Our little Star...

Its been a while since I wrote a post.
We have been so busy with end of year things, Ballet concerts rehearsals.
Our business has been keeping Dermot busy, so a lot of the house and yard work has fallen back onto me. Thats how marriage works.
Last weekend Brid danced in her end of year concert for her local Dance school.
We discussed the night before amongst ourselves, when we would have to leave, how long it would take for make up and hair to be done. It made for a smooth transition.
So after a nice sleep in, we got into action. We needed 1 hour to drive to the venue. 1 hour to do hair and makeup, so that we were not rushed.
So after showers and having Brids' costumes and assessories at the door, we went to work with putting her hair in a nice full bun, with the sides of her hair twisted back into the bun. We always part her hair on the side, so her hairline looks softer around her face. The twists just add something different and a little interest to her hairline.

our stage makeup

Then its stage makeup. We have learnt over the years to apply liquid andt hen powdered foundation in matt, not gloss. We also adapt our colours to Brids' skin type. She is rather fair, so there is no point putting red lipstick on her lips, or a harsh blush on her cheekline. It just looks terrible. I use a mixture of a pink and a brown, and it really sets her eyes off.

note the twist in her hair and the eyeliner under her eyes
 

This year we experimented with eye makeup. We used browns with white as the base and brown in the crease, smoothed over with a lighter brown. We use a liquid eyeliner on the eyelid and a pencil eyeliner about 1 mm underneath the eye. It makes her eyes stand out and there is no tears with applying eyeliners like in previous years.
We learnt a trick with mascara, Using a plastic teaspoon as a guide, you apply the mascara and the teaspoon is painted as instead of droping onto her face.
So that all done we were ready to grab drink bottles and food for backstage, her costumes and of we went.

Her classical Ballet costume
 

An hours drive took us to the venue and arrived in plenty of time for Brid to settle in and get her costumes ready.
She was beautiful and we couldn't have more proud of her.
Mum Dad Dermot And myself sat in the audience waiting for Brids dances. It was lovely. All those weeks of practice, all those classes at her new ballet school made all the difference. Brid you just Shone...like a star. Our star..

One focused girl

Its been like a flash and the term in half over..Where did it go..??
Brid is amazingly focused on her school subjects.
She knows exactly what needs doing and just gets on with it..
It does help that her life is full with BALLET..
She dances 4 days a week..She loves it..
Over the last few weeks the entire Ballet school has been preparing for there Exams-both practical and theory..
Brids teachers are extremely proud of her and as Mr Rider said last Friday. "My work is complete, I can do no more, she will be fine", he says this in his Orlando accent. He is rather cheeky and very fair with the students. His Wife Miss Kristy is adorable and is the most beautiful dancer I have met, so soft and gentle in her tone as well.

This weekend just gone the Students were examined. Each level one at a time.
We got positive feedback straight away. And why you ask..Miss Kristys' mum was in charge of the music..She got to see each student perform there routines.
The examiner liked Brid and we were told she danced beautifully.

So now to begin work on her next grade and prepare for the end of year concert...

THE NUTCRACKER ACT II

I somehow believe that Brid is so focused because she is rather happy in her chosen world of Ballet. She can express herself extend herself.

This week

As most of you have read, Brid has been away at a ballet Summer school. Its been a big week. Driving backward and forward, dropping off and picking up.
Long days away from each other, all of us. But its coming to a close.
Brid has been able to gain so much knowledge from these fantastic International Dancers. She has had a wonderful experience and one she will look back on with fondness for a long time.
I have managed to find a lovely little church close by to drop into, on the way home from the morning drop off. That has been very special..
I have at times felt like a school mum, doing the car run to and from school.
I thought it would be a tiring week, for us, but we have paced ourselves really well, and its been easier than I thought. Our hosts have been fantastic. Easy and relaxing.
I have been offering our day to God every day. He has been very good to us this week.
Today we are in for a treat. Darcy Bussell, will be at the school for a class this afternoon.
Dermot has had a huge week at work, and has finally been able to get away and spend the last days with us.
Tomorrow is the Celebration of the work achieved through the week. I am looking forward to watching Brid. Our hosts are coming into see her as well.

So all the effort has been worth it.
Will Brid want to return next year....I guess you will need to ask her...But I am sure you will know her response
  

Its all about Ballet

This week Brid has been fortunate enough to attend the International Summer School- for Ballet. A dear friend invited her along, and after a few weeks of deliberation, the decision was made. Yes we would go.
Firstly where to stay, easy !!!!. We stayed with our dear friends in Sydney,  Jen and Phil.
So we arrived Sunday evening to share a meal and Sunday evening Mass with our dear Friends.
After a restless nights sleep, we drove to the venue- Mcdonald college, North Strathfield. We needed a little help from the gps and the google maps to get us there.
We arrived, Brid was terribly excited and was itching to dance and meet new friends. She just took the whole experience in. I picked her up late that afternoon, and apart from telling me about her awesome male Jazz teacher, she told me about a couple of girls she met in class.
I was delighted that she could just adapt and chat to new people so easily.

2005.

Today, is Tuesday, and apart from knowing which state these girls live in, she was continuing to connect. She is loving every class and is saying its the highlight so far of  Ballet since she began many years ago .
Brid was adviced last year by the college, on our enrollment, to continue her stretches. This certainly has been beneficial to her, with the long days dancing various disciplines of dance. Classical, Jazz, contemporary, character ......
Apart from the tiredness, her muscles have not terribly sore. She is however, ravenous on the 35 minute car ride home though. Thank goodness, I have had a little snack to give her.

2011

So she is still full of beans and loving every minute of her experience.

So what am I doing on these days. Well they are long days for me, but I spent many hours in St Marys cathedral, Sydney on Monday, Coffee and shopping with a dear friend. Washing Ballet clothes and pacing ourselves as far as sleep is concerned. This is part of my job this week as well.
Our hosts are looking after us so very well and I am really trying to help out in return for there gracious generosity.

2011.

On Friday, Dermot will return- (He drove down with us, stayed overnight, but called back with a work issue)-  to see a wonderful Ballet dancer and to see Brid and Chantelle dance in there classes Saturday....