and got to work making their own routine to hopefully enter the following year (this past weekend).

Well. They freaking nailed it. FIRST PLACE in the own choreography category. They certainly put their money where their mouths were. Kaz and I were so freaking proud of them. Make a goal and achieve it, right? They certainly did! 

Being best friends and dancing together certainly has its advantages. They have an uncanny ability to know where the other is and to know where to move alongside in time. They look amazing together!

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And having their moment of glory absolutely made it all worth it. You could not wipe the smiles off their faces!

Madeline danced on the Saturday in the under 12 Lyrical Solos

and was awarded a Special Mention for her dance to the acoustic version of Waves by Dean Lewis

She and Madison received first place for their Under 12s Own Choreography Jazz Duo to Problem by Becky G.

They also did a Lyrical Duo in the Under 12 section

and were awarded third place.

Such a good weekend for our girls. Thanks for having us at the Country Dance Challenge! ❤

starlight festival of dance: october 2021

what a week. dance comps are done and dusted, as we rounded out today with dance number six! this time was a little bit different for us, as madeline entered the lyrical solo category for the first time, as well as entering duos with her bestie madison.

first up was her lyrical solo, to an acoustic version of waves by dean lewis she danced beautifully but i could tell she was nervous and she wasn't thrilled when she didn't place... saying that, there was 21 dancers in that category and that was after it had been split into two! wowsers. with more practice and working on her technique and routine, i have no doubt that she will get there. these things take time and a lot of these girls have been dancing since they were in nappies!

lyrical duo with madison was number two off the ranks. they did a beautiful job also, but were against some very strong competition and definitely need more experience here too.

i loved watching them on stage together though, they work so well with each other and it was an absolute joy to watch. they danced to lonely by violet skies.

we had a full afternoon on saturday with her three troupes who did really well. first up was their contemporary troupe, it's a new routine for them to take it to the heart by odette that they started just recently and they performed it so well. despite them being the only entry in their category, they were awarded a well deserved first place. 

i love this girl gang!

and this girl was proud as punch to have her turn with the first place trophy.

second up was their lyrical troupe, doing their dance to here comes the sun by syml for the last time. it was lovely and earned them third place.

same little girl gang - just as cool in a different outfit.

having her turn with the trophy

we rounded out the day with her jazz troupe, performing to the medley of umbrella/singing in the rain from glee. with no further comments necessary, it made me very grateful that madeline's dance school is big on age appropriate moves and music. 

this dance is super cute and it certainly helps that singing in the rain is one of my all time favourite movies.

they took home an honourable mention for their dance. 

today was the best of the days though, it was finally time for madeline and madisons dance that they made up themselves in the own choreography category. they had the time of their lives making it up together and are so ridiculously cute when they do it. they just look so happy and carefree, the exact way dancing your own dance should be.

i love these girls. the dance is done to problem (the monster remix) by becky g and they decided to be monsters, complete with dark eyes, tattoo necklaces and black lipstick, so in reality they were me and my friends at our year 12 school socials hahaha.

i especially loved the hair which we sprayed green once their spikes were in place. it really set it off.

they were great on stage, it was the first time they had really smiled and looked happy in all their dances throughout comps. the girls they were against (in my opinion only) didn't have as good a dance but were very polished and perfected, earning them first place and gave our girls second. they were still happy with that - and there's time to go off and perfect their routine. 

so on our last day, she got the trophy she was after and went home happy. i'm so proud of our girl, 6 dances over 4 days and still smiling and raring to go.

we love you our tiny dancer!

 

april 2021 dance competitions

 

life must go on... and another set of dance comps is done and dusted. when one is part of a troupe that can't perform with a missing person, you show up - and i was so proud of madeline for giving it her all, when she is obviously still hurting, as we all are. oli loved to watch madeline dance and never missed a concert until she got too sick. i know she was watching today.

our girl danced in the 12 years and under lyrical troupe with these other cuties, their outfits are very appropriate for the song choice - here comes the sun.

they received an honourable mention for both sections they competed in, which was pretty darn good, when you consider the competition... they were against huge troupes at the top end of their category age wise. they did great and that's all that matters.

with her bestie madi - or as we like to call them, the madi show.

troupe shot!

and a photo with their jazz troupe. she's just started jazz this year and is loving it. so glad she decided to audition for the group.

we love our little dancing girl. i am constantly blown away by her grace and confidence, neither of wish i was blessed with. you are a superstar miss madeline!