Back to school with a spring in my step
by Miss L Shaw on 20 April 2007
My Easter holiday started at the Waterfront Hall with our Rock Challenge Team. I was a little nervous about being at the Waterfront that Tuesday - let me explain why.
The Rock Challenge Team is a huge group of people; over one hundred girls supported by their parents; teaching and non-teaching staff; past pupils and friends. Motivated, inspired, instructed and cajoled by Miss Willis. The team had worked for months after school, on Saturdays and in their sleep to learn dance routines, make costumes and scenery, get a sound track and plan lighting.
Tuesday was “Show Night” and everyone was excited and nervous including Mrs Cruise and I, because we were on the Super Troupers. We took our responsibility VERY seriously we did not want to mess up. After all everyone on the team had worked hard and it would not be good if the spotlights were dancing on the audience instead of following the action on stage. On Tuesday we studied our lighting instructions from Emma Finlay very carefully and a technician at the Waterfront showed us how the spotlights worked.
Suddenly it went dark. One spotlight lit up the nanny and children, the music started and the stage erupted into a magnificent explosion of colour, sound and dance. Wow! It was fantastic. Eight minutes went by in a flash. It was over. The applause from the audience shook the small turret where I had been concentrating really hard to get it right on the night - just like everyone on stage and backstage. The audience loved the performance and so did the judges – Our Rock Challenge Team Won and they are preparing to compete in Grimsby at the end of May.
Mrs Cruise and I must have done OK with the Super Troupers because we are getting to go with the team to spotlight the action. That is something to put a spring in my step.
