During my first year at being homeschooled, Janice Holst hosted a demonstration for Juneau CyberLynx students, attended by parent advisor, Kathleen Vander Zwagg from Delta Junction. We demonstrated how we exercise at the barre and performed some of our dance routines.
Amanda Endicott, Kayla Brandner, myself, Aszli Skrzynski and Kayla Parker
greet Kathy Vander Zwagg, standing with our instructor, Janice Holst.
After summer break, my dancemates and I were eager to get back "on toe", which required strengthening our bodies to be able to support ourselves. Mrs. Holst set aside special class time for us to do this. Each of us had hopes of being able to be strong enough to dance on pointe in the Grumpsicle show which was scheduled for late December.
The music chosen for my pointe
solo
was "Poor People of Paris",
and I was
to be a girl selling flowers
on the street.
I learned and
practiced the routine,
but my
costume didn't come in time!
Mrs. Holst saved the day
by finding
a pretty costume
in storage at the last minute,
and I was able to do my dance
as "Fifi the flower girl".
It was a little scary at first
since I had never been before an audience
on stage in toe shoes, and I had
several quick turns to do in the routine;
but all went well, and the experience
has given me more confidence.
There were four girls including myself
who were able to dance on pointe in the show.
My boyfriend, Robbie, and I
after the show. (Robbie is clowning
by standing on his toes)
Of course the Grumpsicle show was the highlight of the semester that year. The theme was "It's a Small World", and countries "visited" in the show were Russia, Mexico, Spain, USA (New York and Texas), the Orient, France, and Africa.
My group and I at dress rehearsal for our New York tap number,
"Give My Regards to Broadway". (Can you find me? I'm in the center.)
Can you tell how I feel about performing?
During Mrs. Holst's famous "snowflake ballet" (a large number using several age groups of girls whose white costumes are different in each age group), my group did eight fouettes in a row in our portion of the dance. Below are pictures of a version of this ballet taken during a St. Patrick's Day performance at the Pioneer's Home.
Showing fouettes (I am at right front)
The final pose
Click here to see fouettes in action. (I am at right front.)
The show drew that semester to a satisfying close.
Last update of this page: July 2005
