Celebrating our five year dancers

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As Bayside Dance turns 5, some of our dancers are also celebrating FIVE YEARS dancing with us! Here are some of their stories and some gorgeous ‘then and now’ pics!

Sienna (13 years)

INSPIRATION TO START DANCING: My mum inspired me to dance because she did dance when she was younger and it inspired me to follow in her footsteps.

CURRENT CLASSES: Ballet, pointe, jazz, contemporary, acro, hip hop, teaching, tap and YDC.

FAVOURITE DANCE ROUTINE SO FAR: Dance at the Gym, because it was such a fun and upbeat dance and when we perform it you can tell we are enjoying it.

DANCING MAKES ME FEEL: Like I can express in my own unique way and it a safe environment where everyone can be themselves.

FAVOURITE DANCE MEMORY: When I finally got my splits because I was never flexible but I kept on trying and never gave up and then I got them.

NEXT YEAR’S GOAL: To be able to do fouettés because I have been trying so do them for so long now and I am close but not quite there yet! But next year I hope to achieve them.

Hunter (10 years)

INSPIRATION TO START DANCING:
I saw some professional dancers and wanted to give it a try.

CURRENT CLASSES:
Acro, hip hop, ballet and tap.

FAVOURITE DANCE ROUTINE SO FAR:
The concert dance for tap 2 years ago when I was the sailor and did a solo.

DANCING MAKES ME FEEL:
Happy!

FAVOURITE DANCE MEMORY:
When Miss Jenna said monkey tummels instead of stomach muscles.

NEXT YEAR’S GOAL:
To be able to do lots of double wings in tap.

Maggie (15 years)

INSPIRATION TO START DANCING:
I’ve always wanted to dance, as a kid my favourite movie was Barbie Swan Lake and asked for a tutu and plastic ballet barre for my birthday. As I got older I started watching the TV show Dance Moms, and that inspired me to start dancing.

CURRENT CLASSES:
I currently do level 8 jazz, elementary ballet, senior contemporary, senior acro and young dancers company. I also student teach junior dancers company and assistant teach teeny tiny tots, tiny tots, tiny tumbling and level 5 ballet.

FAVOURITE DANCE ROUTINE SO FAR:
I couldn’t possibly choose one dance, but my favourites are Defying Gravity from the 2015 On Broadway concert, Hide and Seek from YDC in 2016 and Once Upon a Dream from the Heroes and Villains concert in 2017.

DANCING MAKES ME FEEL:
Dancing and performing makes me so happy, as I’m able to leave the rest of the day outside of the studio. I forget whatever happened at school or during my day and do what I love with my best friends.

FAVOURITE DANCE MEMORY:
My favourite memories at Bayside Dance include my Dancer of the Year award in 2015 and receiving 100 marks for my level 7 Jazz exam in 2018.

NEXT YEAR’S GOAL:
I hope to continue to improve, learn and grow as a dancer and continue to perform in eisteddfods and concerts. I would also love to possibly complete my level 9 jazz exam.

Juno (8 years)

INSPIRATION TO START DANCING:
I thought it looked like fun and I wanted to learn a type of dance. My mum says I am always moving and dancing so seemed like a good idea.

CURRENT CLASSES:
Tap and Ballet.

FAVOURITE DANCE ROUTINE SO FAR:
Last year’s Baby Elephant Tap routine…mum’s favorite was when we wore a white tutu for ballet…many years ago.

DANCING MAKES ME FEEL:
Dance makes me feel happy and I feel really good at it.

FAVOURITE DANCE MEMORY:
My favorite memories are making friends and my first concert…mum can tell you at one of the first concerts I ended up with no top on and only one shoe lol.

NEXT YEAR’S GOAL:
I hope to keep passing my exams.

Samantha (10 years)

INSPIRATION TO START DANCING:
I was 5 when I asked my mum if I could start to learn to dance, because of the illustrations in books I read had pretty dancers and also some of the movies I watched had dancing in them and the dancers always looked so beautiful.

CURRENT CLASSES:
I’m currently doing 2 Ballet classes each week, 1 Tap class, 1 Jazz class and Junior Dance Company (JDC).

FAVOURITE DANCE ROUTINE SO FAR:
Oh, that’s such a hard question! I love them all! But if I had to choose a favourite, I really loved our end of year concert dance routine Fun House, which was a Jazz routine.

DANCING MAKES ME FEEL:
Happy, excited, confident, myself, enthusiastic, challenged, happy when I get the steps right, fit and flexible.

