Studio Success

2023

The Year That Was…

THE YEAR THAT WAS....

JANUARY

Congratulations to our current students who furthered their

potential at prestigious training institutions during 2023
• Demi Minns - trained at the Australian Ballet School Summer School, Australian Ballet School (Interstate Training Program), Queensland

Ballet Guest Academy Program
• Eva Bishop - trained at Prima Youth Classical Academy (Intrastate

Affiliate Program), Queensland Ballet Guest Academy Program
• Ruby Meares - trained at the Australian Ballet School (Interstate Training Program), Queensland Ballet Guest Academy Program
• Misty Halls trained at the Australian Ballet School (Interstate

Thank you to our guest teachers/choreographers throughout the year -

Training Program), Classical Coaching Australia Summer School, BCYB Workshop, Prima Youth Classical Academy (Intrastate Affiliate Program), Sunshine Coast Conservatory of Dance Excellence Academy (Guest Affiliate Program) Amanda Bollinger, Marie Walton-Mahon, Lisa Bolte, Queensland Ballet Choreographers Workshop, Melbourne Academy of the Arts.

• Charlotte O’Brien, Lejla Bobongie-Harris, Shiloh Sunnerdale - trained at Prima Youth Classical Academy (Intrastate Affiliate Program)

• Summer Davis, Sylvie Martin, Amelie Le Coz, Ella Richards & Charlotte O’Brien attended Dance Blast Summer School in Mackay. Charlotte received the Encouragement Award in Snr Contemporary

• Strength Defined by Ms Kiara was introduced and provided dancers the opportunity to take their training and performance to the next level

• Coaching with Mrs D provided our ballet dancers the opportunity to pre learn their RAD Ballet Examination Syllabus

• Australia’s first ever Accelerate Mini Acro Dance Convention. Sophie Vella, Adysen Ruddick, Reese Morgan, Ainsley Barber, Eva Bishop, Madeline Thompson, Lejla Bobongie-Harris, Zoe Graumann & Molly Burns were lucky enough to learn from top industry professionals in the areas of tumbling, acro dance and contortion.

• Madeline Thompson & Shiloh Sunnerdale performed in “Cinderella” for Brisbane City Youth Ballet (Brisbane) along side past students Lila and Emily McGrath

• Verve Dance Festival (Ayr) Special Congratulations to:
Charlotte O’Brien - Most Outstanding Dancer 15-16 Yrs/Showcase Qualifier 2024
Bella McClarty - Showcase Qualifier 2024
Demi Minns - Most Outstanding Dancer 13-14 Yrs/ Teen Champion of the Year Solo
Ainsley Barber - Most Promising Dancer 13-14 Yrs
Ruby Pidgeon - Most Outstanding Performer 11-12 Yrs/Dawn Meyer’s Memorial Award for Tap 12 Yrs & U/Most Outstanding Choreography for Own Choreography 11-12 Yrs/Intermediate Champion of the Year Solo 11-12 Yrs

• Open Day at Studio 53 for all our new LP Dancers

• January 30th TERM 1 COMMENCED

FEBRUARY
- Misty Halls attended Shannon Atkins (American Dance Coach)

Workshop, Townsville
- Chloe Beck invited to attend a week at Queensland Ballet Academy

Brisbane on scholarship

• Amity Matthews competed very successfully at Showcase on the Gold Coast

MARCH
• COMDANCE Workshop with Maria Higgins, Janine Tirant & Sandra

Breen fine tuning the Jazz and Tap syllabus for upcoming

examinations
• Get the Beat (Mackay) Special Congratulations to:

Demi Minns - Overall Grand Champion/Age Champion Teen Division/Miss Teen GTB/Dream Team Cast/Teen Aggregate Winner Mackenzie Wotherspoon - Best in Style for Tap/Runner up Age Champion Senior Division

Ruby Meares - Junior Aggregate Winner Olivia Meares - Petite Champion
Miles Maxey - Mr Mini GTB

