TERM 1/2 2020 NEWSLETTER
2020 - A year we will never forget! January saw us preparing for an action packed year as a Team. Firstly, I flew to Sydney for the day to escort 5 of our preschoolers who were chosen to dance on TV screens throughout the world on Nick Jnr! Then I headed to Melbourne for READY SET DANCE training with Jo. The day is always a highlight and we are so lucky to be a valued member of the RSD community who are so supportive and motivated to deliver the best classes possible for the next generation of dancers! Jo attended RAD Conference, Shaping Bodies, Shaping minds which looked deeper into teaching ballet and individual needs of students. Then I headed back to Melbourne for ATOD Training which is always a wonderful day learning from examiners and teachers. Our teachers then met for Team training as we do each term to ensure we are all delivering the best experience we can and creating memories for families but most of all having a positive impact on student’s lives. Term 1 started with lots of joy and excitement and lovely weather. It was wonderful to see so many returning students and new families who settled in beautifully. My teachers did a fantastic job and all students gained new skills and confidence. We launched our 2020 concert theme - Step Back in Time and had fun dressing up as always.
IN THIS ISSUE
02 DanceStep
05 Team News
How quickly life can change! Now is the time for us all to spend time with families and slow down for a while. Life gets too busy and I am sure we are all going to come out the other end with a whole new perspective and appreciation for the things we currently take for granted. Simple things, like seeing your dance friends each week are so important. As per government guidelines our studio has closed until further notice. During that time we will continue to connect with our SSD community through our RSD Parents Facebook group and our Band app (for school aged classes). Please make sure you are in those groups as we are sharing many free resources to students which include dance classes to keep them active. None of us know when we will be able to resume business and we may need to adjust our plans along the way but know that as always we will work behind the scenes to prepare and we will keep you informed. We can’t wait to hear the sounds of families back in the dance studio! As many of you are aware, I was diagnosed with Breast cancer recently and am recovering from surgery. I will commence treatment soon. I guess I am lucky the break will give me more time to focus on my recovery and heal. Thankyou all for your love and prayers, they mean the world to me and my family. Please take care of yourselves and keep me smiling by sharing your photos and videos on our Facebook page or in our App. Much love, Sharon Saunders
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We are proud to be a registered affiliate studio and member of the DanceStep program. Offered in partnership with studio teachers, DanceStep empowers students to take care of others and guides them to be leaders and role models. The program covers assistant teaching skills such as behaviour management, different learning needs and styles, Safe Dance Principles and Anatomy to name just a few. These concepts are broken down to be taught in a sequential and age appropriate way to children from ten or eleven years of age. Whether students are considering a career in dance teaching or otherwise, the DanceStep program is a great preparation for many aspects of life. DanceStep, a 4 level Student Teacher Education Program, builds on this philosophy and provides a progressive and formalised process including both practical and theoretical components. Congratulations to our 2020 participants: Level 1- Leah Grotto, Alyssa Laurien, Savannah Waters & Abbey Penrose. Level 2- Ali Martin, Tshari Brown & Olivia Furmanczyk. SSD Students 10 years & over are invited to join at anytime.
