Dance Concert Professional Shots

One of the most wonderful parts of the dance concert is having the chance to relive it all over again when the photographs become available for purchase - and then one last time when the video is sent out. I love looking through the shots and although they are very expensive, I always get a few... and may have gone a little crazy this year.

I loved this lyrical troupe dance so much. It was so graceful and emotional.

I 100% cried when Maddie was lifted up, almost as if she was flying above the others. I'm such a sook.

So, so beautiful!

Their senior ballet class this year performed a routine where the younger girls were waiters. They had giggled so much about the costumes and eventually suggested to their teacher that she get them moustaches. It was too cute for words. Our first year without a tutu or flowy skirt, but I thought this dance was amazing with such a good story.

Little waiter Madeline.

Dancing with your best friends is always the best part.

Jazz troupe was just the most powerful epic dance and I am so sad that it will only ever be done once and never make it to competitions. They just absolutely owned the stage and I loved every second of it.

Our girl, constantly front and center.

She's just an absolute doll.

I just love this photo of her and Madison, it is everything you need to know about them, when it comes to dance, they will not be separated or beaten, at anything. haha.

Madeline took on a second jazz class this year with some of the older girls and loved it. Sub-senior Jazz. This dance was awesome. So glad she decided to do it.

She is amazing! I could seriously watch her all the time.

I showed a few of these shots to Jakes mum afterwards and we had a laugh together, apparently he had been bragging the day after the concert to anyone that would listen about how awesome his girlfriend was is and how she had won a trophy at the concert and so on. Yep. We know. She's pretty amazing! So proud to be her mum. ❤

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. ❤

 

Dancing with your bestie

It's October school holidays, which means it's time for these besties to be on stage together again. They love sharing the stage and are always so beautifully in sync. They are truly a joy to watch. The last few days have been a whirlwind of costumes for their duos and Madeline's solo.

They nailed their own choreography duo and took out first place which they were super excited about.

WOO!

Maddie's victory was made that much sweeter by her teacher Mrs Hart turning up to watch their duo. She is so lovely! I don't know many teachers who would go out of their way to go to a dance competition in the school holidays!

You could not wipe the smile off of this girls face when she came away with an Honorable Mention (4th place) for her lyrical solo... She has worked so hard for it and I am so proud of her. I love watching her on stage. Nothing else matters to her.

So grateful for her beautiful dance teacher Miss Amelie for making such a beautiful dance for her.

SO PROUD OF YOU!

Last on this set of dances before we go into troupes (big week of six dances this time!) was the girls lyrical duo. No place this time unfortunately, but they did a beautiful job.

I love that they are so close. I hope they never lose that. 

Love you girls! ❤

Step Up Dance Academy Showcase 2022

Tonight we had our annual Step Up Dance Academy Showcase at the Morley Rec Centre. A far cry from the five dances she was in last year, we casually did two this year instead. Thank goodness, last year was a bit wild, racing back and forth to change from one to the next at top speed.

First up was their lyrical troupe in their gorgeous mint dresses. Madeline has a beautiful lift in this dance and it is just breathtaking. All the other girls lift her high up, almost as though she is flying above them and my mum heart can't take it. I tear up every single time.

I just love this dance so much. It's to "Missing the mark" by Aquilo, which I could honestly listen to on repeat. It's such a gorgeous song.

Dance two was their contemporary troupe to "Take it to the heart" by Odette. This dance is one they've done for a while, but has had new parts added as their troupe grew this year.

These girls love dancing together and it certainly shows when they are on stage.

This dance looked awesome, especially with the additional contrasting costumes, which was purely by chance, as they couldn't order more in the original colour. Added a bit of fun to the dance though!

I love seeing these three together especially, they have been together for so long, I love their little girl gang and all the mischief they get up to.

I mean seriously. So much fun!

Ridiculousness at every possible opportunity in fact.

So that's a wrap on yet another showcase. Our numbers are dwindling, but our spirits remain strong. 

An awesome night full of laughs. 

But the highlight for Madeline was having Jake's sister Ebonie there watching. Maddie and Jake were on the phone this afternoon when she was getting ready, when we found out his sister was going to watch her friend. Maddie finally worked up the courage to go and say hello to her and then even took a selfie with her to send him. Too cute. Even cuter when Ebonie facetimed him when Maddie was on stage so he could watch her dance. Ooooooh. 

Was a good night had by all! ❤

Starlight Festival of Dance - April 2022

Random luck of the draw, but we had dance competitions two weekends in a row. What are the chances?!

I am so so so so so proud of this girl! We had the Starlight Festival of Dance April competitions yesterday and today and she did so well! This morning in her 10/U Solo category against 16 other people, she placed 5th. She was so upset because she stumbled slightly at the very beginning, but still came away with a Special Mention from the judges (which is the equivalent of 5th place). That put the smile back on her face! Considering it's only the third time she's ever done her solo, that is phenomenal!

We are so grateful to her wonderful teacher Miss Amelie. She has offered so much guidance and support as well as beautiful choreography. She's the best!

She and Madison took out third place in their Lyrical Duo

and were really stoked with that!

The troupes were all back to back to back this afternoon, what a day! The lyrical troupe came in second place with their "Missing the Mark" dance. Me being the absolute sop I am, of course teared up as my girl was lifted up high in the middle of the dance, it was gorgeous!

Their contemporary troupe was awarded an honourable mention (4th place)

and their jazz troupe didn't place. I don't want to be mean, but it was not their best run through, so I can't say I was surprised. They've made a lot of changes to the dance earlier this year as more people were added to the troupe and I think perhaps it just wasn't polished enough.

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Our girls had their last routine on Wednesday 13/5. You can't tell, but they are NOT happy as they were out of time (and they knew it) and didn't perform well at all. 

They placed third out of three and spent the rest of the afternoon moping about it. But, they did their best, there is always next time - and for goodness sake, they placed first last weekend! They are alright in my books!