• Demi Minns, Eva Bishop, Ruby Meares & Misty Halls competed in the prestigious JMA AWARDS (Brisbane). It was wonderful watching the girls perform alongside the most talented ballet dancers in Queensland

• Kiara Adjudicated Gladstone Dance Festival and held a Broadway Dance Workshop

APRIL

• LP Dancers competed at Townsville Dance Festival, Sunshine Coast Eisteddfod, Bundaberg Festival of Dance & Reach Dance Competition. Special Congratulations to:
Demi Minns - Tap Champion & Entertainment Champion (Bundaberg)

• Congratulations to our beautiful LP dancers for their wonderful performances in RB Corp’s Production of Majors & Minors
• RAD Classical Ballet Students attended Mackay Autumn Intensive conducted by RAD Examiners/Tutors Debra Whitten & Jan Mills. Mrs D also gave our Grade Students more guidance and nurturing for their examinations
• LP COMDANCE WORKSHOP

• MAY
• Aerial Hoop Training was introduced to LP, not only to learn new skills, but to provide strength and flexibility training. This form of acro has been a huge hit with the dancers
• Mackay Dance Festival - Special Congratulations to:
  Rori Paganoni - 14 Yrs & Over Most Promising/Most Outstanding Choreography (Snr)
  Bodhi Rowe-Bailey - Dance Tech Scholarship
  Mackenzie Wotherspoon - BPAC Scholarship
  Demi Minns - 13 Yrs Most Promising/Int Highest Scoring Performance
  Madelyn Shepherd - 13 Yrs Encouragement
  Eva Bishop - 12 Yrs Most Promising
  Ainsley Barber - 12 Yrs Encouragement
  Ella Richards - Conroy Dance Centre Scholarship
  Claire Youman - BPAC Scholarship
  Ruby Pidgeon - 11 Yrs Most Outstanding
  Lejla Bobongie-Harris - 9 Yrs Encouragement
  Shiloh Sunnerdale - 8 Yrs Most Outstanding
• Rockhampton & Burdekin Eisteddfod - Special Congratulations to: Demi Minns - Most Outstanding Dancer in Classical, Tap, Jazz & National Solos/Most Outstanding Tap Dancer/Highest Marks in any Tap Solo/Aggregate Classical, National, Demi Character 13-14 Yrs/Senior Aggregate Classical, Demi Character, Waltz Tap & Jazz Solos/Senior Aggregate for Tap, Waltz Tap & Speed Tap (Rockhampton)

Rori Paganoni - Snr Modern Champion/Snr Tap Champion/Rockell Williamson Award for Classical, Demi, National (Burdekin)

• Our dancers sat their CSTD Tap, Modern Jazz, Contemporary and Music Theatre Examinations gaining the best results to date, 8 very full days and 225 exams later. Congratulations to our Teaching Examination successful candidates, Jacaranda Rowe-Bailey (Music Theatre & Tap), Rori Paganoni (Modern Jazz & Contemporary), Bronte Vella (Contemporary), Mia Jackson (Modern Jazz) & Estella
• Martin (Modern Jazz)

JUNE
• Our very talented and skilled choreographers, Ms Taylor Hey & Ms Lauren Seymour visited us for a week to choreograph 5 amazing groups and numerous solos. These professional routines produced the highest awards and placings at competitions/eisteddfods throughout the year

• Phoenix Dance Festival Melbourne & Emerald Eisteddfod - Special Congratulations to:
Annie Stanton - Tap Champion/Overall Age Champion (Phoenix) Amity Matthews - Choreographic Award/Ministry of Dance Scholarship/ 14 Yrs Champion (Emerald)

• Ms Midori Lotz (Brisbane) held a specialised RAD Ballet workshop
• A huge Congratulations to our dancers for their amazing results at the prestigious Brisbane Performing Arts Scholarships (BPAC, Brisbane) - Rori Paganoni (Finalist Snr Tap), Bodhi Rowe-Bailey (Finalist Snr Jazz), Ruby Meares & Misty Halls (Pre Int Ballet)
  • Vicky Bobeldyk held workshop for Junior & Senior Music Theatre