FAVOURITE DANCE MEMORY:
Meeting all my new friends and I love my teachers. Dancing up on stage, especially when my family is in the crowd to show them what I have been working so hard at. When I received a really special award in last year’s concert ‘The Studio Spirit Award’ trophy. (There are too many to mention, sorry I can’t choose just one and could keep going!!!)

NEXT YEAR’S GOAL:
My double turn in Jazz, improve my Tap steps and my rises in Ballet. I love JDC and want to keep trying my best to improve, so I can move up to Young Dance Company (YDC) next year. I also would like to keep doing my best for exams, especially improving in my Jazz to be able to do my first Jazz exam – that would be exciting! I just want to keep dancing at Bayside Dance, it’s the BEST and I would do like to do ALL the dance classes if mum would let me!

Annabel (10 years)

INSPIRATION TO START DANCING:
I’ve always loved to move. I do a lot of dancing around the house!

CURRENT CLASSES:
I’m currently doing level 5 Jazz with Miss Jenna.

FAVOURITE DANCE ROUTINE SO FAR:
Probably Naughty from Matilda the Musical. I did this in my 2nd concert and also for my level 2 tap exam. We got to use books as props and pull funny faces!

DANCING MAKES ME FEEL:
Happy!

FAVOURITE DANCE MEMORY:
The very first Bayside Dance concert. I was in Prep ballet and received the ballet award that year!

NEXT YEAR’S GOAL:
I want to be more confident in myself.

Phoebe (7 years)

INSPIRATION TO START DANCING:
I loved to dance from a young age whenever music came on. My daycare teachers also loved that although I was quiet in class ad didn’t say much, whenever music came on they saw me smile and dance and show a love of dancing.

CURRENT CLASSES:
Level 2 ballet, Acro & Junior Dance Company.

FAVOURITE DANCE ROUTINE SO FAR:
The Good Ship Lollipop, my first ballet concert routine – I was 3yrs old.

DANCING MAKES ME FEEL:
Awesome! Because I get to use lots of energy when I dance and it gets me pumped up and I feel healthy and happy.

FAVOURITE DANCE MEMORY:
The Cinderella ballet dance two concerts ago because I got to do it with my friends Billie, Charlotte and Erab.

NEXT YEAR’S GOAL:
I’m excited to learn how to use the ballet barre next year.

Charlotte (7 years)

INSPIRATION TO START DANCING:
I loved watching dancing on TV and wanted to learn, so I could go on stage.

CURRENT CLASSES:
Ballet and JDC.

FAVOURITE DANCE ROUTINE SO FAR:
My favourite routine was at my first concert – Good Ship Lollypop.

DANCING MAKES ME FEEL:
Dancing makes me feel happy and gives me enjoyment.

FAVOURITE DANCE MEMORY:
When I received my medal for completing my first exam.

NEXT YEAR’S GOAL:
I want to achieve, being better at my dancing, so Miss Kaitlin will be proud of me.

Sara (12 years)

INSPIRATION TO START DANCING:
I had 2 older cousins that danced for Queensland Ballet and I went and saw them dance The Nutcracker when I was 3 and fell in love with ballet.

CURRENT CLASSES:
Ballet, Contemporary and I am a member of the Young Dancers Company for Bayside.

FAVOURITE DANCE ROUTINE SO FAR:
Hard Question this one, my favourite routine is This is Me that I dance with YDC.

DANCING MAKES ME FEEL:
When I dance I get this amazing feeling. It makes me so happy and joyous, it is like I can almost feel the music inside me and the only way to show it is to dance.

FAVOURITE DANCE MEMORY:
It would be the amazing friends over the years and being able to dance with YDC. We recently danced at the Wynnum Eisteddfod and received a commendation for our routine, the comment being we looked like we were having fun, and we were.

NEXT YEAR’S GOAL:
I hope to improve my techniques and skill. I hope to continue to build on the friendships I’ve made.

Isobel (12 years)

INSPIRATION TO START DANCING:
Before I started dancing I was inspired by a ballet book that I was reading and started to take Ballet classes at Bayside Dance.

CURRENT CLASS:
Jazz.

FAVOURITE DANCE ROUTINE SO FAR:
‘Fun House’ I absolutely loved the costumes and the song.

DANCING MAKES ME FEEL:
Like all my stress and worries are gone.

FAVOURITE DANCE MEMORY:
My first ever concert because I had never performed in front of that many people before.

NEXT YEAR’S GOAL:
Next year I would like to get out of my comfort zone and try new things.

