New Term!

Here we are in a new term and I am delighted that there are so many new little ones joining Butterfly Ballet.

Classes are held on Saturday's as normal but now we have a weekday to join. Please refer to the website for more information and times.

After a long Summer break it is so exciting to see the children and parents again. 2 months is a long time in a child's life and their development over the summer break can feel vast.  Some children are moving up classes which is exciting and may the good toes roll for all!

Olympic Fever!

What a very special Summer it has been with the Queens Jubilee and then the Olympics. I don't think any of us could have envisaged just how brilliant it would have been, not only for sport but for the country as a whole.

When an opportunity came to audition for the Closing ceremony I jumped at the chance, although I declined to audition for the Ballet as I just felt a little too old to be mixing with school leavers!  Instead I found myself carrying a pole... unfortunately the wonderful whizzing and twirling we did with the pole was hidden to all those watching on tv, however let it be known much wonderful patterns were indeed made!  Our pole dancing culminated in the creation of John Lennon's face, brought together by about 100 jigsaw pieces.

I think I was his left cheek!

Although my part was tiny, to be involved in the Closing ceremony was an experience that will stay with me forever. The adrenalin I felt before running out into the stadium was incredible, it was literally coursing through my veins. How the likes of Mo Farah and Jessica Ennis were able to compose themselves only goes to show their strength of character as well as skill in sport.  I loved it with a passion and feel very lucky to have been part of such a special occasion.   Roll on the Commonwealth Games!!

After the fireworks

End of Term Olympic Demonstration take 2 !

Due to rain stopping the majority of play last week I did an extra class so we could do a display and turned it into a little show for the parents. Some new parents for next term came and it was a lovely day.

I can't believe that Butterfly Ballet is two terms old and thank everybody for the amazing support and kind words regarding the classes. I love it with a passion and hope everyone has a great Summer break.

The Story begins..

Flying on Bella's wings to the Olympics

Carrying the Torch

Walking to get the gold medals

Gold Medal celebrations with ribbons and flags!

So proud of my little Olympians!

Wet but wonderful!

You can plan, you can organise but you can't control the weather....

Our dear old British Summer certainly didn't come up trumps on Saturday with a very wet day. Regular Fair exhibitors said they had never known of one to be so bad.

My brave troops arrived at 3.30pm at which point the heavens opened. The stage area had not been able to go up due to it being waterlogged so a muddy grass area was the place where we would dance. Barnes Ballet School had cancelled their demonstration in the morning and making a call at 3.45 I sent everyone home.....

4pm, we come out of the church and the rain had stopped, I had put so much work into the display and I could see that the children were dissapointed that I rallied up those that were left and enquired as to whether they would be game for their daughters to take to the mud?!  Fair play to all the parents who were totally up for it and a bigger well done to the 5 little ones who were still left and who took to the demonstration in their wellies, tutus and wings.   I was so proud of them and I must have looked like a joke, my tracksuit bottoms were covered in mud and my new trainers were now black but the show still went on and it was so utterly British!

Thank you to Sean and Louise and Strangy and Lizzie who helped with the day and to the Barnes Fair organisers for the opportunity to do it. Excited for it to be a regular event.

A bigger thank you to the children and parents. Hope you enjoy the photos!

Barnes Fair Demonstration

Really looking forward to doing a little demonstration at the Barnes Fair.

Participating in events like this is a fantastic opportunity for the children, building confidence and enabling them to get an opportunity to perform to real audiences.

This year the theme is The Olympics so our torch is being made and we look forward to going for Gold!

The Barnes Fair is on Saturday July 14th so do come down and support if you are in the area, we are on at 4pm at the Events Stage.

Cinderella Workshop in October

The Coppelia workshop in Cardiff went really well. I loved it with a passion.

I have been asked to do a Cinderella one in London at the Royal Academy of Dance in October.
If you have a child age 4+ then more information on the workshops can be found here -
http://www.rad.org.uk/article_pink.asp?id=169

RAD Coppelia workshop

Really looking forward to going to Cardiff next Saturday after class ready to take the RAD Coppelia workshop on the Sunday.  The RAD do some great workshops and summer schools for children.

More information on the Coppelia one can be found here.

http://www.rad.org.uk/article.asp?id=535