The Mysterious Miss Hannigan

The lovely Miss Hannigan - Kapiti Comps 2015

Aaaaah..... Miss Hannigan!!!!!
What can I say....??????
I love Miss Hannigan!!!!!!!

After being Daddy Warbucks in my dance schools production of "Annie" in December 2014, one song stuck in my head, "Little Girls".
So I thought why not.  I've been Rooster, Daddy Warbucks and now Miss Hannigan, and I'll be her en pointe!!!!

Pointe shoes

I needed a new demi-character dance, even though I still enjoyed doing "Robin Hood", but I needed a challenge.  I still bring out Robin Hood and Truffles the horse occasionally for musical theatre though.
And I wanted to do another humorous dance, demi-characters can be so serious.
So why not be a boy dancing en pointe, wearing a dress and a wig, looking like a drunken mess.

Spilt wine glass

I kept my theme a secret from everyone so it could be a surprise when I finally got to perform it at the Dance Art Comps in May 2015, which also happened to be my 15th birthday.

Bloomers and a little girl with red hair

I gave hints on my facebook page, "Ballet Boy - Salem Foxx", such as the three photos above - the pointe shoes, wine glass, bloomers and a doll (little girl) with red hair (Annie).

Everyone guessed I was dancing en pointe, but nobody connected the clues to Annie or "Little Girls".

Miss Hannigan waking up from a hard night drinking

Mum had great fun getting me a wig and then going through her old clothes to find the perfect dress, fishnets and dressing gown for Miss Hannigan to wear. 

Mum couldn't stop laughing every time I practiced in costume.

Introducing Miss Hannigan

It was so funny when it was performance day at the Dance Art Comps, I got a lot of strange looks and people didn't recognise me. I could see that some of the other dancers were wondering who this strange new girl was backstage.  That was until I talked.

They knew I was going to dance en pointe, but not that I was going to be in drag.
There was quite a few of the other dancers, who weren't dancing in this class, at the side of the stage, waiting to see me dance.

Me and Mum set out my props on stage when it was my turn.
I placed myself on my chair and thought "this is it"!

What a sight - Dance Art Comps 2015

I had a ball!!!!!
It was soooo much fun!!!!
I had finally done it, performed and competed en pointe!!!!!!!
I loved every moment of it.
Mum said that other dancers and dance teachers had crammed themselves side stage in the wings to watch me, a boy en pointe.
This is what the audience and adjudicator saw.
https://youtu.be/h3c6CeuWVhU

I had such a good time, made people laugh and achieved a personal milestone.
Then to top it off, when the results were read out, I had been awarded 1st!!!!!!!
I really couldn't believe it.

Miss Hannigan - Queens Birthday Comps 2015

This next video is part of my dance which was filmed at the Kapiti Comps 2015.
Not my best performance as I had a very badly swollen big toe and foot, I actually didn't think I would be able to perform at all at those comps but I managed with plenty of paracetamol, ibruprofen, arnica cream, and the list goes on..........
https://youtu.be/Wb3_14UiUCk

I am only doing one competition this year, the Kapiti Comps which is local for me.  It is held at Southward's Theatre.
And the lovely Miss Hannigan will be making another appearance.
Wish I could take her out more often.

I'm so pretty!!!!!!

I've been working on some new dances this year and will be debuting them at the Kapiti Comps.
My new jazz dance is quite funny.  I also have a new lyrical and am doing two new variations.  Plus I have entered the classical en pointe class too.
But I'm not telling, I will be hinting, until competition day.
Salem

Dance Art Comps and I've finally done it!!!!!!!

Getting ready to dance Siegfried.

I had a very busy weekend just gone.  I had my first competition of the year and had been busy working on two new dances.
A new contemporary and a new demi-character.
I was so excited to debut them!!!!

I got a bit of a shock when seeing the size of the stage at the theatre which I have performed on so many times .......... it was so small .......... and I have grown soooo much.
I really had to concentrate on making my dances "smaller".

Stretching and warming up.

I was performing over three days, on Friday night I did my new contemporary dance " Running up that Hill".
The adjudicator commented "Beautiful flowing work showing good pathways...."
I was pleased with how I performed it for the first time and I was awarded 3rd Place.

Then I had my neo-classical "Cold" and was awarded 1st Place.
Wow, what a good first day!!!!

"James"  - La Sylphide Act II variation

It was bright and early to the theatre on Saturday morning, first my little friend Emma danced her demi-character which was so cute and then it was my turn to do my Krackowiak character dance.

It was so hard to dance this dance in such a small space.
I practice it in a large studio.
But I was really happy with it and was awarded 3rd Place.

Warming up for "Ameno"

My barefoot dance "Ameno" was next, I've been playing with the choreography for this a bit.
 Now I have three versions of this, and I like them all.
This time I danced version no.2 and got a Highly Commended (which is 5th Place).  Very pleased with that.

Siegfried

After having a break all afternoon, we came back for the evening session where I danced my lyrical and was in the Senior Championship dancing two variations

The variations I performed were "Siegfried" from Swan Lake, and "James" from La Sylphide Act II.
I always enjoy doing variations as they may be short but they are just full on.

I got Highly Commended for my lyrical and "Most Promising Senior Variation Dancer".  So cool!!!!

"Miss Hannigan"

It was back to the theatre and ready to perform by 8 am.  Oh boy was it so early.

To early in the morning especially as it was my birthday.

But I was very excited.  I was about to perform my new demi-character.

I had kept it a secret.  All anyone knew was that I was dancing en pointe.

My first time performing on stage, at a competition, en pointe!!!!!!!!

And I was performing as Miss Hannigan from "Annie".

The lovely Miss Hannigan :-)

It caused a bit of a stir and a lot of laughter as I like to do comedy demi-characters.
I had so much fun and it was over too soon.
But I had done it!!!!!!!!

I was awarded 1st Place.  I couldn't believe it.

Last up was my classical and I really enjoyed dancing that and I managed it fit it quite nicely on the stage.
I came 2nd Place for that.

I found out later that I also had won the Encouragement Special Award for 11 years and over.
A great way to end my birthday.

         **  Salem  **