art2264

 DANCE EXTRAVAGANZA Art2264@moissetpcyc 

PHOTOS and REPORT 

Report by Grace Murphy and Eleni Comino (14 years)

Youth Week DANCE EXTRAVAGANZA! Dancing was the main feature of this month’s PCYC. We had a visit from Thomas Stevens a dance professional, Sophie Cook with a cabaret lesson, and Swansea Physical Culture with a workshop by Nicole and Sky Hardy.

At 4:00pm, Thomas held a hip-hop/funk dance class for the kids. They choreographed a few dances to different styles and songs. The songs used were pop and upbeat, perfect for a hip-hop dance. There were about 10 participants and they rocked the dance floor and we saw a couple of the moves taught, being practiced by many at the disco later that night. Sky Hardy, 12 years old and a first timer at the PCYC exclaimed, “It was very different and fun. It took a lot of energy out of you”

Following that, Sophie Cook gave a cabaret workshop, which was amazing and very educational. Sophie taught the participants about the history of cabaret and how it was founded in 1948 during the World War II.  She ran the participants through a series of games including bulrush, stuck in the mud and an original character building game that involved adopting the characteristics of different types of people.  She then gave them 3 minutes to make up their very own cabaret performance. The kids were given a chair that they had to incorporate into their routine as she explained that chair were a major prop used in cabaret acts. “I loved Sophie’s class, we had so much fun making up a cabaret routine using a chair- it was so much fun and great to watch each pairs act at the end!“ said Eleni Comino, one of the workshop participants.

Physical Culture, a Swansea / Nords Wharf dance company, was the last workshop for the night before blue light disco commenced and was a great way to get everybody in the mood for dancing. Nicole, the dance instructor with the help of her daughter Sky was able to teach everyone participating an energetic and lively dance. There were some creative dance moves involved but the participants were soon able to pick them up and the end result of the dance was amazing. 

While all the workshops were taking place there was an arts and craft station where lots of kids were making cards and other beautiful creations. There was also a magician teaching some of the children how to do some basic magic tricks to amaze their friends. The food was as fantastic as it usually is; sausage rolls, spinach and cheese rolls, cupcakes; both chocolate and vanilla and a sausage sandwich for dinner.

The Blue Light disco was another great success, with performances throughout- the dancing and music, made it a great night. Sophie Cook gave a performance using the character ‘Betty Boop’. This thrilled the children and triggered their inner actor. The next performance was by Swansea Physical Culture Club who performed a series of dances that excited PCYC participants. Last but definitely not least, was two amazing dancers Chloe and Justin Parker that performed a series of solos in different styles. They represented Deborah Lee’s Dance Academy of Morisset.

So overall the whole night was an amazing night; full of fun performances and activities. Everyone had the biggest smiles on their faces as they left and I’m sure that they will all be back again and again to experience the awesome vibe at Morisset PCYC and the art2264 programs.

Thomas Stevens Street, Funk and Hip Hop Class

Photos by Margrete Erling

Sophie Cook's Dance Cabaret Class

Physical Culture Dance Class with Nicole and Skye Hardy

 Marik Jones shows some of his magic!

Photos below by James Murphy during Blue Light

 Above: Sophie Cook performs "Betty Boop" character

 Nords Wharf/ Swansea Physical Culture Club performs during Blue Light

Justin and Chloe Parker perform Hip Hop moves during Blue Light

YOUTH WEEK "DANCE EXTRAVAGANZA"

& BLUE-LIGHT DISCO!!!!

Friday 12 April 4pm- 6.30pm + Blue light from 7-10pm

On Friday 12 April, the Art2264 program, Lake Macquarie National Youth Week program and Morisset PCYC together present, the “Art2264@morissetPCYC YOUTH WEEK Dance Extravaganza and Blue Light Disco”! –a series of short intensive dance classes and performances to make biggest, grandest Dance Extravaganza the region has seen!

Featuring Thomas Stevens, a professional dancer from Fiona’s Studio of Dance, Thomas is off to the U.S. later this year on scholarship to train with a professional ballet company in Boston. He will be facilitating a Hip Hop, Funk & Street Dance Class from 4pm - 4:50pm. 

This fun and energetic class will teach you all the basics about hip hop and street dance. You'll learn the coolest moves from all the latest video clips and combine them into a short routine. Suitable for absolute beginners to the best dancers in the night club! Boys make sure you come too so we can show the girls how it’s done!!

Following Thomas’s Cool Dance Workshop from 4-4.50pm, Sophie Cook will steal the dance floor for a colourful and creative Cabaret Dance Class from 4.50pm to 5.40pm. Sophie is going to explore "Cabaret", in her 45 minute dance clinic passing on her skills in creating kooky characters, fun story lines and slap stick comedy routines. The kids will play a combination of acting and dance games to explore the world of Cabaret and will aim to create a short dance piece that they can perform at the end of the class. Sophie will then later perform a number “Betty Boop” at the Blue light disco to further inspire kids, and encourage them to be larger than life.

