Our studio’s at Peninsula School of Dance are buzzing at the moment. Term four is here and the excitement is building. Coming off the back of a very cold Melbourne winter students and teachers are peeling of the winter woolies, enjoying the lengthened daylight hours and are immersed in choreography, music editing and rehearsals. Our absolute favourite bit, hands down, has to be trying on the costumes. Gently peeling back the packaging and pulling out the costume, to squeals of delight, is such a buzz. And seriously compared to some of the horrid scratchy costumes I wore as a kid, these kids are truly spoilt thanks to China.But I digress and that’s a whole other post.

As a parent of three I know all too well the term 4 mania with school camps, kinda concerts, Christmas concerts, music performances, class parties, thank-you parties, break-up parties and the list goes on! Sometimes I get “another notice” and my blockers are already up. I’m confused, too busy, too tired to take it all in. So when parents come to me with that hazy look of confusion, I get it, I really do. BUT (yes there is always a but) the photo day, extra rehearsals, dress rehearsal and concert are what every dancer lives for. It is just reward, reward for a year of hard work, reward for doing that exam, reward for pushing through those cold winter months, reward for being passionate, interested and motivated. The whiff of hairspray, the giggles with friends, squeezing into a scratchy but sparkly costume, that smile from your teacher when you finally nail that tricky bit of choreography are my favourite childhood memories. They are the memories that have shaped who I am now. So the point of this?? Mums & Dads I promise it is worth it. When your little cherub is all grown up these are the memories they will cherish. These are the things that will shape who they become. So please, pretty please read those notices!