Banks School of Scottish Dancing

Term starts Saturday 28th April and Concludes Saturday 30th June. Monday Beginners Class - 5 - 5.45pm Monday Competitive Pre-Prem Class 5.30 - 7pm Mondays Seniors Class 6.30 - 8.15pm Wednesday Championship Conditioning Class 7 - 8pm Wednesday Adults/Wifey Recreation and Choreography Class 8 - 9pm Saturday General Class - 10 - 11.15 Saturday Beginners Class 10.30 - 11.15

I was just browsing the Cowal website http://www.cowalgathering.com and was looking at their photos. I was amazed by this one of Morgan Bamford. Morgan is 14 and lives in NZ. She has been world champion & scottish champion every year she has gone to Cowal, and I think she's been going now since 1999! Yet in this photo of her, as the results were being called out, she is standing there, hands clasped and looking at her number. No matter HOW good you are, you still wonder if you were good enough on the day!! Here are some other shots which I loved. The 'champions fling' is the fling done on the stage at the end of the presentations. The world champion in the Juvenille (Morgan) Junior (David) and Adult (Erin) dance their fling and the whole stadium claps along. It is the most phenomenal experience, being in that audience. To be on the stage with them would be amazing!!!! Look at the turnout in these Toe and Heel movements!!!!! WOW!

Practising the Hornpipe Dance at Holiday Classes today!!

Congratulations my beautiful sister!!! Love You xoxoxo

......If you were ask someone if they would like to spend an evening sitting out of doors in a chilly wind and maybe rain as well, they would probably laugh at the obvious silliness of the question. If you were to add thati t would be to watch the Edinburgh Military Tattoo you would get quite a different answer!" That is SOOOOOO true!!! We have sat in those tiny wincy little seats in the pouring rain to watch the tattoo - and i would do it again (especially if my girls were in it!). There is NOTHING like being in the stands of the Edinburgh Tattoo. I reckon the only thing above it - would be out there dancing on the promenade!!

Hi Dancers and Mums!! Term 1 is almost over, just Monday and Wednesday classes this week to go and then the Easter Bunny will be here!! Term Two will commence Saturday 28th April (no Monday first day of school lesson and no Anzac day lesson) I will be having some holiday workshop classes, all dancers, big or small, are welcome to attend these classes. They will cost $10 each, just pay on the day. Tuesday 10th April 9.30 - 11.00am Friday 13th April 9.30 - 11.00am Monday 16th April 9.30 - 11.00am Wednesday 18th April 7 - 8.30pm Friday 20th April 9.30 - 11.00am Bring your skipping ropes and joggers to the holiday classes, we are going to do some conditioning work as well as our highland!!!! For those dancers attending Campbelltown Competition and SDA Championships in May, please try to make some of these holiday classes to keep your standard improving. JOURNALS These journals are really proving a positive tool in helping the students keep track of their progress and goals. If you don’t kn...

I had 3 dancers compete at Bathurst Games last weekend. And Ceilidh went as well (but she's only mine by blood not by tuition! LOL) All 4 girls did very well. It was only Catherine's 2nd Dancing Competition! She came home with some 1sts, 2nds and 3rds! Sarah won everything except the Hornpipe, in which she got 2nd and the Jig, in which she got NUFFIN! (What DID you do in the Jig Sarah??? lol) Miss Brodie Rosa did her fling for the very first time in a competition! She made no mistakes ALL DAY LONG and she got 3rd in all her dances!! Ceilidh Jo got 2 3rds in her beginners section, one in the Seann Truibhas and one in the Lilt. Here are some shots from the day.... CATHERINE IN HER SWORDS - THATS WHY SHE IS LOOKING DOWN!! AWESOME PHOTO OF SARAH!! THE 3 BANKSIES! BRODIES WINNINGS ON THE DAY!! (AND CATHERINE ON STAGE IN THE BACKGROUND!) THE REAL BANKSIE! IN THE NEW KILT FOR THE FIRST TIME!

I received an email from a friend in Qld letting us know how her son is going in Scotland. Craig is living over there this year. Here is her email... Hi all, just a short update on how Craig is going in Scotland. I am really happy to advise that he won the UK Championship Sunday night (pics attached). We were really delighted about that as you can imagine especiallyas he gained 3rd place in the Central Scotland Championship the week before.. Craig's Dad and I are realllllllly pleased. Marg J I notice in the photo that Dougie got 6th in it as well! So that's pretty impressive! 2 Aussies in the line up!!

DANCING NEWS March 2007 Firstly, congratulations to all the dancers who have been out there competing this year. Not just for what you may have won, but on trying your best, and giving our studio a great name! I received a wonderful email from a teacher/judge in Brisbane congratulating me on the standard of our girls, its up on the Banksies blogspot. Displays Please let me know if you are able to dance at Old Government House on Sunday 27th May. It is an all day event (we do a 15min display about 4 times during the course of the day.). If you can do morning, afternoon or both, please let me know. I will have more details of exact times as soon as I receive them. The senior display gig at the Westin Hotel has fallen through. Competitions Campbelltown Competition is Sunday 20th May – Im hoping to have our beginners and primary dancers ready for this competition. The following Sunday is SDAA at Ashfield Boys HS and then the fortnight after that is St George Eisteddfod at Arncliffe. Exams ...

Hi Justine, Just wanted you to know that Sarah was just a delight to have in our home this weekend and she represented your studio very very admirably. She was agreeable, friendly and well-mannered and above all, we loved her cool Banksie's uniform!!!!! Sarah danced so well and was such a credit to you. Congratulations on her 6th placing in what was a very difficult championship. The section results also show what a good effort she put in. Lauren also danced very well and I know you would have been proud of her too. Congratulations on their efforts, technique and style Justine. You are doing such a good job in promoting Highland Dancing in this country. Sarah has the 3 trophies our family won last year at the Eastern Australian Championship. I've cleaned them and hope they are acceptable.I'm still paranoid about the bag thing so please let me know me know sooner than later if the maroon bag I have belongs to you. All the best for the upcoming Championship Justine. M ...

A biiiiiiig thankyou to my girls for their VERY SECRETIVE card they made for me! Oh My! Was I surprised!!!! And thankyou to 'The Ladies' for my beautiful flowers!!!! Here is a picture of them!!!!