Junior Dance Junior Dance
BIG T
his year BIG auditions saw 150 boys in Years 4 to 7 showcase their talent. Helping me with auditions was Isabelle Ringoet, a theatrical performer from Belgium. Choosing this year’s group was very difficult, especially as the culture, standard and passion for Ms Ruth Bott dance at Trinity College is Performing Arts Coordinator escalating. So strong was the dancing that we decided to create two dance groups and give 70 boys the opportunity to be part of the BIG experience.
during the October holidays. The boys displayed maturity and professionalism, dancing beautifully with GIG at this event where they were invited as guests.
The first BIG group gathered early in Semester 1 to work towards an item to be performed at the Music Assembly in Week 9. BIG sketches was created where 35 boys used their body, energy and musicality in an entertaining way. The boys performed with confidence, and this was a major feat as it was the first time many of the boys had ever danced on stage.
BIG had the challenging task of re-working sections of i-fly for the ACHPER Primary Dance Festival held on Thursday 8th November. Adapting the piece without GIG members meant new parts to learn and a general re-structuring, with many of the BIG members finding new strength. The boys gave a disciplined and creative performance of this work on the stage at The Octagon Theatre.
This group of boys had the amazing experience of collaborating with BUZZ Dance Theatre on their show Cinderella Dressed in Yella. BIG travelled by bus to the Kings Street Studios and spent most of the day dancing in groups with the professional dancers from BUZZ. Parents were invited to view this very colourful and imaginative work, featuring their sons. It was a day to remember! Thank you Mr Hamer for sharing the day with us. Perhaps you can join the boys on stage next time. The BIG members in the Semester 2 group brought a little more experience with them. These 32 dancers were about to experience something new: dancing with the senior boys in GIG (Guys in Groove). Combining the junior and senior boys opened up the possibilities for even more exciting, physical dance. Early in Term 3 rehearsals began for i-fly, a contemporary dance work exploring the ideas of balance, propulsion and turbulence. We were all working towards the big performance in Week 9 for Outside Edge, the contemporary arts concert. The boys from BIG seemed to enjoy the opportunity that saw them work closely with their senior school peers. All boys danced with strength, expression and skill, made even more special with boys as young as eight dancing with sixteen year olds. Further opportunities arose for BIG to perform this year’s major dance piece at the International ACHPER Conference held at the Esplanade Hotel in Fremantle
The Senior School Speech Night, held at The Perth Concert Hall on Thursday 25th October, was to be the final performance of i-fly featuring both BIG and GIG. The boys managed to adapt their formations to suit the challenging dimensions of the stage. This performance gave many of the staff and students at Trinity College the opportunity to see our talented dancers. The feedback following the concert was extremely affirming, and many commented on the funky soundtrack by DJ Shadow, Mr Oizo and The Chemical Brothers. Perhaps we will recruit even more senior dancers next year!
The final event of the year was the Junior Concert and Presentation Evening held in Gibney Hall on Monday 4th December. Both BIG groups from Semesters 1 and 2 performed their major dance works. Thank you to Carolyn Orr, Sandra Ryan and a collection of parents for ensuring the Trinity boys always look stunning on stage in their costumes. Watching these dance performances and the previous six held throughout the year on various stages certainly emphasised something I have suspected for a long time: Trinity boys can dance!
Ms Ruth Bott Performing Arts Coordinator Director of BIG
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