I have to say that Hartford's Grange Theatre is amazing! Equipped better than some regional professional tour venues, and it belongs primarily to a school! Lucky students!
This afternoon I was there to watch a local private dancing school's showcase, 'Sweet Dreams', and the group in question was 'Dancing 4 Fun'. The ethos behind this school being that unless you're enjoying what you are doing, then there is no point in doing it! I wholeheartedly concur! Therefore, they take children (and indeed adults!) from all walks of life and all stages of dance training. This is a place where you go to enjoy your after school / after work fitness regime! Dancing, says the school, helps the student find the song in their heart, the beat in their feet, and a passion for life!
All the choreography this afternoon gave testament to that; nothing was too complicated or taxing the students overmuch. Everything was well within the students' capabilities allowing them to feel more confident and relaxed about what they were doing. If the 3 or 4 year old child went on stage in the arms of her mother, so be it.... at least she went on stage!
There was a nice thread of a storyline to this afternoon's show too. The title, 'Sweet Dreams', perhaps a giveaway. A young girl is with her mother as she celebrates her birthday. There is a party, and her friends bring her gifts. Bedtime comes all too soon, and she goes to bed happy and starts to dream. And as we all know, the moment you fall fast asleep is the moment that magic happens all around you as toys come to life, fairies fly through the window, etc.... but as she continues to dream, the dreams turn into nightmares, and more scary and frightening apparitions pass by. Fortunataley, morning is just around the corner, and all is well with the world again.
Using the theatre's lighting capabilities (as well as haze machines) to the max; many of this afternoon's routines were superbly created with peripheral effects, making the dancing all the more exciting and appropriate. The nightmare scenes were especially effective in this regard. There was good costuming throughout, and the sound levels were never too high. There was however, one thing which not only prolonged the whole show, but made us all somewhat restless. There were huge pauses between every routine -and there were 52 routines in total! What could easily have been a very professionally produced and slick show, became long-winded and somewhat irritating most unfortunately. I have no idea why the company needed such long breaks between each item; but we could see dancers running across the stage or coming on late in the blackouts. It also lengthened the show considerably, making it nearly three hours in length.
Obviously, with 52 dance routines, I am unable to mention all. Here are a few of my personal favourites! The 'Urban Dance Mix' of Act 1; 'Bedtime Stars', 'Bedtime Story And Fireflies', and 'When Darkness Falls' from Act 2; 'Flower Fairy Dolls', and 'Powerpuff Girls' from Act 3; 'Paralyzed', 'By The Water', 'Thunderstruck', 'Hold On', 'Once Upon A December', from Act 4; and 'In The Morning' from Act 5. My all-time favourite of the whole showcase though simply has to be Grade 4's 'Nightmare'!
If I am to have understood correctly, then the youngest dancer on stage this afternoon was just 2 years' old! And for the vast majority of the 5 year olds and under, this was their first time performing to a live audience, and so for them it must have been truly special! Congratulations to all, and keep it fun!
Reviewer - Matthew Dougall
on - 8.5.22
on - 8.5.22
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