Natalie Herbert and Lucy Trotter rehearse for Dance Flash 2008
THE pupils of Isobel Dunn present Dance Flash 2008 at the Grand Opera House, York, tomorrow at 2.30pm and 7.30pm.
The doyenne of York dance teachers turns 85 in August and this weekend's performances will be her 64th annual show.
Dancers aged three to 80 will be taking part in jazz, ballet, tap and musical theatre items, and many of the dances have been arranged by pupils. "Choreography and helping in young pupils' classes is encouraged," says Isobel.
The Bollywood Indian dance routine has been taught by dance-school pianist Marianna Hitiris, and the arrangement for the contemporary dance number House Of Vogue is by Samantha Small, while Catherine Finta has arranged a cheerleading dance, an adult tap and two numbers from The Jungle Book.
The Pied Piper and Harry Potter will be danced by the juniors with dances by Sarah Stead, Heather Stead and Alex Dykes. Jazz dances have been choreographed for the juniors by Emma Smith and include Hanging On The Telephone and The Jean Genie, plus Tainted Love for the senior girls.
Lucy Fisher and Sarah and Heather Stead will be dancing their own arrangement of Explosion and Lucy Trotter, Natalie Herbert and Shannon McLean will be contributing Better Together.
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Kirsty Higgins, ballet teacher for the junior classes, once more has arranged a lively junior ballet dance.
The senior girls' ballets include Spring by Vivaldi, and dances from the Danish romantic ballet La Sylphide. "Incidentally, the orchestra on the tape we're using is conducted by David Garforth, who went to school in York," says Isobel.
Glen Jackson plays the witch that kills the young Sylphide, who has strayed on to his property. Fortunately, a group of Scottish dancers bring her back to life in time for the finale and its happy ending. Six of the school's more mature dancers will be playing the assistant witches.
Not only Glen will be performing in Dance Flash 2008; so too will fellow hairdresser Julio Garcia. "They both appeared in the New Venture production at Joseph Rowntree Theatre many years ago," recalls Isobel.
"Over the 64 years of Dance Flash, we have done shows at the Theatre Royal, St George's Hall, the Rialto, and now at the Grand Opera House this year.
"We've performed for different charities. Please do come tomorrow so that we can give more money to Martin House Children's Hospice. Our donations to them over the past four years have reached £6,000."
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