Kellie (adult dancer)

INSPIRATION TO START DANCING:
I grew up doing musical theatre and have always danced as part of a show, rather than studied dancing.  I’ve always I considered myself a singer, actor and then a dancer. When Bayside Dance opened it was the perfect opportunity to start ballet from the beginning – learning basic technique and practicing steps in a supportive environment! I’m now 41 and (although I have been benched for a few weeks with a bad back) I love going to class each week!

CURRENT CLASS:
Adult Ballet

FAVOURITE DANCE ROUTINE SO FAR:
I loved the Phantom of the Opera routine the adult ballet class did for the concert at the Star Theatre a few years ago!

DANCING MAKES ME FEEL:
Great. I find I really have to concentrate in class and it clears my head. Ballet has made a huge difference to my core strength and helped me better prepare for auditions!  One of the great things about Bayside Dance is the ability of the teachers to adapt the class and the steps to the different levels of the dancer in the class – I really appreciate the fact that I am challenged but not feeling completely out of my depth

FAVOURITE DANCE MEMORY:
I was part of the very first day of Bayside Dance. We had a class in the middle of winter in the RSL hall at Manly and despite the very cold weather I received such a warm welcome from Kaitlin and the other dancers! That’s a wonderful memory for me!

My other favourite memory is my daughters first Itty Bitty ballet class. Too cute!

NEXT YEAR’S GOAL:
I’d like to work on a double pirouette and on my flexibility – to keep up with Violet and the prep ballerinas!

Miss Paige (teacher)

Miss Paige started with Bayside Dance five years ago!

Paige’s stage career began at Fame Theatre Company, where she performed for 12 years in school holiday and touring productions. Paige gained a Bachelor of Musical Theatre at the Queensland Conservatorium, Griffith University in 2018. During this time, she performed in Seven Brides for Seven Brothers, Fame: the Musical, Little Women, Con2TheCabaret directed by Megan Shorey, and Godspell, which toured to Brisbane, Sydney and Melbourne. Paige was a Guest Soloist in Queensland Pops Orchestra’s Broadway and Beyond with Teddy Tahu Rhodes and Broadway to Screen with Mirusia Lowerse. Her other credits include The Sky’s the Limit Cabaret in association with QPAC, a guest artist for the Brisbane Helpmann Award Nominations and the creative development of Fangirls with Queensland Theatre Company.

As Bayside Dance turns 5, some of our dancers are also celebrating FIVE YEARS dancing with us! Here are some of their stories and some gorgeous ‘then and now’ pics!

Sienna (13 years)

INSPIRATION TO START DANCING: My mum inspired me to dance because she did dance when she was younger and it inspired me to follow in her footsteps.

CURRENT CLASSES: Ballet, pointe, jazz, contemporary, acro, hip hop, teaching, tap and YDC.

FAVOURITE DANCE ROUTINE SO FAR: Dance at the Gym, because it was such a fun and upbeat dance and when we perform it you can tell we are enjoying it.

DANCING MAKES ME FEEL: Like I can express in my own unique way and it a safe environment where everyone can be themselves.

FAVOURITE DANCE MEMORY: When I finally got my splits because I was never flexible but I kept on trying and never gave up and then I got them.

NEXT YEAR’S GOAL: To be able to do fouettés because I have been trying so do them for so long now and I am close but not quite there yet! But next year I hope to achieve them.

Hunter (10 years)

INSPIRATION TO START DANCING:
I saw some professional dancers and wanted to give it a try.

CURRENT CLASSES:
Acro, hip hop, ballet and tap.

FAVOURITE DANCE ROUTINE SO FAR:
The concert dance for tap 2 years ago when I was the sailor and did a solo.

DANCING MAKES ME FEEL:
Happy!

FAVOURITE DANCE MEMORY:
When Miss Jenna said monkey tummels instead of stomach muscles.

NEXT YEAR’S GOAL:
To be able to do lots of double wings in tap.

Maggie (15 years)

INSPIRATION TO START DANCING:
I’ve always wanted to dance, as a kid my favourite movie was Barbie Swan Lake and asked for a tutu and plastic ballet barre for my birthday. As I got older I started watching the TV show Dance Moms, and that inspired me to start dancing.

CURRENT CLASSES:
I currently do level 8 jazz, elementary ballet, senior contemporary, senior acro and young dancers company. I also student teach junior dancers company and assistant teach teeny tiny tots, tiny tots, tiny tumbling and level 5 ballet.

FAVOURITE DANCE ROUTINE SO FAR:
I couldn’t possibly choose one dance, but my favourites are Defying Gravity from the 2015 On Broadway concert, Hide and Seek from YDC in 2016 and Once Upon a Dream from the Heroes and Villains concert in 2017.

