November 14, 2012
Jacarandas in bloom always mean end-of-year exams in Queensland. And in the South Burnett, they also mean end-of-year concerts for the region’s dance schools.
Murgon dance fans were treated to a special matinee performance of the Susan Dowdle School of Dance’s annual concert last Sunday afternoon.
The matinee allowed students to work off performance jitters in front of a large crowd – and they did so with a remarkable grace that the audience rewarded with waves of applause.
If you missed it, though, don’t despair!
The students were just warming up for this Saturday’s gala evening performance at Murgon Town Hall before dance classes wind down for the summer vacation.
The school was established by professional dance teacher Susan Mollenhauer (nee Dowdle) 12 years ago.
Susan – or Miss Susan, as she’s known to her students – lovingly guides her charges through four terms every year in preparation for the end-of-year concert, assisted by seven other dance teachers.
The teachers also help prepare students who want to pursue dance professionally to prepare for Royal Academy Of Dance and Commonwealth Society of Teachers of Dancing exams.
Since 2000, the school has trained hundreds of young South Burnett dancers in classical, tap, hip hop and jazz.
Several graduates have gone to become professional dancers and dance teachers themselves.
But Susan says the real joy of teaching is that for most of her students, dance is simply a fun way to exercise and gain increased confidence, poise and grace, fitness and flexibility while they learn how to work as part of a team.
It’s an infectiously positive view, and probably the major reason why the school’s annual concerts have grown to become a high point of Murgon’s cultural calendar: a riot of colourful costumes and a genuine enthusiasm for dance that rarely fails to entertain and enthrall.
This Saturday night, Murgon Town Hall’s doors will open at 6:30pm and the final concert of the year will start at 7:00pm.
Tickets are $12 for adults and secondary students and $7 for primary school students (pre-schoolers are free).
They’ll be available at the door.