Groups

• Ms Kiara adjudicated FNQ Tropical Dance Festival
• Outstanding Acrobatic Arts Examination Session for our dancers
• Claudia Dean Workshop was enjoyed by many of the LP Dancers
• Misty Halls performed beautifully at the ABS Scholarship
• (Melbourne)
• Charlotte O’Brien & Reese Morgan performed in RB Corp’s Production (Brisbane)

JULY
• Ms Kiara Adjudicated in Wollongong
• Reach Dance Competition (Proserpine), Everybody Sing & Dance Now (Brisbane), Future Stars Dance Competition (Brisbane), Get The Beat State Championships (Sunshine Coast), Darling Downs

Eisteddfod - Special Congratulations to: Mackenzie Wotherspoon - Ultimate Dancer all ages/Winner of all solos (Reach Dance Competition)

Annie Stanton - Most Promising Lyrical Dancer Amity Matthews - Miss GTB/CQ Championship Qualifier (GTB)
• Final Intensive RAD Vocational Graded and Graded Workshop in Mackay conducted by Ms Nicole Galea and Ms Denise Hadley and Jan Mills

• RAD Classical Ballet Examinations - Congratulations to our Vocational and Grade exam students for their brilliant results. The dancers gained 6 High Distinctions, 44 Distinctions, 31 High Merits & 4 Merits. Special Congratulations to Bodhi Rowe-Bailey, Kiara Catterall and Evelyn O'Brien for successfully gaining the Advanced II Examination Certificate. Examiner Ms Julie-Ann Kerr
Pre Eisteddfod Vocal Concert conducted by Ms Caitlyn Schurmann

AUGUST

Congratulations to Ms Kiara and Charles on their Fairy Tale Wedding. Truly an amazing day for an amazing couple
• Congratulations to our beautiful LP Finalists in the RAD Shirley Treacy Awards - Madeline Thompson, Lejla Bobongie-Harris, Eva Bishop, Ruby Meares, Bodhi Rowe-Bailey, Ella Crowe and Demi Minns
• Congratulations to our LP Vocal Students (Madelyn Shepherd,

Annabelle Erickson, Nash Paganoni, Elena Paskins, Olivia Meares, Izebella Bosch, Adele Shepherd, Emmy Barber, Monique Shepherd, Kalli Lincoln, Kiara Knowles, Zoe Ruddick, Ruby Pidgeon, Ainsley Barber, Ruby Meares, Gabriella Ruggeri, Ella Richards) on their brilliant performances and results at the Mackay Eisteddfod. Huge thank you to our amazing vocal teachers, Ms Caitlyn Schurmann and Ms Colleen Stewart.

- Special Congratulations to Madelyn Shepherd who was awarded the SCOPE CLUB TROPHY for the Most Deserving of Encouragement 13 Yrs & Over

- Misty Halls was chosen to perform in the Ballet International Gala in Brisbane. She shared the stage with an incredible line up of world famous dancers and also attended a Masterclass with Melissa Hamilton, soloist with the Royal Ballet Company.

• Evolution (Townsville), Biloela & Charters Towers Eisteddfod - Special Congratulations to:
Bodhi Rowe-Bailey - Spirit of the Festival Award (Charters Towers) Rori Paganoni - Maff Family Award for Tap Soloist 13 Yrs & Over (Charters Towers)

Amity Matthews - Excellence in Acro Award (Biloela) • Eisteddfod Rehearsals in full swing

SEPTEMBER
• Ms Taylor’s Magical Wedding in Townsville
• Shirley Treacy Awards Finals - Congratulations and a wonderful

achievement for:
Demi Minns - Runner up Adv F, Adv I & Adv II Ruby Meares - Runner-Up Int F & Int

