A few months ago I was requested by Miss Sam to help the amazing students of the Rollo academy with their annual show as a number of the regular backstage crew would be unable to attend this year.  I jumped at the chance and was treated last week to watching the students run through their paces at the dress rehearsal.

I was blown away by the professionalism of the team; teachers, students, runners, chaperones, props masters, photographers, tea makers, mums, dads, aunts, uncles, grandmas and granddads, as well as the ever increasing talent born of hard work by the students.  As I type the senior students are once again running through their paces at a technical rehearsal, to be joined by the younger students tomorrow morning, before four shows over two days.

From us at Coalface to the Rollo Academy, break a leg this weekend.  Work hard, enjoy the limelight and congratulate yourselves and your colleagues for a year of hard work that has certainly paid off.  I hope all of my hard work to the best of my ability this weekend will do you all justice as back stage manager.  Please do not hesitate to let me know if there is anything helpful I can do this weekend to make the show the best ever for everyone involved.

But on a wider note to the dancers, families, friends and teachers of all the dance schools here in the UK and around the world I would like to thank you from the bottom of my heart both from my prospective when I was younger as a dancer but now as a costumer for the support, inspiration and time you provide.  As a dancer, the dance studio was a sanctuary where I enjoyed every moment dancing with my friends; challenged to kick higher, turn longer or faster, balance better and- significantly in my case- “point your rotten feet” better than the day before.  As a costumer I must thank you for letting me costume for your kids, watching their faces light up as they get to see their designs, ideas and hard work become the costumes of their dreams- I cannot explain how significantly that makes my day.

Thank you-We could not have done this without you.