The intensive dance clinics continue with Nords Wharf Swansea Physical Culture Clubs Dance clinic “Bj POP” from 5.40pm- 6.30pm. The Bj Pop short dance routine was choreographed by the Bjelke Petersen School Of Physical Culture and has been designed to suit all age groups. It is a fun fill routine that is set to test your coordination and stamina, but most of all to keep your mind and body active and while having fun with DANCE. The routine takes about 40minutes to learn and it is a great cardio workout at the same time. The song we will be learning it to is the altered version (APRA approved)  Adam Lamberts IF I HAD YOU. Students from the Physical Culture Club will also perform several short pieces during Blue Light!

INSPIRING THOUGHT....

Life is a dance, you learn as you go. Sometimes you lead and sometimes you follow...

Background on Performers:

THOMAS STEVENS: Hip Hop, Funk & Street Dance Teacher 

 

Thomas is 23 years old and trains in all styles of dance at Fiona's Studio of Dance (Morisset) where he also teaches a boys-only dance class incorporating hip hop, jazz, musical theatre, and street dance. He has performed with local theatre and dance companies throughout the Central Coast and Newcastle areas, and is pursuing a career as a professional dancer. Thomas is off to the U.S. later this year on scholarship to train with a professional ballet company in Boston.

FIONA’S STUDIO OF DANCE- Background

Fiona’s Studio of Dance is unique in its class structures and teaching methods with comprehensive training in Ballet, Jazz, Tap, Contemporary, Hip Hop, and Musical Theatre. Classes are held in a friendly, inspiring environment for all ages 2yrs to adult trained under the watchful eyes of our excellent teaching faculty. The studio's mission is built around the school's motto of; "Challenge - Encourage - Achieve."

The studio also offers Intensive / Extension programmes catering for the 'Dedicated Dancer' as well as popular dance classes in all styles and ages for the recreational student. A Full Time Dance Course (fully accredited government courses) are offered at Fiona’s Studio of Dance studying Diploma in Dance (Elite Performance) and Diploma of Musical Theatre and Certificate IV in Dance. The courses offer an intensive and specialised foundation on which to build careers in professional dance, dance teaching & related fields. 

The studio is located straight off the F3 Freeway at Morisset and is equipped with three dance rooms all of which have mirrors, barres, sound systems, air conditioning and properly sprung floors. The studio has been established for 21 years and going from strength to strength.

SOPHIE COOK- Professional Dancer

Sophie Cook is a working actress, dancer, choreographer and theatre maker. She got her initial teaching experience assisting tutors at ‘ATYP’ and volunteering for ‘Milkcrate Theatre’ assisting homeless folk create a play in 2005. She also assisted a youth group in Sydney's Inner West that year, create a performance with the ‘Links to Learning’ program.

In 2006 she toured ‘Actors at Work’ with Bell Shakespeare Company performing for high schools in and around regional NSW and QL. Sophie begun teaching after school drama and dance and created holiday workshop programs at ‘Brightstars’ and ‘Brightsparks’ in 2007, and later worked with ‘Kids Up Front’ in 2009.

Also in 2009 she assisted James Winter with Belvoir Theatre Company’s ‘Youth Express’ program helping kids at risk create their own piece of theatre which they got to perform at the Belvoir itself. Sophie taught circus, life skills, hip hop and drama at the Cowra ‘PCYC’ in 2010 and also choreographed ‘The Scots Debutant Ball’ later that year for the PCYC.  She currently enjoys teaching at the ‘Joan Sutherland Performing Arts Centre’ as the kids are well trained and dedicated. Sophie also teaches people with different abilities at the Joan and enjoys these Access classes immensely. Recently Sophie started teaching the ‘NIDA’ open program at the Campbelltown Arts Centre which is great.

NORDS WHARF SWANSEA PHYSICAL CULTURE CLUB

Nicole Hardy is an experienced physical culture dance tutor for many years, based at Swansea NSW. Physical Culture is a unique dance sport for girls and ladies that combines fun, fitness, flexibility, balance and coordination, good posture, self confidence and dance movements. All of this is combined and performed to modern top 40 music. For a closer look at the club go to www.nordswharfswanseaphysie.com  or for more information regarding this sport please contact  Nicole ~ 49 725 909 or 0409 651 953 Email: nordswharfswanseaphysie@live.com.au

Art2264  PROGRAM: 

“Dance Extravaganza” 
+ Blue Light Disco

FRIDAY 12 April 
from 4pm-6.30pm + 7-10pm

4.00 – 4.50pm Hip Hop, Funk & Street Dance - with Thomas Stevens

4.50 – 5.40pm Cabaret Dance Class- with Sophie Cook

5.40 – 6.30pm Physical Culture Class Bj POP - with Nicole Hardy

7pm- 10pm “Blue Light Disco” - with Wild Dance Moves!