• Gladstone Eisteddfod (Gladstone) - Special Congratulations to: Bodhi - Rowe-Bailey - Snr Modern Aggregate, Snr Tap Aggregate, Highest Points Classical, Tap, Modern Improvisations 13-18 Yrs, Highest Points Classical, Jazz & Tap Solos 13-18 yrs, Snr Modern Championship Runner Up, Snr Tap Championship Runner Up Adysen Ruddick - Tap Aggregate 13-14 Yrs

Demi Minns - Gladstone Bursary for Most Outstanding Non Local Competitor, Modern Aggregate 13-14 Yrs, Highest Points Hip Hop, Cabaret & Song & Dance Solos, Int Classical Ballet Champion, Int Tap Championship Runner -Up

Ainsley Barber - Int Classical Ballet Championship Runner Up Ruby Pidgeon - Modern Aggregate 11 & 12 Yrs, Tap Aggregate 11 & 12 Yrs, Highest Points Classical, Tap & Modern Improvisations 11 & 12 Yrs, Junior Tap Champion, Junior Modern Championship Runner UpRuby Meares - Encouragement Award 12 Yrs & Under Shiloh Sunnerdale - Classical Ballet Aggregate 7 & 8 Yrs Olivia Meares - Modern Aggregate 7 & 8 Yrs

OCTOBER

Mackay Eisteddfod - LP Dancers enjoyed the best results ever! 64 First Places, 9 Group First Places/9 Group Second Places/3 Group Third Places, 6 Championships and 14 Major Dance Awards including MOST ENTERTAINING JUNIOR GROUP (12 Yrs Tap Group) and MOST OUTSTANDING JUNIOR GROUP (12 Yrs Classical Ballet Group)

Special Congratulations to:
Rori Paganoni - Snr Tap Aggregate/Jan O’Shea Memorial Trophy for Most Outstanding Tap Solo 18 Yrs & Under/Most Outstanding Performer/Snr Tap Champion/3rd Snr Modern Championship Mackenzie Wotherspoon - Lynette Denny A.M.Bursary for Most Promise as a Performer 18 Yrs & Under/Senior Modern Champion Bodhi Rowe-Bailey - Runner Up Snr Tap Championship/3rd Snr Classical Ballet Championship Charlotte O’Brien - Intermediate Classical Ballet Champion/3rd Intermediate Modern Championship Amity Matthews - Intermediate Modern Aggregate/Glen Rhule Trophy for Most Outstanding Modern Solo 18 Yrs & Under/Runner Up Int Modern Championship/Runner Up Int Tap Championship Ella Crowe - 3rd Int Classical Ballet Championship
Demi Minns - Int Classical Ballet Aggregate/Int Modern Champion/HC Int Classical Ballet Championship Ainsley Barber - Kevin Andersen Memorial Trophy for Most Points in any seven (7) sections/ Junior Classical Ballet Aggregate/HC Junior Classical Ballet Championship/HC Junior Modern Championship Eva Bishop - Junior Modern Champion/Runner-Up Junior Tap Championship/HC Junior Classical Ballet Championship Ella Richards - 3rd Junior Tap Championship Ruby Meares - Junior Modern Aggregate/Most Outstanding Classical Ballet Solo Performance 11 Yrs & Under/Runner-Up Junior Classical Ballet Championship/HC Junior Modern Championship Ruby Pidgeon - Junior Tap Aggregate/Junior Tap Champion/3rd Junior Modern Championship

NOVEMBER

Evolution Dance Competition (Yeppoon)

Our incredible LP Vocal, Acro, Aerial Arts, Musical Theatre & Hip Hop students performed in our 2023 concert at the CQCM TAKE A BOW

DECEMBER

Congratulations to our 2023 LP Graduates - Rori Paganoni, Mia Haack, Bronte Vella, Estella Martin & Jacaranda Rowe-Bailey. Thank you for the wonderful memories we have made together, thank you for your loyalty, thank you for being amazing role models, thank you for your friendship. We are excited for your future, and look forward to watching you grow in to the most successful and amazing young adults. We will miss you dearly x