Review of Show 2009 - "Cue The Music"
Additional Review
I was lucky this year to be able to enjoy ‘Cue the Music’ from every possible angle! I was a teacher and choreographer, I helped in the run up to the show, including the photo session and initial rehearsals. I was a backstage helper (and almost lost my voice during the finale line-ups!), an understudy performer on Saturday and, for the first time in 24 years, I was a member of the audience for the preview show.

Having been a pupil of A.R.T.S since the age of 4 (we were known as the Janet Wright School of Dancing back then!), ‘the show’ has always been the highlight of us dancers’ year but I can honestly say, having now watched it, that I have never truly appreciated how lucky we all are to be part of such a fantastic school.

I have been a professional dancer now for 7 years (thanks largely to the support of Janet and Vickie, the latter of whom has become one of my closest friends as well as my mentor) and in my time on ships I have been part of some wonderful shows but the quality I saw – in terms of performance and organization- during ‘Cue the Music’ would actually put some, supposedly professional, companies to shame.

The music, lighting and staging were second to none and Andy and his technical crew certainly lived up to the high expectations we have all come to expect from the A.R.T.S shows. The hours spent, not only in setting up the sound and lights for the actual performances, but processing movie footage to project those well-known films on giant screens in synchronisation with the numbers occurring live before us, was truly awe inspiring.

Who else would put such dedication into a school show?  And for anyone that wonders why we don’t follow other dance schools by having our shows at the theatre royal, that is partly why. 2 shows of basic lights with a stranger in control of the sound desk or a whole week of exciting performances with someone who, not only knows what they are doing, but has a vested interest in making the show and the performers involved be the best that they can be?

In ‘Legends’ I performed in quite a large number of routines (having missed the last few shows due to sailing the world I had to make up for it!) and although I was a backstage helper in between I was much more involved this time. Away from the calm performance that appears to exist on stage the hustle and bustle of backstage can sometimes be overpowering! With quick changes, lost costumes and the evils of illness and heat exhaustion, not to mention the time constraints of French plaiting and making up 300 pupils, you would be forgiven in thinking that the backstage area could be quite manic!

Well, manic it is but in the best possible way. You can not help but be overtaken with the buzz of adrenaline that hits you when you, or your child, is signed in and led into that magical world of the theatre, and whilst our long time co-ordinators (and old school mums!) Margaret Parsons and Philippa Stangroom, have always led a pretty tight ship, this year was especially well-organised.
The children all behaved beautifully and the juveniles, most of whom were there for every performance, were incredible – thanks primarily to Lynne Van Rensburg.

Special thanks has to go to Jeannie Melton and Amanda Corley in the West Hall – particularly for helping me in getting, what felt like thousands of clones in white t-shirts, ready for the finales (and there seemed a lot of those this year too!)
I don’t want to name too many names because from what I saw everyone that volunteered to help backstage were really wonderful and it was fantastic to see so many people that were simply happy to help in any way possible, rather than being merely concerned with their own child. We had a couple of minor First Aid situations and two particular helpers were quick to respond and locate the appropriate people so thank you.

Thank you also to the collecting parents this year who I have to say were wonderful! Last show I had to have a bodyguard with me (well, Ryan anyway!) in order to keep eager parents away from the door to allow us the necessary space to make sure your child gets to you safely. This year I think I only had to ask once for people to move back. Everyone was so patient and as such the children (other than the ones faffing about of course!) got out quickly, happily – perhaps a little bit tired – but most importantly safely.
So thank you so much for your co-operation.

I will admit to having one stress attack with my own Mum in one of the first finale runs (if you saw those tiny corridors we were trying to get 300 children through you would understand!) but other than that it was a real pleasure to be there. Everyone soon learnt their routines for quick changes (well done Ruby!! But you still have my shopping bag! :0) and apart from Tory’s mislaid hair piece – which turned up in her mum’s dentist jacket I believe, some Bond wrist bands that never appeared and one sleepless night over missing ‘Singing in the Rain’ costumes (it can only be the curse of the wellie boots!) I think we did well! Certainly more organized than Disneyland Paris before a parade I must say!

As for watching the show….I am not ashamed to say that I cried pretty much from start to finish! I was enthralled by the show and enjoyed every performance. It was actually on a par with ‘Wicked’ for me – which, anyone that knows me will tell you, that’s a mighty big compliment!

Although a few people stood out for their advanced technical or performing ability I have to say that, perhaps even for the first time, I saw the improved standard of the classes as a whole really stand out and this is a credit to all the teachers involved with the school, but particularly to Vickie.

The standard of the choreography was exceptional this year and so versatile that every dance was different and I was able to enjoy everything in a different way.

The impressive Bond medley was highlighted by the 20th Century Fox opening – now a constant reminder of this show for me and every time I watch a film where this is featured I can not help but smile!
The Kung Fu pandas received the largest ‘ahhs’ of the night as they ran out with their hands held in karate style, whilst the Silverscreen medley oozed Hollywood glamour and some pretty impressive tap from some of our youngsters who definitely have a few ‘ones to watch out for’ amongst them!

