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HUFF 'N PUFF 2009 DANCE RECITAL
One of Our Best Recitals!!!!!
Saturday night, June 13, at 6:00, Huff 'n Puff presented "Let's Dance" - its 2009 Recital which featured 200 performers including students from the recreational and competitive departments and five of its instructors. The recital (about our 28th) was held for the sixth year at Robinson Music Hall Auditorium in Little Rock, before a large and enthusiastic audience of parents, grandparents, relatives and friends.
The dancers from the recreational program ranged in age from three to adult. The program featured performances by the youngest Huff 'n Puff students from the Tap 'n Tumbling Classes. As usual, these young dancers were the highlight of the entire recital. The dancers from all the classes danced as if they were veterans at performing at Robinson with it's large stage, spotlights and great sound system.
The Huff 'n Puff competitive dancers known as Jacksonville Dance Company performed the dances that they have competed in the four competitions that they have attended this season, and which they will perform in early July at the Talent on Parade National Competition in Branson, Missouri. They performed their numbers with utmost energy, as if they were competing at nationals!!!
The different genre of dance performed by the dancers in the program -- ballet, tap, jazz, hiphop, lyrical, modern, and musical theater -- provided a variety in the program, and the audience showed a level of appreciation for all dances, that was gratefully received by the performers, young and a little older than "young."
The program also featured solo, duet and trio performances by dancers from the Jacksonville Dance Company, as well as performances by some of the instructors who performed duets or with their adult dance groups. JDC solo dances performed were modern, lyrical, tap, and hiphop; a duet in musical theater; and a trio in lyrical.
An annual appearance by the Jacksonville Gymnastics Team Optional gymnasts is always received enthusiastically. The gymnasts performed difficult feats on stage such as their back handsprings and tucks, and even full twists and the hold-your-breath basket toss by two of the gymnasts. The gymnasts are tossed about 12-15 feet into the air and caught by the staff members. It almost makes one's tummy flop when they perform these feats.
It's really difficult to be humble when you are watching the recital of the business that you started 30 years ago this July, and your daughter now runs the business with the help of the staff members who are like family, and all of us have kids and grandkids in the program. You just can't help but be proud to see what a wonderful performance it was Saturday night.
It's difficult to adequately express how much we appreciate all of you and your support of our business and your children. I was so moved to see how many of the children were there for the curtain call (especially the youngest dancers) and to look around and see how many grandparents who came to see "their" performers. It was also emotional as we watched with pride their performances and to then see them receive their awards for years of dancing in the recitals. It is such a great feeling also to see Ms. Kim (and Ms. Jennifer) and Ms. Lois and Ms. Lindsey (who have all been taught by Ms. Laurel and to see how much they have contributed along with the other wonderful instructors to the success of the HnP dance program and recital.
It was also emotional for me to see my granddaughter dance her first solo (which happened to be in modern dance). She was taught by Ms. Lois, and it is fun to see the art of dance being passed down through the generations. It was also very emotional to honor Ms. Kim Holladay (who has been with Huff 'n Puff for eighteen years,) who was also taught for many years by Laurel, and who then taught so many, many students over the years, along with her twin sister Jennifer (who also taught for us for so many years.) Both young ladies are furthering their teaching careers and love of children by working on their master's degrees while teaching full-time in the Jacksonville and Sherwood school systems. We will miss them, but they will always be close by and be a large part of our family.
I realize that I have really gotten mushy in this article - but that's one of the benefits of being the webmaster! Recitals and State Gymnastics Meets (or Regional Competition or Western National Competition) - these are the times that mark your year's progress (or years and years of progress) and are the times that make all of us proud of your children.
Shown below are two photos from the Curtain Call of the Huff 'n Puff 2009 Dance Recital - "Let's Dance." The instructors were off to the side at the front curtain but there were a few more than 200 dancers and instructors on the stage at Robinson Auditorium.
Photos by Sheryl during Curtain Call - Recital
The 2008-2009 Huff 'n Puff and JDC Dance Staff
Back row from left to right are April Kiser, Emily Moler Neal, Laurel Spears, Lindsey Sweet and Lois Bryan. Front row, left to right are Kim Holladay, Michelle McGowan and Sara Rettstatt. What a talented group of instructors!!!!
Ms. Laurel, Ms. Kim and Ms. Jennifer - I guess Laurel would be the second generation and Kim and Jennifer would be our third generation (eighteen years of being members of the Huff 'n Puff family.)
L e t’ s D a n c e
A c t o n e
“Get Me Bodied”
Alexandria Adams, Amber Bajorek, Kaitlynn Coleman, Jessica Holeman, Briyana Isaac, Kira Jinkins, Hannah Moler, Micah Perry, Bailey Jo Rhodes, Kassie Shepard, Kaitlin Soderlund, Carol Walters, Stephanie York and Ryann Young
“Purple People Eater”
Kylie Belew, Emily Grimm, Bionca Johnson, Sophia Johnston,
Kayleigh Langston, Myla McGhee and Delainie Schulz
“When I Grow Up”
Regan Campbell, Abbye Cody, Alexandria Pettus, Tegan Rea, Emily Snell, Mattie Taylor
and Katie Turner
“The Garden”
Photo by Grandma Sheryl before Recital
Tori Spears
“The Twist”
Jordyn Davis, Aniah Drummond, Olivia Folle, Danielle Johnson, Kaitlyn Johnson, Mikayla Smith,
Coralyn Taylor, Brodi Wright and Caroline Zahler
“Material Girl”
Madison Baugh, Morgan Blanchard, Sierra Hurley, Shelby Haver, Kylie Jones, Hannah McConnell,
Lauren Miller, Keia’ra Smith, Emily Sundermeier, Carson White and Caragen Williams
“In My Arms”
Alexandria Adams, Amber Bajorek, Jessica Gardner, Christina Hensley, Amanda Hicks, Jessica Holeman, Kira Jinkins, Julia Johnson, Bailea Jones, Micah Perry, Niki Rodgers, Madi Spears and Tori Spears
“Bojangles”
Photo by Sheryl at Nationals, Branson, Missori
Alana Whatley
“Michael Jackson Mix”
Anna Haver, Betty Jones, Sara Rettstatt and Kimberly Holladay
“Just a Dream”
Olivia Hodson, Katelin McLain, Jenna Mecca and Lynzie Van Brocklin
Photo by Sheryl at Dress Rehearsal
(Taken at Rehearsal)
Click Here for Photos of Second Half, Act I
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HAVE A WONDERFUL SUMMER WITH US AT HUFF ‘N PUFF
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