DANCING MAKES ME FEEL:
Dancing and performing makes me so happy, as I’m able to leave the rest of the day outside of the studio. I forget whatever happened at school or during my day and do what I love with my best friends.

FAVOURITE DANCE MEMORY:
My favourite memories at Bayside Dance include my Dancer of the Year award in 2015 and receiving 100 marks for my level 7 Jazz exam in 2018.

NEXT YEAR’S GOAL:
I hope to continue to improve, learn and grow as a dancer and continue to perform in eisteddfods and concerts. I would also love to possibly complete my level 9 jazz exam.

Juno (8 years)

INSPIRATION TO START DANCING:
I thought it looked like fun and I wanted to learn a type of dance. My mum says I am always moving and dancing so seemed like a good idea.

CURRENT CLASSES:
Tap and Ballet.

FAVOURITE DANCE ROUTINE SO FAR:
Last year’s Baby Elephant Tap routine…mum’s favorite was when we wore a white tutu for ballet…many years ago.

DANCING MAKES ME FEEL:
Dance makes me feel happy and I feel really good at it.

FAVOURITE DANCE MEMORY:
My favorite memories are making friends and my first concert…mum can tell you at one of the first concerts I ended up with no top on and only one shoe lol.

NEXT YEAR’S GOAL:
I hope to keep passing my exams.

Samantha (10 years)

INSPIRATION TO START DANCING:
I was 5 when I asked my mum if I could start to learn to dance, because of the illustrations in books I read had pretty dancers and also some of the movies I watched had dancing in them and the dancers always looked so beautiful.

CURRENT CLASSES:
I’m currently doing 2 Ballet classes each week, 1 Tap class, 1 Jazz class and Junior Dance Company (JDC).

FAVOURITE DANCE ROUTINE SO FAR:
Oh, that’s such a hard question! I love them all! But if I had to choose a favourite, I really loved our end of year concert dance routine Fun House, which was a Jazz routine.

DANCING MAKES ME FEEL:
Happy, excited, confident, myself, enthusiastic, challenged, happy when I get the steps right, fit and flexible.

FAVOURITE DANCE MEMORY:
Meeting all my new friends and I love my teachers. Dancing up on stage, especially when my family is in the crowd to show them what I have been working so hard at. When I received a really special award in last year’s concert ‘The Studio Spirit Award’ trophy. (There are too many to mention, sorry I can’t choose just one and could keep going!!!)

NEXT YEAR’S GOAL:
My double turn in Jazz, improve my Tap steps and my rises in Ballet. I love JDC and want to keep trying my best to improve, so I can move up to Young Dance Company (YDC) next year. I also would like to keep doing my best for exams, especially improving in my Jazz to be able to do my first Jazz exam – that would be exciting! I just want to keep dancing at Bayside Dance, it’s the BEST and I would do like to do ALL the dance classes if mum would let me!

Annabel (10 years)

INSPIRATION TO START DANCING:
I’ve always loved to move. I do a lot of dancing around the house!

CURRENT CLASSES:
I’m currently doing level 5 Jazz with Miss Jenna.

FAVOURITE DANCE ROUTINE SO FAR:
Probably Naughty from Matilda the Musical. I did this in my 2nd concert and also for my level 2 tap exam. We got to use books as props and pull funny faces!

DANCING MAKES ME FEEL:
Happy!

FAVOURITE DANCE MEMORY:
The very first Bayside Dance concert. I was in Prep ballet and received the ballet award that year!

NEXT YEAR’S GOAL:
I want to be more confident in myself.

Phoebe (7 years)

INSPIRATION TO START DANCING:
I loved to dance from a young age whenever music came on. My daycare teachers also loved that although I was quiet in class ad didn’t say much, whenever music came on they saw me smile and dance and show a love of dancing.

CURRENT CLASSES:
Level 2 ballet, Acro & Junior Dance Company.

FAVOURITE DANCE ROUTINE SO FAR:
The Good Ship Lollipop, my first ballet concert routine – I was 3yrs old.

DANCING MAKES ME FEEL:
Awesome! Because I get to use lots of energy when I dance and it gets me pumped up and I feel healthy and happy.

FAVOURITE DANCE MEMORY:
The Cinderella ballet dance two concerts ago because I got to do it with my friends Billie, Charlotte and Erab.

NEXT YEAR’S GOAL:
I’m excited to learn how to use the ballet barre next year.

