This week marked the return of Louth's Studio 2000 dancers for their 33rd annual fundraising show labelled Dance Is The Answer... It is a show I love reviewing each year as it as become a journey and I have seen many dancers grow, develop, inspire younger dancers and emotionally have to leave when the time arises. I know exactly what I will see each year, a huge number of children and young people performing over 40 varied dances in different styles - each one a beautiful piece of theatre full of energy, humour, drama and colour.
The passion behind the organisation of every show is huge, the audience may not aways realise the hard work of the many, many volunteers who have helped bring the show to the stage each year. The costuming is stunning and the lighting worked so well to enhance the pictures on stage. The programme suggests that the whole show is a team performance and that dance is the answer to unlocking creativity, building confidence and bringing like-minded people together - hats off to Nicky Wright and Chloe Goldby and their entire team from Studio 2000s School of Dance.
Some of my favourite moments in the first half of the show included The Tennessee Wig Walk, Kids in America and Naughty from Matilda. There was a wonderful segment inspired by Netflix's series Wednesday and The Addams Family. The viral dance scene from the recent series with Jenna Ortega was acknowledged in the Goo Goo Muck routine and an ensemble number from The Addams Family musical - When You're an Addams - gave plenty of opportunity for the dancers to enjoy the section, especially Freddie Warwick who delivered an impeccable Gomez Addams.
I didn't get the name of the young dancer playing Wednesday herself, but she blew me away with her focus and commitment to the role, absolutely getting the memo about staying focused and fierce as she moved across the stage. The first half ended with a very energetic routine to Blur's Park Life.
The first half of Studio 2000s shows always feature the babes and the primary students more and the second half of the show always features the older students. We saw some great routines, I enjoyed the fun and the funk in Land of the 1000 Dances and Smooth Criminal and Lockin Squad, Eye of the Tiger, the Elvis 68 Comeback and One More Happily Ever After.
But for me the slower routines spoke more directly to the skill and precision that these dancers develop over their time with the school. Their lines become sharper and more defined, their poise and balance are more skilled and practiced and the ability to impress by holding pose or painting a beautiful picture. The routine performed to Yellow by Coldplay was gorgeous and the highland-inspired Outlander was stunning.
For me, the routine that I found most moving was the Leavers' dance to Keane's Somewhere Only We Know. The dance told a story of the journey from Babes to Leavers with Studio 2000 and included Principal Nicky Wright and some younger counterparts for each leaver. It is difficult to imagine that relatives and friends would not get emotional watching the skilled and composed young women they have become during their years with Nicky, drawing to a close in such a beautiful routine.
It was also touching to see the love and enthusiasm of former students who returned to perform a routine choreographed by Chloe Goldby, which speaks volumes of what Studio 2000 means to each and every who has passed through their doors. This was particularly underlined when they opened the finale to Never Gonna Not Dance Again. And to see many former dancers in the audience too, you realise just how beloved this Louth institution really is. Long may it continue.
Andy Evans 21 July 2023
Photos by Andy Evans Photography
Full folders of show photos can be found at the following links:
Comments