Royal Children's Hospital Gig.

A bunch of us headed down to Royal Children's Hospital yesterday and today afternoon to perform a short and interactive dance for the kids there.


We danced to songs that we grew up to, lol, well at least for some of us - Bring It All Back, Calcutta (Taxi Driver), Footloose and Upside Down.

We spent hours rehearsing the steps, getting the sequence of steps right, making sure we could dance without the mirrors, etc. And when the time came for us to perform, all the jitters just flew away once we saw the kids.


There were only about 10-14 kids each time we danced. But oh boy, how different it is when they are your audience. Their gleaming eyes never leave you, because they really want to see what's happening on stage.

You see their little faces from the stage, and you try your best to reach out to them and get them to smile. Your own face turns unbelievably smiley, your body language invites them to stand up and dance together with you.

And when they do stand up, extending their little hands to grab yours, that's when your heart melts because you know you've made this child's day. Teaching them simple dance steps, watching them mirror you and seeing them just laughing helplessly cuz they don't think they can do the steps, really the experience is beyond priceless.

We had a segment of 'freestyling' with the kids and there were 2 small boys who could do breakdancing stunts and there was this sweet girl who knew how to spot when I twirled her around. Fantastic, totally awesome.

Do jump at the opportunity of doing a charity performance with Flare.
The bliss of knowing that you made someone's day is really irreplaceable.

BBQ, Games, FLARE!

And so Picnic in the Park came and left Flare very happy :)

BBQ, sandwiches, salad, scavenger hunts, stretching awkwardly to form long long lines, finding monster trees..
What better way to spend Easter Sunday!

The weather was splendid, with the sun beaming right at all of us. Coupled with the yummy food, fun group games and awesome company, I'd say that Flare's first event of 2008 has truly set the standards to our future events - all our events will be the epitome of much fun and fulfilment!

Here are a few pictures that you guys may be interested in.
(Many thanks to the people who passed me their pictures, files, etc. You can still pass me your files if you'd like to share it with the rest of Flare)

Also, do check out http://s202.photobucket.com/albums/aa305/Flaredance/Picnic%20in%20the%20Park%202008/
for the rest of the pictures!
Not only that, there'll also be some pictures accessible from the 'Multimedia' page of our official website.

Feel free to upload pictures to the Flare Dance Facebook group that we have too!

Hope all of you had a good time at the picnic and are looking forward to the next event!
CAMPCAMPCAMP!
Remember to place your votes!

A Reminder.

Due to tram improvement works at the corner of Swanston and Flinders Streets (from Gd Fri to Easter Mon),you have 2 options to get to PICNIC:

1. catch tram 3,64,& 67 which will bring you to Botanical garden.

Get down at stop 20- Domain Interchange/St Kilda Road.. and walk (further) to Botanical Gardens..

2. catch tram 8 (from Moreland) which will terminate at La Trobe/ Swanston Street..

meet the committee at MNG (Lonsdale/ Swanston Street intersection) and walk to the Arts centre together..

then take tram 8 (from Toorak) which'll bring us to Botanical Garden (close to Gate A).. and walk (less) to Botanical Garden..

Please be punctual!
The committee will wait at MNG (Lonsdale St) from 9.45am - 10.20am

If you are not there by then, please use the directions and try to find your way there.

If for any reason, you can't find us.. look for people wearing Flare t-shirt OR call any of the Events Committee!!

Wen- Jun Lim 0413849380

Rebecca Wong 0400987183

Wai Chee Woo 0439676340

And IF it rains, we have another plan.. just call us or look out for FLARE t-shirts members..

P/S: Those who haven't pay.. please bring it along with u on Sunday.. Those who want to go but haven't sign up, please email us so we know how much food to bring!

Picnic, picnic, PICNIC!

And when you thought we would stop bugging you about picnic, here we go again!

People, don't forget to bring $5 to your dance classes next week so that you can sign up AND pay for the BBQ.

Sorry that we have to charge but it'll be $5 well-spent! Sausages, chicken salad, mashed potato, cool drinks, games, fun and laughter! And who knows, maybe some spontaneous dancing? *wink*

Picnic in the Park.

Hey there FLARE!

Going for classes and getting more and more excited about the new steps/moves you pick up every time you break out of your comfort zone?

If you think that nothing could ever beat that, THINK AGAIN!
Presenting, Flare's first event of year 2008!

Picnic in the Park is Flare's annual event. It's a great opportunity for the new members to meet up with the older members. Not only that, new members can meet other new members whom you've never seen during classes. And with the lovely sun waiting for us, by the peaceful river, with such awesome company, this is something you should NOT be missing!

Date: 23 Mar 2008 (Sunday)
Time: 10am-1pm
Venue: Northern Lawn @ Royal Botanic Gardens (near Gate A - for those taking tram, alighting at Gate D will save some walking distance)

Price: $5

check out http://www.rbg.vic.gov.au/rbg_melbourne/visitorinfo/getting_here for directions

see how excited we are? we even have all the areas labelled out! (check out the cool shade!)

Please RSVP by 20th Mar 2008 to events@flaredance.com
We need to know the numbers so that we won't shortchange you on FOOD!
And if you want to bring your friends, it's no problem with us!

So, see you there in your funky shades, funky shorts for a funky time!

Week 1, Sem 1, 2008.

Week One of Sem One just ended, and I'm sure it gave you a prelude to what is in store for you in Flare.

Now you know what you like, what you are capable of and what you can look forward to picking up! Be it hip hop, jazz, ballet, contemporary. Whether you are a beginner, or an intermediate. Whichever you are comfortable with, whatever pace you are able to, this is what Flare is about.

So, look forward to another week of equally exciting dance classes. Check out our website here to find out the timings to the different classes.

For those who still have not signed up for Flare and would like to do so, or old members who have not renewed their membership, do find us at the Flare table in the Union House. We will be located near the Union House Information counter and will be there everyday for 2 weeks from 12-2pm. Bring $15 along with you to enjoy the perks of unlimited dance classes and benefits from our many sponsors.

We will also be selling Flare T-shirts and DVDs to our production last year, Poise. So come and have a chat with us :)

By the way, somebody left his/her socks behind at Dance House on Friday. Do drop me a line at flaredanceblog@gmail.com to claim it or else it'll be gone!

Dance Dance!

And so you've seen it all.

Hip hop, jazz, contemporary, ballet.

It was very exciting to see all of you at the dance classes yesterday and the day before yesterday. Hope that it was to your liking too!
How did you find the lesson you went for?
Let us know so that we can improve and make it even better next week!
There's a poll on the right hand side so click away!
Comments are welcome too!

This Is Where We Begin.

And so dance classes begin this week proper.
Starting tomorrow!!
Check out the Flare page at www.flaredance.com/rehearsals
This page would provide you with the latest timings to the different dance styles and the venues too. So don't miss out on the fun.
See you there!