A Ballet Boy Does Ballroom

Ready for my first ever ballroom and latin exams.

Just recently I have taken up ballroom and latin dancing.  It's been lots of fun and I have really enjoyed dancing with a partner.

I had my first ever ballroom and latin exams on Saturday 16th June 2018, which went really well.
And then it was off to watch the ballroom comps that were held in the Waikanae Memorial Hall straight after.

My first ballroom competition.

Solo Rhythm Foxtrot

Slow Rhythm Foxtrot

I ended up competing as well, did two solo dances and found myself a lovely partner for three open dances. 

Open Rumba

Open Rumba

I even got a third placing for my solo rhythm foxtrot. I had so much fun,
I can't wait to do it again.

Third Place Rhythm Foxtrot

All the dancers were fabulous and if you are out this way and if you get the chance next year, it is well worth going to have a look.

Salem

Contemporary Exam Results

Salem got his Contemporary exam results today after his ballet class.  It was great to get the results so quickly.  We were very pleased with his results.

For his NZAMD Level One Contemporary exam he got High Honours which is a 90% - 94% pass.

His examiner made the following comments :  "A very promising dancer.  Contemporary style is developing.  Further study quaility of movement in Combinations.  A strong dance performance."

Going in to the Level One exam

For the NZAMD Contemporary Medal Award he was graded Excellence Plus.

The examiner made the following comments :  "Two strong performances.  Great dynamics developed in Dance 2 (Du Hast).  A very promising dancer."

Salem has done very well.  He should be proud of himself and the work he has put into his dancing.
I'm proud of my boy!!!!!!!

Today's Contemporary Exams Done and Dusted

Accepting his medal

The contemporary exams are over for another year.  Salem is very pleased with what he did today but has to wait a couple of weeks or so until we get his results.
At least with the medal test he gets his medal straight away.  The kids all line up when their group has finished and they each are presented with a medal.  This time it was his Silver NZAMD Contemporary Intermediate Medal.  But we still have to wait for his report.

Is No.5 for Level 1 Exam

First exam of the day was his Level 1 Contemporary Exam.  We had to be there over an hour earlier to make sure everyone had all the right gear, the girls had to have their hair done and they all had a good warm up.  They were in the exam room for about 45-50 minutes.  They all came out smiling so all must have gone well.

No.7 for Medal Test

Then it was off for a coffee (for me) and a hot chocolate for Salem.  He was able to relax a bit and he told me about the exam.  The examiner was really nice so made everyone feel at ease.  Then it was back to the studio and get ready for his medal test.

All ready for the Contemporary Level 1 Exam

With the medal test, the parents are allowed to go in and watch, as long as we are quiet.  The kids come in one at a time and then get to watch the dancers that come after them.  It was quite nice to watch them all.

During the Medal Test

Salem had to do two dances and did a very good job of them.  He seemed to have a good burst of energy and really put his all into the dances.  I was very proud of him.  I was filming his last dance and was so engrossed in watching him that I forgot to follow him with the camera near the end of his dance.  

Well done Salem!!!!
Then it was a quick bite to eat for dinner and he had a ballet class.  He was very tired after that.
He will sleep well tonight.

Kapiti Dance Centre Concert 2012

Jabberwocky, the Carpenter, Doormouse, Cheshire Cat and Dodo Bird

Kapiti Dance Centre Presents......

Alice  -  Grease  -  La Bayadere
Southward Theatre 25th August 2012
Two shows on Saturday at 2pm and 7pm

Salem's dance school had their concert on the weekend.  A lot of hard work and effort went into it.
I watched the evening show and it went really well.  Everyone enjoyed it.  The kids were brilliant.

At rehearsals

This term everyone was practising their dances during class time but over the last two weeks it was full on rehearsals for hours at a time, it was practically every day.  Then there were the rehearsals at the theatre every afternoon/evening. It was very tiring.  I made sure I had made dinner to take with us as when we did get home it was time for Salem to go to bed.

At the side stage door

Salem was the only boy in the whole concert so he had a dressing room to himself.  Apparently there are a couple of boys in the junior hip hop class but they weren't in the concert.  It's a shame more boys aren't involved.

Waiting to go on stage

But the girls in Salem's ballet class were next door so he was able to chat to them.  And they made sure that he now when it was time to get ready to go on stage which was nice.

The Jabberwocky

Salem's ballet class were characters from the Mad Hatter's Tea Party and had to create/design their own costumes.  They came up with some really good ideas.

The back of Salem's costume, see his tail.

We used his old unitard from a previous concert (3 years ago) and made the wings from sequined fabric so he was very sparkly.  I painted the elastic and a pair of his ballet shoes green to match his unitard.   I made him a tail and had sewn triangles of the sequined fabric to match the wings.  I found a blue glittery mask in one of the "el cheapo" shops for $2 which was perfect.  I just had to trim it up a bit as it covered up too much of his face.

The Jabberwocky and the Walrus

Now a Jabberwocky has to have scaley skin so we used patterned fishnet tights for his legs and arms which worked very well and when we bought the two pairs they were half priced so this costume was very economical.

