Recollection on the 7th July, 2019 Showcase

Four themes played out to me at our Annual Dance Showcase which is a fundraiser for charity Move into Wellbeing®. Mothers and daughters. Fathers. Belief. Thanks.

Mothers and Daughters

Firstly, we had the stunning duo, mother/ daughter team of V and M take to stage in the contemporary dance piece. How moving is that, that a mum and daughter can train vocationally in dance together, and then perform together with us? I just adore all aspects of this and would like to encourage other mother /daughter teams to do the same!

On the same day, as I was unloading goods for the show, a lovely client walked by with her mum. She said they were reminiscing about how her mum used to take her to ballet lessons and now much later in life her mum has dropped her off for our rehearsal and was going to watch he show and see her adult daughter dance. Beautiful! They were having touching recollections and enjoying sharing this element once again.

Fathers

In my heart the performance was dedicated to my father, to my teachers’ fathers whom they had recently lost. I was going to announce this when I spoke to the audience but I had trepidation that I would wobble and lose my composure. Inside of myself, that was my dedication throughout our programme. I also nodded to my husband, our son’s father and his undying support and belief in what I do. Dragging ballet barres around, creating programmes, ferrying me and items around, filming performances, giving me a boost when I am low….leading me to thanks.

Thanks

Our dancers performed brilliantly on Sunday! Some had never set foot on a stage let alone memorised many minutes of intricate choreography and danced it to music with theatrical lighting beaming in their faces! Our technical rehearsal was a speed dating exercise in staging, placement, entrances and exits with a mere 4 mins per dance. Everyone rose to the challenge and remained calm and attentive and open to the professional guidance my incredible team of teachers provided gratis!

Volunteers arrived to help back stage and front of house and were eager, willing, ready and able and dealt with all sorts of chaotic situations, last minute needs, changes of plans, and even mishaps. Again, all done with aplomb, grace, and kindness.

Belief

Be true and follow a path that resonates within, no matter what the obstacles appear to be.

What special life moments I get to witness and to facilitate. Such gems! They keep me going and full of inspiration. Thank you

Donna Schoenherr- Founder & Director of Ballet4Life and Move into Wellbeing

www.ballet4life.com

www.moveintowellbeing.org.uk