It’s been a wonderful first year back at Song and Dance Studios.
As we started to repaint the dancefloors, it led us to talk about all the changes of the last year, from pods of six to two metres to groups of fourteen kids and one teacher.
Every time more repainting of the floors. We even painted the blue crosses in the yard for outdoor classes.
We started with Outdoor classes last September, it was a couple of weeks before we were finally allowed to move back indoors, back into the Studios. So much excitement, so much cleaning and preparation.
We remember very clearly the deluge emotions when we were able to have people back in the building for the first time, a mixture of excitement, joy and honestly, a lot of trepidation. Masks and hand sanitiser as far as the eye could see.
But it was great to be back doing what we love.
Our senior dance class prepared two routines for the Perform conference in The R.D.S in November – our first time on a stage since the beginning of the pandemic! The day at the R.D.S. was a fantastic success.
On 5th December, our wonderful Canbelto Women’s Choir were joined by Song and Dance Senior Choir for the annual lighting of the Christmas tree on the village green in Baldoyle. We preceded this earlier in the day with a visit to St. Patrick’s Nursing Home on Dublin Street to serenade the residents with an hour of Christmas songs and carols.
On the second Saturday of December we held a Christmas Jumper Day in aid of Focus Ireland. Through the amazing generosity of Song and Dance Kids and their families we raised €1418 for this fantastic charity.
The Sunday before Christmas brought Lucy’s Christmas show, by now a Song and Dance tradition. Two packed houses, albeit restricted numbers as per regulations, delighted to be out among other people.
In January, it became clear that we could do an end of year show in May, the excitement was amazing.
In March, thanks to an auntie of two of the Song and Dance kids, we were treated to free tickets to the musical, Bedknobs and Broomsticks at The Gaiety Theatre. Over two hundred of us attended and a wonderful time was had by all.
In April, on behalf of Song and Dance, we brought a donation of food and personal hygiene products to the local Ukrainian Aid charity.
Easter holidays were used to develop and rehearse two original musicals and two original plays for our two senior drama/ musical theatre classes.
On the May Bank Holiday Monday, we hosted Sailing the High C’s, Lucy’s opera show with her friend and mentor International soprano, Kathryn Smith.
At the start of May, we answered the call of the Baldoyle Tidy Towns committee and took the Song and Dance van to Roundwood Co. Wicklow to collect carved totem poles for the community garden and nature trail in Seagrange Park. Thanks Google Maps for a wonderful adventure!
The last week of week of May was entirely given over to SONG AND DANCE KIDS with a full week of performances. Each class performed two nights in our theatre, The Playhouse @SongandDance. The energy and sense of happiness in the building was off the charts!
Our final event was ‘Maytime Melodies’ – a joint concert by our adult choirs, Canbelto Women’s Choir and The Acapella Fellas in aid of The Alzeheimers Society of Ireland. Once again, we paid a visit to St Patrick’s Nursing Home beforehand to sing for the residents, who were delighted to welcome us in our finery and particularly pleased to see The Fellas in their Tuxedos.
As for the event itself, demand for tickets was so great that we had to put on a second show and the total raised for the charity was over €4,000.
A great end to another great year in Song and Dance.
We’re delighted to be back, but we’re not resting on our laurels. Preparations are well underway for summer camps – see you there!
Carol and Jimmy x
Song and Dance Studios, 27 College Street, Baldoyle, Dublin 13