2019 Photos may still be purchased from Andy Banks Photography Phone 0418590591
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Congratulations TERM
1
STUDENT
AWARDS
Well done everyone on an amazing Term 1! Throughout the year we love to recognise those that are working hard, improving in technique and performance, and those that have the right attitude! This describes so many of our students, but well done to those that have been chosen for Term 1 Test 1 Ballet: Scarlett Brown Test 3 Ballet: Clementine Gray Bronze Medal Ballet: Olive Cole Bronze Star Ballet: Eva Mullane Elementary Ballet: Tshari Brown SuperKids: Willow Francis-Wright Silver Star Ballet: Issy Lock Senior Jazz: Keeley Rooke Senior Tap: Taylah Petrusma
Open Hip Hop: Lucy Hall Junior Hip Hop: Kaiden Yates Test 1 Tap: Ruby Clarke-Hong Musical Theatre: Olive Bishop Bronze Medal Jazz: Nicholas Griffiths Test 3 Tap: Elli Calder Junior Contemporary: Caitlin Tarrant Bronze Star Jazz: Jorja Brauer Senior Contemporary: Alyssa Laurien
NEWSLETTER
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FIVE budding Bendigo dancers have wrapped filming for one of a global television channel's most popular Australian shows. The children spent an afternoon in Sydney dancing for the second series of Ready Set Dance, which is produced by pay TV channel Nick Jr. Sophia Burdett, Saylah Quinlan, River Irwin, Mackenzie Clarkson and Bailey Rokesky won the opportunity after their dance school, Sharon Saunders Dancers was selected from 200 Australian and New Zealand groups affiliated with a Ready Set Dance program. They are all aged between three- and five-years-old. Their school values the Ready Set Dance program because of its focus on coordination, creativity and building confidence in children, principal Sharon Saunders said. It is underpinned by a core educational curriculum that teaches kids fundamental movement skills and helps improve their gross motor skills," she said. The children did an amazing job at the shoot, Ms Saunders said. "With five of them there you would have thought at least one of would have been a bit teary because they were away from their parents for a few hours that afternoon," she said. But they all got out and had a great time. It was their confidence that really impressed me. The children have now returned home after their big adventure. II was sent some photos of some children fast asleep on the plane home. It was very different from the bright-eyed and bushy-tailed kids who took the trip up there," Ms Saunders said. Only she and production staff got to see video in the monitors as it was filmed, meaning the children will have to wait along with everyone else to see their segment when it airs. Season two is expected to hit pay TV screens at 9am on Monday 18 May and will feature a bunch of new songs and dances. A newly formed Kid Crew will join animated characters Twirl and Freeze, who will reprise their roles as program hosts. Each of the season's 15 minute episodes will run for seven minutes and feature a signature dance move and performances from dancers. Season one premiered last January and became the number one subscription TV program among children aged zero- to 12-years-ofage, excluding live sports and movies. It was developed in collaboration with expert preschool dance educators and dance studio owners. They also launched the Ready Set Dance program, licensing it to dance schools across Australia and New Zealand, including Sharon Saunders Dancers in Bendigo Bendigo Advertsier January 2020
HUGE NEWS FOR ALL READY SET DANCE FANS You can now watch us every morning before PAW PATROL starts at 10am on 10 Peach. Now all of our little dancers can watch the kid crew perform their favourite songs.
NEWSLETTER
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TEAM NEWS What a fantastic term 1 at SSD! I have loved having students from last year return and also have really enjoyed welcoming many new students to our classes!Thursday RSD Classes are always a blast! We always begin the morning with one of my favourite things! Sharing what we had for breakfast! I must say some of our students have some pretty exciting breakfasts.. Broccoli, Chocolate Cake and always wetbix.. We love there Creativity!We are so excited to have had our Amazing Dancestep Helper, Leah, with us for RSD level 1 Classes. The children adore her and she is such a great role model to them all.This term we had a lot of exciting breakthroughs. Our focus for RSD is the 3 C’s — Confidence, Coordination and Creativity. This term the confidence and coordination that has grown in so many of our superstar preschoolers has been incredible! We are so proud to be entrusted with your superstar children and we LOVE the opportunity we have to bring them Joy, Love + Fun in our classes! We look forward to another amazing term when we return after the holidays. ATOD EXAM DAY
