STRICTLY COME DANCING 2008
Just before Christmas we held our very own version of the well-known & much-loved television show ”Strictly Come Dancing“!
19 of our best dancers in the school took on the role of the professional dancers while 16 of our very brave members of staff volunteered to be our ”Celebrity Dancers“!
They all spent 12 weeks learning, choreographing & rehearsing their 3 dance routines to perfection (well almost!), in preparation for the 3 live shows! Rehearsals took place each Tuesday after school, as well as some additional practices at lunch-times (when the panic began to set in as we came closer to show nights!)
The shows were a great success each night. Our judges were Mr Graham, Mrs Metcalfe & Mr McKee, who each did a wonderful job of delivering their ”professional“ opinion on each of the pairs performances - Mr Graham in particular greatly enjoyed the ”good bounce“ and the ”hand Jive“, while Mrs Metcalfe was very complimentary about the many varied and extravagant outfits on display… including her own 60‘s mini-dress that her daughter Miss Metcalfe ”borrowed“ for the second show!
We couldn‘t quite afford the real Bruce Forsyth & Tess Daly to host the shows, so we got the next best thing in the shape of Mr Donnelly & Yr 14 pupil Joanne Porter! Both did an exceptional job presenting the shows each night and indeed Mr Donnelly did such a good job that he was highly recommended to the BBC to take over from Brucie when he retires! The BBC responded saying they would only consider him for the role if he talks a lot less or is willing to work in their canteen making the dancers their lunches! Perhaps a slot on ”can‘t cook won‘t cook“ might be a better option for him!
The first of the shows was ”Jive night“, which saw our pairs performing to the tunes of the 50‘s, dressed in poodle skirts and Elvis suits! After some great performances (and some interesting ones!) the well deserved winners of the night were Neil Ashe, who works in our Resources, & Year 12 pupil Caroline Cochrane… who I‘m sure have now set up their own fan club, judging by the support they had in the crowd! There were also superb performances from the Yr 14 Performing Arts dancers, singer & musicians, as well as the Model Stage school.
The second show was 60‘s night, with music from the likes of Lulu and the 60‘s based musical ”Hairspray“. This show saw plenty of psychedelic mini-dresses going on as the performers twisted the night away in style! Again there were some excellent performances, but the winners this night were Miss Metcalfe & Marleta Bailie!
Other terrific group performances this night were by the Yr11 Performing Arts dancers and the Senior Aerobics team. The ”professional“ pupil dancers also took to the floor to perform a routine to the song ”I Believe“ from the movie ”Honey“. This was received so well that they were asked to perform it again on the 3rd night!
The final show was a spectacular 70‘s disco night with routines performed to the likes of Stayin Alive, Night Fever, Blame it on the boogie and I want you back! This show was a real throw back to days of John Travolta, Bee Gees and the Jackson 5, so of course the style of the night was white suits, flares & afro wigs! Mrs Boyd should surely have won an award for the biggest wig ever seen! How she kept it on her head we will never know, never mind dance with it on!
The competition was at its hottest this night with everyone going the extra mile in both their costumes & their routines in an attempt to put on their best performances yet! But there could only be one winner and 70‘s night belonged to Miss Metcalfe & Yr11 pupil Marleta Bailie with a terrific performance involving cartwheels, splits… and plenty of support from the crowd!
The crowd also enjoyed some outstanding group dances performed by Yr 13 performing Arts dancers, Junior Aerobics team and the Yr8 Aerobics team.
The overall winners of the whole 3 nights were then announced:
1st Place: Miss Metcalfe & Marleta Bailie
2nd Place: Mrs Dalzell & Megan McDermott
3rd Place: Neil Ashe & Caroline Cochrane
Well done to all involved!
Thank you to all the performers, both staff & pupils, as well as to everyone who helped out behind the scenes and also those who came along to support this fundraising event.
All proceeds have gone towards our Rock Challenge entry for this year and we hope to see plenty of supporters at the competition at the Waterfront Hall on 30th March!
Tickets will be available from the school soon!