The Jabberwocky

The Jabberywocky costume looked very good from in the audience, he really stood out.  All the girls' costumes looked great too.  They did brilliantly in the concert and played their characters well.
The littlies that were on for Alice were so cute and all the costumes were lovely and bright.  Lots of beautiful flowers and butterflies etc...

Hanging around in the dressing room in his La Bayadere costume

La Bayadere was done by the senior classes and the grade fours.  All the girls were in tutus and Salem in his classical competition costume with a black leotard.  He was surrounded on stage by heaps of girls in tutus but he stood out again as his waistcoat was very sparkley with the red glittery pattern in the fabric.  It looked great from the audience.  Again, everyone danced very well and was well received by the audience.

Ready to go on stage

Salem was a very happy but tired and sleepy boy when we got home and had a good sleep in on Sunday.
Monday, it was back to getting some dance practice in at the gym and then half a private lesson and two classes in the  afternoon and evening.
Contemporary exams are coming up very soon and then it's his RAD ballet exam at the end of November.

Wednesday Night Performance and Another Pot of Tea

Outside the St James Theatre

Ballet Diaries - Cinderella
By Salem
Wednesday Night 8th August 2012
Another Performance and another trip into town.  Yet another pot of tea at the Jimmy, then a quick dinner.  We have been drinking soooo much tea, it feels like I have tea sloshing around in my stomach when I walk.

Fixing up make-up

Mum put my make-up on me up in the dressing room.  I really must learn to put on my own make-up so I have been watching what Mum does and what she uses on me.  
After Mum left, me and Daniel played Top Trumps and then did some more origami.
Then we played with normal cards and played Last Card.

Cinderella

We went back-stage when we thought it was about time to go down.  I had another chat with Jonte then I got ready for my cart duties.
It all went well as usual.  Then up to the dressing room for a quick change.
The show wasn't quite running to time so we couldn't get the earlier train so we waited for a bit at the St James.  During the second intermission I saw my friend Bethany who is in my ballet class.  We had a chat and she wanted me to autograph her program.  That was cool.

Roses

We got home at midnight as we had to wait well over half an hour for a taxi home from the railway station.
I went straight to sleep zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz.

Rosewood Ballet Competitions 2012

We went to the Rosewood Ballet Competitions at the Little Theatre in Lower Hutt on Saturday afternoon.
We arrived early as we never like to be late and travel all that way to miss out on Salem doing his dance.  But we got there really early so had to wait around for hours.  We had a wander around the grounds and went down to the Westgate Mall at Queensgate to by some hair gel.  We really did not like the mall at all and will most likely never go there again.

Salem did his contemporary dance really well.  He had lots of confidence this time so I was allowed to go and watch from the audience which was really nice.  A few minor mistakes but no one would no as he covered them nicely.
He got another Commended and the comments included " Lovely control on your shoulder roll.  Nice curve through your body in your swing.  Great suspension in your handstand."

He was up against seasoned competition and is improving all the time.
Well done Salem.

Comps, Costumes and Practicing

Salem and the girls in Russian Winter -  Kapiti Comps 2010

I've been doing a lot of hand sewing for Salem's costumes to get ready for tomorrow and Monday.
I've had to put new elastic in his leggings so that they are tight enough and don't fall down.  And had to take in his old waist coat he wore in Russian Winter to make to more fitted and took off the buttons.
It's looking quite cool now.

Contemporary

He had another brilliant practice at the gym this afternoon and is really going to enjoy himself at the comps (Kapiti Dance Festival).
I'll let you know how he does with the group contemporary dance tomorrow.

Kapiti Dance Festival and Practices are going well

Salem had  rehearsals for his group contemporary dance yesterday at Kapiti Dance Centre.  I think having a break from his usual dance practice did him good as he had a really good practice today and is feeling very confident.  And having cake and a cup of tea at Over the Tea Cups tea shop is always good for the soul.  He did everything perfectly, got all the timing sorted and smiled the whole time.
Roll on the comps!!!!

Record field for dance festival

TALIA CARLISLE

A record number of dancers will perform this weekend for the 27th annual Dance Kapiti festival at Southward Theatre.

Colourful costumes and tutus will feature throughout the four-day festival starting on Saturday.

A record 722 items will be performed, featuring 145 individual dancers as well as groups.

Dancers will represent Judith Fuge Dance School, Kapiti Dance Centre and Praiz Studios in Kapiti, as well as studios from Wellington, Napier, Hastings, Hawera and Palmerston North.

Students will showcase a range of dance styles over four days, including ballet, lyrical, character, contemporary, jazz and hip-hop.

Kapiti Ballet Society spokeswoman Valerie Andrews said the festival was a great way to while away a couple of hours while watching a high standard of performers.

A highlight of the festival will be on Sunday evening where the top dancers will compete for a place in the National Young Performer Awards to be held in Invercargill in October.

The public are invited to attend the festival, with events running from 8.30am till 9pm over the four days, excluding breaks.

- Entrance by donation.

- Kapiti Observer