Hannah McBain Term 1 - wow what a start to the year! Amongst technique, chorey, friends, and fun, the studio, and the whole world, was faced with unexpected and unprecedented challenge. I have been amazed at the adaptability and strength of our dancers, and the grace and care of our families. Thank you! I am reminded again of the power of a dance school, to become much more than a hobby or sport, but a safe place of creativity and growth, a consistency amongst chaos, and a family that can support one another.Before our unexpected break, I was so impressed by the development dancers can show in just one term. Already my classes are showing a huge improvement in fitness and flexibility, a strengthening in technique, a grit and determination in persona, and remembering syllabus and choreography really well.Keep positive, keep moving, and make the most of this time to connect and slow down; we’re really looking forward to seeing you again as soon as possible, for an even stronger and more exciting 2020! Jo Chapman This term has been a blast! My Thursday superstars have taken on a lot in this short time. Their rhythmical improvement, growth in textures and qualities in their physical vocabulary have blown me away. I am so thoroughly impressed by all of my classes this term. Here is a little recap on each and every one.Bronze Medal Jazz - You have all been amazing. Trialling a whole new era of movement and really throwing yourselves into the rock ages has been so FUN! I’m inspired by each and everyone of you and how unafraid you have been this term. Keep this fighting attitude within you and we will be back to rocking out so soon.Test 3 Tap - This term we tackled accapella movement, which we all know is super difficult rhythmically and intellectually. You have worked, as a team, impeccably and I couldn't have asked for a tap group with a better work ethic. Keep up the practicing and I know you will all sound amazing when we get back to it! Trust yourselves and get creative (with your tap shoes) during this time.Junior Contemporary - This class has been a major creative outlet for all of you strong independent dancers! I loved having you let yourselves go and give everything a try no matter how hard it was or how difficult it may have felt, and let me tell you… you CRUSHED it. The physical texture and qualities you in put into every single exercise, with me never having to repeat a critique or correction, was amazing. I want you all to take this time to improvise to any song that you love and use those textures and qualities and have so much fun with it! Bronze Star Jazz - Oh how much you have all grown since last year and even more in this term both technically and personally. I’m so proud of you all in this class, and I really love that you trust me enough to let me show you new things and still give them your all. I’m completely blown away by your efforts in the last term, I love that you have given me focus and intent from the start. I want you to all carry that through your holidays and give anything a go whilst staying safe! Love to all.Senior Contemporary - All I can say is WOW. Thank you so much for being so trusting in my technical stand point and giving tasking a go even though it feels uncomfortable and sometimes a little awkward. You have been mature and responsible within every technical element I have shared with you and for that I will be forever grateful. I’m shocked at the creative talent within this class and PLEASE try these things at home, challenge yourselves and really trust your instincts creatively. Because you are truly special and I think you all will grow leaps and bounds in this time apart. I’m proud of you all and don't lose that spark I know you all have!Overall my term has been a whopping success with each and every class and I cannot wait to see you all again sometime soon and give you a ginormous hi-five for your impeccable patience in your learning this term. I wouldn't know what I’d do without all of my SSD family and I thank you all for being my lovely students and trusting me every step of the way.READY SET DANCE and READY SET BALLET this last term has seen many shy faces grow into beautiful young dancers (and people) with a whole lot of focus and intent to give to their lessons. I am so grateful for all of our 2-5 year olds, that constantly inspire me and actually teach me how to groove sometimes. You all have a bunch of talented little ones and such gorgeous personalities in all of them which I have loved to get to know over this term. Thank you to all parents who trust us and all of the READY SET DANCERS who come in with a whopping smile and great attitude ready to get their groove on! I cannot wait to be inspired by you all again soon and reignite that fire in our bellies that gets us movin’ and groovin’ again!! Annaleise Gaffney
Term 1 was a wonderful term to start of f with, despite the pandemic unfolding towards the end. I was overjoyed when I was able to meet some new faces who were already apart of the SSD family, but also welcoming newcomers to our little community. My favourite part for Term 1 was the dress up week for the concert reveal ‘Step back in time’ which is my favourite theme so far at SSD, as well as sharing my knowledge of different styles of dance throughout the eras of dance with all of my students. I simply cannot wait to see everyone again, I hope everyone is safe and well especially in this critical time, and I cannot wait to get back in the studio to dance with everyone once again Juila Wellard
@sharonsaundersdancers
FACEBOOK REVIEW The wonderful women teaching at Sharon Saunders studio with the Ready Set Dance program have provided such an amazing experience for my toddler. From including her when she is unsure, praising her participation and showing so much encouragement, watching my child’s confidence in herself grow and grow has been amazing. This program is fantastic for young girls and boys who love to groove and to build their confidence. I love watching my girl sing and dance all week from the things she has been doing in class. Thank you ladies for providing such a positive and fun learning experience for her. Stacey Boswood