Charlotte (7 years)

INSPIRATION TO START DANCING:
I loved watching dancing on TV and wanted to learn, so I could go on stage.

CURRENT CLASSES:
Ballet and JDC.

FAVOURITE DANCE ROUTINE SO FAR:
My favourite routine was at my first concert – Good Ship Lollypop.

DANCING MAKES ME FEEL:
Dancing makes me feel happy and gives me enjoyment.

FAVOURITE DANCE MEMORY:
When I received my medal for completing my first exam.

NEXT YEAR’S GOAL:
I want to achieve, being better at my dancing, so Miss Kaitlin will be proud of me.

Sara (12 years)

INSPIRATION TO START DANCING:
I had 2 older cousins that danced for Queensland Ballet and I went and saw them dance The Nutcracker when I was 3 and fell in love with ballet.

CURRENT CLASSES:
Ballet, Contemporary and I am a member of the Young Dancers Company for Bayside.

FAVOURITE DANCE ROUTINE SO FAR:
Hard Question this one, my favourite routine is This is Me that I dance with YDC.

DANCING MAKES ME FEEL:
When I dance I get this amazing feeling. It makes me so happy and joyous, it is like I can almost feel the music inside me and the only way to show it is to dance.

FAVOURITE DANCE MEMORY:
It would be the amazing friends over the years and being able to dance with YDC. We recently danced at the Wynnum Eisteddfod and received a commendation for our routine, the comment being we looked like we were having fun, and we were.

NEXT YEAR’S GOAL:
I hope to improve my techniques and skill. I hope to continue to build on the friendships I’ve made.

Isobel (12 years)

INSPIRATION TO START DANCING:
Before I started dancing I was inspired by a ballet book that I was reading and started to take Ballet classes at Bayside Dance.

CURRENT CLASS:
Jazz.

FAVOURITE DANCE ROUTINE SO FAR:
‘Fun House’ I absolutely loved the costumes and the song.

DANCING MAKES ME FEEL:
Like all my stress and worries are gone.

FAVOURITE DANCE MEMORY:
My first ever concert because I had never performed in front of that many people before.

NEXT YEAR’S GOAL:
Next year I would like to get out of my comfort zone and try new things.

 

 

Kellie (adult dancer)

INSPIRATION TO START DANCING:
I grew up doing musical theatre and have always danced as part of a show, rather than studied dancing.  I’ve always I considered myself a singer, actor and then a dancer. When Bayside Dance opened it was the perfect opportunity to start ballet from the beginning – learning basic technique and practicing steps in a supportive environment! I’m now 41 and (although I have been benched for a few weeks with a bad back) I love going to class each week!

CURRENT CLASS:
Adult Ballet

FAVOURITE DANCE ROUTINE SO FAR:
I loved the Phantom of the Opera routine the adult ballet class did for the concert at the Star Theatre a few years ago!

DANCING MAKES ME FEEL:
Great. I find I really have to concentrate in class and it clears my head. Ballet has made a huge difference to my core strength and helped me better prepare for auditions!  One of the great things about Bayside Dance is the ability of the teachers to adapt the class and the steps to the different levels of the dancer in the class – I really appreciate the fact that I am challenged but not feeling completely out of my depth

FAVOURITE DANCE MEMORY:
I was part of the very first day of Bayside Dance. We had a class in the middle of winter in the RSL hall at Manly and despite the very cold weather I received such a warm welcome from Kaitlin and the other dancers! That’s a wonderful memory for me!

My other favourite memory is my daughters first Itty Bitty ballet class. Too cute!

NEXT YEAR’S GOAL:
I’d like to work on a double pirouette and on my flexibility – to keep up with Violet and the prep ballerinas!

 

Miss Paige!

Miss Paige started with Bayside Dance five years ago!

Paige’s stage career began at Fame Theatre Company, where she performed for 12 years in school holiday and touring productions. Paige gained a Bachelor of Musical Theatre at the Queensland Conservatorium, Griffith University in 2018. During this time, she performed in Seven Brides for Seven Brothers, Fame: the Musical, Little Women, Con2TheCabaret directed by Megan Shorey, and Godspell, which toured to Brisbane, Sydney and Melbourne. Paige was a Guest Soloist in Queensland Pops Orchestra’s Broadway and Beyond with Teddy Tahu Rhodes and Broadway to Screen with Mirusia Lowerse. Her other credits include The Sky’s the Limit Cabaret in association with QPAC, a guest artist for the Brisbane Helpmann Award Nominations and the creative development of Fangirls with Queensland Theatre Company.

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