World Highland Dancing Conference October 2011
Cushla Piesse and I attended this Conference in Las Vegas recently. While there Cushla assisted me in conducting four Workshops on the Academy Irish and Sailors Step dances. There was very good attendance and interest in all our sessions.
The Academy Sailors Hornpipe is always a winner and it was great to see so many take to the floor to try out some of the Academy‘s more “interesting” steps not danced competitively elsewhere in the world.
The Irish dances created great interest too with the variety of movements and step construction options creating good discussion and much hilarity on the floor when learning some of our Academy syllabus movements.
The variety of Workshop options offered to those attending made making a choice of what to attend at times difficult! However between us we got to attend some excellent topics and hear accomplished presenters.
It was wonderful to be welcomed so warmly and to meet up with some attendees we had met on previous occasions.
We were also fortunate to go to some great shows while in Vegas!
The next Conference is planned for Johannesberg SA in 2013.
Thank you Cushla for your assistance in demonstrating and company in Vegas - it was fun
Sherilyn Hall
See the gallery for photos from the conference
Auckland Exam candidates
'Three Silver Medal Test candidates from Auckland area with examiner Cushla Piesse'
Heather Ineson, Monica Ineson, Sian Dillon - pupils of Johanna Lees
THE HIGHLAND DANCE COMPANY OF NZ PERFORM IN AUCKLAND
As part of the RWC celebrations prior to the Scotland vs England match on 1 October, The Highland Dance Company of NZ were invited to perform at Vector Arena on Friday 30 September at The Spirit of Bannockburn Concert. The star act for the concert were Red Hot Chilli Pipers. 17 of the Company were able to make the trip to Auckland and performed 3 items with the Auckland and Districts Pipe Band plus their signature piece "NZ Dancing Feet" as well as dancing in the Finale of the concert with Red Hot Chilli Pipers in front of an audience of approximately 4,000 people. Following the concert Red Hot Chilli Pipers extended an invitation to the dancers to perform with them at their Christchurch and return Auckland gigs - 5 dancers performed at The Music Bar in Hornby on Tuesday 4 October and Wednesday 5 October and 5 Auckland dancers will perform at the Juice Bar in Parnell on Monday 10 October.
The following night, as the final act prior to the Scotland - England clash the Company dancers performed "NZ Dancing Feet' on the main stage at Queen's Wharf. The atmosphere was electric with thousands of Scottish and English fans plus the Kiwis down at Party Central to watch the game. The weekend was an exhilirating adventure for the dancers who performed like true professionals and were a fantastic advertisement for our Academy and Highland dancing in general
See the Gallery for more photos of the concert
Conference 2011
The 2011 conference report is under the Conference heading. Photos of the dance group are in the Gallery
Jayden Withington's Getting Started Group
Jayden with his group of boys who sat Getting Started in Dance in September
Quiz Answers
The answers to the quiz from Conference are now available as a download.
2011 Conference Photos
The photos from conference can be viewed at www.eventphoto.smugmug.com
Summer Fling 2012
The Summer Fling 2012 Schedule is now available. See downloads for the schedule
