community update
One Year On... with The Showdance Company A year ago three dancers decided to take on a new challenge by setting up a new dance school, The Showdance Company. Looking back this year has been a roller coaster says Adrian Lopez co-founder of company. Right from the first registration day the attendance was more than they expected, but they kept their feet firmly on the ground. Indeed over the year they have had many successes. The first was in November 2009 when two dancers from the company participated in the World Dance Show Championship with
a piece called Nemo and Dory choreographed by Gerald Rodriguez and Sabrina Durell. The dancers, Joelle Davis and Jenella Sodi, came second in the world, runners up to a Russian duet. The company also participated in the Gibraltar Stage Dance Festival and among other prizes one of their dancers, Joelle Davis, won the best
female dancer of the festival, an award she has won two years in a row with the tuition of Sabrina and Gerald. This year the company has danced at the Gib Fit Day, they performed the opening number at the Gibraltar International Song Festival, and participated in the summer nights. They took part
in the Aftershock’s Wedding Fair in Ocean Village, provided the entertainment for the recent Natwest fashion show, and took part in the Santos production Disney show. “We’ve had a very busy first year,” Gerald confirms. “To be honest the school grew much faster than we expected, but we managed.” Indeed, 14 dancers from
capable enough to be able to help. We are all very grateful that these three gentlemen were at the right place at the right time.” n
Air Cadets Fly High Two air cadets of No 2 (Overseas) Gibraltar Squadron have successfully gained their glider pilot wings. At the age of 16, each of them can now fly solo in a glider – despite being much too young to drive a car!
Commendations for Rescue Trio During the annual inspection of No 2 Overseas (Gibraltar) Squadron, Air Training Corps, Wing Commander David Miller presented commendations to PC Chris Peach, Henry Gerada and Stephen Perez for their rescue of three visiting Air Cadets off Eastern Beach in August. PC Peach is an ex-cadet in Gibraltar’s Air Training Corps. He described how was on duty at Eastern Beach all day and in the evening, after the lifeguards had gone off duty, he noticed the sea was becoming particularly rough. “I then heard shouting and I saw that a girl was out of her depth and the current was pushing her farther out,” said Chris. “Then it was clear the waves were breaking over her head. I used my radio to call for an ambulance as I took off my belt and I ran into the sea. Stephen and Henry ran in with me and it was
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Cadet Sergeant Kasmeen Khaira and Cadet Corporal Doyle Gaskin went to UK to complete their Gliding Scholarships at Watton airfield in Norfolk where they learned to fly the Viking, a military version of the Grob 103 high performance glider. n
Stephen who headed for the girl. “I grabbed the arm of one of the boys and pulled him on to his back and dragged him to the beach. I tell you, I was pretty exhausted when I got him out.” By the time the three cadets reached the shore, a GHA ambulance was waiting to rush them to St Bernard’s hospital where they were treated and later discharged. At the formal parade, Wing Commander Miller stressed that the three rescuers were, “public spirited enough to wish to help and
GIBRALTAR MAGAZINE • OCTOBER 2010