Banks School of Scottish Dancing

We had our annual studio exams on last weekend. The children did beautifully well and I am very proud of them. Lynsey and Ashley did Silver Lesley, Greer, Cailin and Courtney-Eilish did Bronze (as did Ceilidh - ring in!) Brodie did Primary Assessment Aidan, Faith, Darcy and Connor did Pre-Primary Assessment One. Well done DANCERS!!!

Darcy has become 'resident photographer' of Banks School of Scottish Dancing! The 4 year old has been bringing out her little digital camera to lessons and she has actually been getting some great photos! Here are some!!

On the weekend we had Castle Hill Gathering. It was a great day - the weather was fantastic (amazing, usually it's stinking hot or raining!) Results as follows.... NOVICE Courtney Eilish - 1st Flora, 2nd Swords Greer - 3rd Swords Restricted Premier 14& U Cailin - 1st Barracks, 1st Scotch Measure Restricted Premier 15&O Kirstin Murray - 1st Blue Bonnets, 2nd Scotch Measure Special Swords 3rd Kirstin

There have been quite a few competitions in the past weeks that I haven't updated on here. My apologies. Please find results belwo YOUNG Kirstin - Premier 16,17,18 years National Title - 4th Laddie, 2nd Blue Bonnets, 3rd Village Maid - 2ND OVERALL Restricted Premier 16 & Over - Lilt 3rd, Flora 2nd, Earl of Erroll 2nd - 2nd OVERALL Cailin - Restricted Premier - 3rd Overall Courtney Eilish - TD Fling - 2nd, Swords - 2nd, Reel - 2nd, Lilt - 3rd, Flora - 4th Ashley - TD Fling - 6th, Reel -2nd, Lilt - 6th, FLora - 5th Greer - TD Fling 5th, Lilt- 5th, Flora - 6th Aidan - Pdbs - 8th, Pdbs and Hcuts - 5th Darcy - Pdbs - 7th 12th October - Newcastle Courtney Eilish Swords - 2nd, Reel - 3rd, Fling - 4th, Lilt - 4th Kirstin - Swords- 3rd, ST - 2nd, Blue Bonnets - 1st, Earl or Errol - 2nd, Hornpiple - 1st. National Premier Trophy 15& Ove r- 1st Restricted national Premier Trophy 16 & Over - 1st (ist jig, lilt, village maid) 18th OCTOBER - ACT Novice Aggregate - Courtney Eilish 1st

A few weeks ago Kirstin received the happy exciting news that she has been accepted in the Edinburgh Military Tattoo Ozscot Dance Team! Congratulations Kirstin! YOU WILL LOVE IT!!!

SDAA Saturday Results (Sunday - girls please send me your results!) Cailin - CHampionship points from 2 jugdes in the Fling - 5th in the Reel of Tulloch - 4th in the Swords - 4th in choreography Greer - 1st in Choreography Courtney - 1st in Seann Triubhas and Reel - 5th in Choreography Ashley - 2nd in Lilt - 6th in choreography Kirstin - 2nd Reel of Tulloch - 2nd Swords Aidan - 5th in Choreography Darcy - 4th in Choreography Ceilidh and Connor's choreography were choreographed by Casey so i shall put their results here too. Ceilidh - 3rd Connor - 3rd

This video is Darcy's first competition at Young. She is up with Aidan and Alicia from Goulburn & they are doing their Pas de Basques. I will be posting results from our big studio weekend away to Young soon. Just have to get them collated and will put them, and the photos up on the website.

Book a Table, gather your Friends, assemble your Supper Basket — and plan to join us from 7 pm for a 7:30 start. In Cox’s Rd, just follow the skirl of the pipes. BYO food and drink — we’ll provide the live dance music, the dance caller and the entertainment. And we’ll also throw in the tea and coffee and games and prizes, including Lucky Door and Spot prizes and a Table Decoration competition. This year, featuring appearances by a Chris Duncan and Catherine & Jennifer Strutt a MC & Dance Caller Anthony Simon a The Sydney Scottish Fiddlers a The Cèilidh Collective a The Australian Gaelic Singers a Tickets $15 — Kids 12 & under Free — Seating in Tables of 8 Enquire or book with Judy Scott on 9498 8209 or 0411 123 668. For more details, visit us at www.gaelicsingers.org.au North Ryde School of Arts — 201 Cox’s Rd, North Ryde Saturday October 4 from 7 pm

Students from my school, plus my own children got to be on National TV yesterday morning - bright and early! lol! It was the TODAY SHOWs live weather cross, and it was all about The Children's Festival at Bankstown today. I've a few dancers dancing today, but here is a wee video from the TV of yesterday. Sorry about the quality. It's me videoing from my phone - onto the broadcast off the tv!! :)

Each year the children dance at Linnwood House. It is a historic house set up as a museum. It relies on donations and volunteers to keep it going. There is no government help to pay the rates or repairs etc. There were very few people there today as it rained this morning and I think it scared the visitors away. There were a few stalls selling crafty, cottage type goods. The dancing was lovely and the kids were glad to perform even for such a small audience. The spectators were mostly old ladies who had nothing but nice things to say to the kids. Ceilidh (in pink) Casey (in the white top) Brodie, Connor and Greer (in that order) Brodie doing the swords, Darcy and Aidan ready for their Pas de Basques and everybody on the balls of their feet for the fling (Lesley, Greer, Connor, Brodie, Ceilidh, Ashleigh, Aidan and Darcy in the front.

Term 3 will finish on Wednesday 24th September. Term 4 will recommence on Monday 13th October.

On winning the Novice POint Score at Penrith Eisteddfod today!!! Plus the Most Promising Dancer for Pre-Premier!! Well done!!!

I just found a wonderful site for those 'grown ups' who have always wanted to dance, and who love to dance. http://www.everydaydancers.com/ It's about a person in the US who has made a documentary about adult dancers commencing ballet. The trailer is just lovely. I would love to see the dvd and am considering purchasing it. I know that the adult dancers in my 'wifeys' class really enjoy their lessons. They laugh and have a joke, but work so hard each lesson at each dance we are doing. We've now been going for about 3 years and they know Fling, Swords, ST, ROT, Lilt, Flora, VM and Barracks. A brilliant effort dont you think!!

Please find below thumbnails from The Internationals at Gosford in July. These photos , plus many more, are available for purchase from www.turtleblue.com.au Congratulations to Kirstin, Brodie, Courtney, Greer, Ashley, Aidan, Cailin on a great effort that weekend