Tag: dance

The Tap Cats Of The Sunshine Coast

School day friendship can occasionally stand the test of time but what happens when a group of three friends decide to gather on the Sunshine Coast of Queensland to hold a long overdue reunion.

The introduction to The Tap Cats of the Sunshine Coast could almost be that of Christine Sykes telling the story of her grandmother, her friends and their love of dancing, beginning with the first article she ever wrote about the amazing Tap Cats.

Close school friends Sophia, Carol and Bonnie come together again as adults each with their own lives lived in vastly different countries. As adults they begin to reforge the bonds of long standing friendship but as old secrets are revealed they discover the bonds they thought would stand most things in life, maybe will not.

Sophia and Carol are members of the Tap Cats dancing group and when they decided to enter the prestigious Senior Superstars State Competition Bonnie decides to return from New York, where she has lived for the past 35 years. Dance had originally bought the three girls together as school friends and helped form the bonds of their teenage friendship, even though their families and backgrounds were all very different.

Carol is driven to win the competition, Sophia has her hands full simply trying to be peacemaker and manage her complex home life, Bonnie, somewhat damaged by life is outspoken, brusque even and brings with her secrets from the past which will test the three friends long standing friendship to the very limit.

Within the confines of the tap dancing group, drama is played out on every front with a change in dance teacher creating havoc only women will understand; the emotion spent in trying to mend burnt bridges, coping with the fall out and simply learning to find a way through the various personalities of the three friends makes for entertaining reading.

Light hearted, enjoyable and fun to read The Tap Cat’s of the Sunshine Coast will while away an afternoon transporting you to another time and place, where dance is the catalyst, friendship is at risk and life, somehow keeps on keeping on, as each of the women discover who they really are and exactly what is important to them.

September 17, 2022
The Fatal Dance

A work of fiction can take us to so many worlds that are unknown to us. The author has certainly achieved this in an informed and unblinkered way. The “Dance” that this book refers to is actually the jerky movements that occur for those who suffer from Huntington’s Disease. It is an incurable and progressive disease which gradually destroys the mind and body. It is also passed on through a defective gene. The story follows the members of Lori’s family as she goes through her journey with this disease.

The characters in The Fatal Dance each have their own world to travel. There is Red, the Real Estate agent, (and Brother-in-law to Lori), who is open to any way which will help him earn money. We follow his life during a spell of great opportunity. Bea, his wife has supported her sister, but now has her own issues to navigate.

Lori has Huntington’s disease. She has a son whom she loves dearly, but it is Bea who has raised him and cared for him. Mada, the son, is now at university studying for his Doctorate in this disease, hoping to find a cure for his mother. He is in a relationship with Zoe, who is also studying, has so much to occupy her mind.

We follow each of these characters through a period of time where they all have to come to terms with their life. Each has a burden to bear; each must discover a gratitude within to see the good in their family and the world. The Fatal Dance is a warts and all tale, but hope and love are the keystone for this family.

February 5, 2022
Girl on Pointe Chloe’s Guide to Taking on the World

This colourful book shows the journey of young dancer, Chloe Lukasaik. Her life story is written with many photos and endorsements from friends. She is honest about her feelings and her passions, and shares many selfies and kiss selfies, and ideas for making a success of your life.

The early chapters are filled with her wisdom and view of the world. She fully believes that one can overcome any obstacle, whatever it may be, referencing the fact that as a young child she had a condition which made one eye appear smaller than the other, and underwent several operations to correct this imperfection. Her family are very loving and supportive, and for eight years Chloe was an only child.

Chloe always wanted to dance, and along with several girlfriends she perused her lessons and practised hard. When the family moved to a new city she decided to complete her schooling at home to make it easier to travel for her dancing and acting lessons.

At the age of thirteen, Chloe auditioned for the show, ‘Dance Moms,’ a reality show that follows young dancers and their Mom’s from week to week. The show is very up close and personal, filming arguments and tensions between the Moms, who have their daughter’s best interest at heart.

Following her stint for a few years in front of the camera, she quit the show. Chloe describes her life now as ‘Non-stop red carpets and photo shoots and celebrity filled parties’.

I’m not sure that many young women could identify with Chloe’s upbringing. Her worldly tips for taking on the world and inspiring others come from a smooth and supported life.

If you are pretty, come from a middle class background, and have parents, who are totally devoted to your well-being, you may enjoy this story.

February 1, 2018
Swan Lake

Swan Lake, the beautiful story of a princess transformed into a swan, has been danced worldwide and was the creation of Russian composer Pyotr IlyichTchaikovsky for the Bolshoi Ballet, first premiering at the Bolshoi Theatre in Moscow in 1877.

Well known, the story of the beautiful princess Odette, transformed onto a swan by an evil sorcerer, is the combination of two Russian folk tales telling the story of good and evil, tragedy, loss and deception, retribution and betrayal.

Beloved of dancer’s word wide, Anna Spudvilas has transformed the story of Swan Lake thought the medium of illustration to introduce this beloved story to a completely new audience, with her beautiful images of the traditional tale. Set out as if this was at the theatre, Act I introduces the storyline where Odette meets the handsome Prince; they fall in love, declaring their love to each other for eternity.

Act II commences at the ball where Odette in her human form is to arrive after the stroke of midnight; But the evil sorcerer has bought along his daughter, disguised as the Swan Queen who has loved the Prince always. They dance and all things begin to change, as he mistakenly announces that she will be the one he will marry.

Once the Prince realises his terrible mistake he rushes into the night, but the sorcerer creates a huge storm. He and the Prince fight down at the lake where Odette and the Prince met and fell in love. The Prince eventually wins the fight, throwing the sorcerer into the lake.

The Prince finds the Swan Queen in despair but the promise cannot be undone. Act III ends with Odette and the Prince realising they cannot live without each other and they allow the waters of the lake to enfold them, so they can remain together forever.

Anna Spudvalis has drawn her inspiration for the background to the work from the banks of the Murray –Darling where she lives, and has transposed this timeless and tragically beautiful story into ballet on paper.

Swan Lake is enchanting book which will bring joy to the heart of anyone who enjoys ballet, the story of Swan Lake and the simple pleasure of a beautiful story well illustrated and designed.

The work is not just for children, as adults reading and explaining the storyline to little ones, will find a depth to the illustrations which will touch the soul, presenting the very heart of all good Russian folk stories, and indeed of life itself, that of love and tragedy, there for all to behold!

November 24, 2017