And how cute were the Dalmatians? Every year we wonder what the unpredictable juveniles will do and of course they didn’t disappoint. Amongst some very good dancing, we had wiggles galore (Harrison wins there!), a singer so loud I think she could be heard in McDonalds and, of course, the fact that when they discovered 101 Dalmatians was playing behind them half of them just kept watching. Classic! Interspersed with the young street ‘dogs’ it was one of the best juvenile routines I have seen. No need to fast forward the dvd, this group were wonderful and enjoyable to everyone (not just their adoring parents!) Equally too for the ‘Talk to the Animals’ group who had some of the most enviable costumes in the show I think.

Jump and Happy Feet were a clear sign of the ever-expanding and improving disco side of the school and I thoroughly enjoyed the Street medley – so much so I snuck on stage during one performance: Who spotted me?
The curse of the wellies luckily didn’t extend to the stage as the youngsters beautifully tapped their way through Gene Kelly’s famous song!

Then came ‘Jaws’ – one of the dances I later performed in and seeing it scared me to death! The ability to choreograph anything to such a simple yet dramatic piece of music should be envied and Emma did a wonderful job. The contemporary ballet dance was exhilarating and a special well done has to go out to these girls who never performed it once with the same people or a full cast!
The biggest lump to my throat came in Barbie when Vickie took to the stage (dressed in my Sugar Plum Fairy tutu!) in place of a very ill Hannah Legood, and performed the beautiful ballet number with her own daughter Meredith and the Junior Ballet groups. It was lovely.

Spiderman, probably one of my favourites, stood out for having a group of particularly high standard in technique and performance. The costumes were ingenious, the Michael Buble song infectious and the choreography and giant spider web (created by Sarah, with the help of Kate, Alice and the very talented Lyn Kirk) were inspiring. I loved it.

Hairspray was a fantastic explosion of  bright costumes and some wonderful choreography – the perfect way to close Act I. To the older disco girls all I can say is ouch! How you kept up the energy for that dance over 5 performances I will never know! And the Disney finale was lovely. To see so many smiling youngsters was amazing and people can certainly be forgiven for thinking that was it!
But this is A.R.T.S and like football we play a game of two halves!

After a flushed interval I managed to compose myself until the end of Star Wars – the opening number in the first half! Again a difficult compilation of music to choreograph to but Vickie and Lisa proved they were up for it and as the tap, ballet and modern pupils all teamed up for the end of the routine it was an impressive display of dramatic white and yes the water works started again!
Throughout the second half the music remained powerful and the young ballet, tap and modern stars shone but it was the guitarists that offered a rather wonderful surprise with their rendition of The Jam’s ‘A Town Called Malice’. The boys were fantastic and I never realized Alex Short was hiding such a voice. My auntie loved them and still won’t shut up about them (she also thinks Matthew has the perfect look! Sian I would be worried!) but it really was lovely to see how much they have all matured. During breaks in the show and rehearsals they even serenaded the girls outside – it was great to see.

Another pleasure to watch was the complete transformation of our drama and singing department with Musical Theatre teacher Sally (with Natalie’s choreography) re-creating a fantastic version of scenes from film, West End and Broadway musical ‘Little Shop of Horrors’. Although bumping into dentist and Seymour clones backstage was often scary at times it was worth it to see this wonderful mini-production, and some singing stars are definitely on the horizon….

The Godfather ballet was classically beautiful in music, performance and costume – another of my favourites and Pirates of the Caribbean was another cleverly choreographed and exciting tap number that got the spine tingling. I had particular fun dancing in this one on Saturday and hope I didn’t sound too much like a farmer Sarah!? Well done also to my water ballets – you were beautiful – and especially to Siobhan who did very well with all those mops!!!

My big shout out for Act II though has to go to the girls from ‘Flashdance’. I loved the simple yet perfect costumes and would have loved to have taken part in this well choreographed dance. These girls are definitely the ones to watch. Their talent is already evident but their technique and performance skills are forever improving, thanks mainly to their dedication and love of dance. You were a joy to watch – keep it up!

The whole Dancing Tribute medley was the perfect way to end and highlighted a large number of very talented youngsters, many of whom I have little doubts could go all the way if they wanted to.

The finale was dramatic and uplifting and even if there were a few moments of pushing and shoving, inevitable in a cast that is now so huge, they all made it on in the end. I couldn’t tell you if anyone joined me in my standing ovation at the end of the show as I was too caught up in my tears of pride, smiles of enjoyment and waving to Adella!!

It really was a wonderful experience and although I may have worked all over the world I will always be proud of where I came from.  Performing next to you all in the Saturday shows was everything I could hope for and more. Being paid to dance is a dream job but it is not why I dance. I perform because I love it; it’s where I feel most at home and A.R.T.S will always be home to me. So thank you!
By Katy x