The Nutcracker & the Girl with the Shell
December 3/4, 2011
From: Dale Peters
To: Gary and Jane Caines
Sent: Sunday, December 04, 2011 6:09 PM
Subject: TN & TGWTS
Not having read the synopsis before the lights dimmed, I must say I had some difficulty following the "story" of The Nutcracker & The Girl With The Shell but in truth the real narrative was the seamless flow of wonderfully executed dances. It was an amazing and very professional production. Lynn and I were so impressed by Liam's "effortless" skill and amazing stage presence. It was great to see how far some of the older girls such as Karen have come in their development as dancers. We were also so impressed by how well dancers of all ages danced flawlessly together. I cannot imagine the hours of hard work that went into producing such a great show.
We thoroughly enjoyed every minute of it.
Thanks.
Dale
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Andrea, I'd be honoured if you used my comments on the website. True collaboration of great minds and souls produces truly great art. I know that all the work that everyone put into this production was completely worth it. I heard many positive comments from people after the show of how moved they were ... and that was just the audience! I know that it also had a wonderful impact on the performers, parents and volunteers. Thank you to all of the artistic team!
-- Jennifer Legere
Absolutely spectacular shows! Everyone danced beautifully and played their roles so well! It was the wonderful celebration that The Nutcracker should be, with a lovely interpretation of the humanity and kindness of the Girl with the Shell. Bravo!
-- Jennifer Legere
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Andrea,
Congratulations on an amazing show tonight! Rosemary and I really enjoyed it. The dancers did a wonderful job and the costumes were beautiful.
Great job!!
Natalie Martin
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Great show over the weekend. We were there for the evening show Saturday night.
Regards,
Bernie
Bernard J. Cormier
Cultural Affairs Officer, City of Saint John
(506) 649-6040 Twitter: BernardCormier
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Hi Andrea!,
Great job with the Nutcracker..I have heard nothing but great things and Jason family really enjoyed the show! A co-workers daughter went, loved the show and was super impressed that she got an autograph from a famous dancer!!!
-- Liz MacGillivray
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HI Andrea,
I took Emily and her friend to Saturday night's performance of The Nutcracker and The Girl With the Shell. We enjoyed it very much. The choreography was beautiful, and everyone danced their roles so well. It was just delightful!
June Stone
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Hi Andrea: What a wonderful show this year!!! I loved it and our extended family enjoyed it as well. Thank you for all of your hard work.
-- Colleen Salgado
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Andrea and Georgia
Congratulations on a wonderful, wonderful show! I loved every minute - already looking forward to seeing it again next year!
-- Paula Barry
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Bravo Andrea! The amount of work and coordination that goes in to such a performance is mind boggling to me . Thank you so much for a wonderfully entertaining afternoon!
-- Patty Higgins
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Thanks Andrea
I am a VERY proud mom after this weekend's ballet. I could watch the Nutcracker and the Girl with the Shell over and over again!!!!!!!
All of my girls were proud to part of such a wonderful show.
Christine Bamford
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Congrats on a beautiful show!!! Wow such talent.... Karen made me cry she is such a wonderful and graceful dancer!!! And of course Liam and all the other dancers. Janelle had so much fun.
-- Cecile MacLeod
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Thank you and Georgia.Pretty magical performance.
Thank you.
love, Grat
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Andrea,
Congratulations on an amazing show tonight! Rosemary and I really enjoyed it. The dancers did a wonderful job and the costumes were beautiful.
Great job!!
Natalie Martin
Thank you for your kind words...
dancing bodies & ROOP
August 2011
Dear Georgia and Andrea,
I just want to convey my thanks and admiration for the remarkable performances at the Rondos Out of Proportion dance festival last week. In my earlier days in Fredericton with the UNB Creative Arts Committee, we regularly brought in some of the major contemporary dance companies across Canada, and I remember many wonderful shows with the Toronto Dance Theatre, the Danny Grossman company and the Winnipeg Contemporary Dancers. I thought the breadth of innovation and the talent of the dancers in your retrospective certainly was in the same class as the big companies, and it was an incredibly satisfying experience. I am not sure of the origin of the name of your company, but in my view the quality, breadth and emotional range of the choreography are certainly well "out of proportion" when comparing the size of Saint John with the other large centres of Canada, and a tremendous testament to the lively cultural spirit and atmosphere that you have done so much to help foster here. Congratulations on a terrific show and a truly admirable collection of works.
All the best, Ron Lees
Ronald M. Lees
Professor Emeritus
Centre for Laser, Atomic and Molecular Sciences (CLAMS)
Physics Department
University of New Brunswick
100 Tucker Park Road
Saint John, NB, Canada E2L 4L5
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From: Rod Hill
Sent: Sunday, August 14, 2011 1:59 PM
To: Georgia Rondos
Subject: Re: ROOP Upcoming Dance Show
Georgia,
It was my pleasure. I really enjoyed the show, particularly the humor in pieces like 'Urban rush', 'Urban tracks', 'Wedding Dance' and 'Waltz Four Three'. 'Ballerina and Clown' was unforgettable. Congratulations on a fine show!
Rod
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In case tomorrow night after the performance I am as incapable of saying things as I have been both yesterday and today (I have left the studio both nights still totally immersed in the dancing - probably unfit to be operating a motor vehicle - amazed that I'm in Saint John - that it's still light outside - that I haven't been away on a long trip - all very strange - but very wonderful - so -THANKYOUTHANKYOUTHANKYOU so so so so much. Sunday will be very depressing.
love, Grat
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From: Wennbergs
Sent: Thursday, August 11, 2011 10:11 PM
To: Georgia Rondos
Subject: splendid
Oh, Georgia!!!!!!
Absolutely fantastic!
Really didn't want it to be over.
Fortunately there are still 2 more performances.
Hurrah!
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Hi Georgia,
It was brilliant and we were so glad we were able to make it. It was a wonderful showcase for your amazing talent; and the dancers were all incredible.
Already looking forward to the next one!
take care
Chris
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I just want to say a huge thank you. For being a part of this amazing performance, but also for witnessing your incredible accomplishments over the past 15 years.
Love,
Pippa
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Hi,
I wanted to pass along my great excitement and pleasure of being in the audience for all 3 shows.
It was spectacular.
The different ways, actual live dance, and the video performances of the
dances was amazing.
Saint John and Port City Dance Academy should be very proud to have Georga
Rondos and Andrea Scott in our community.
Bravo.
Elizabeth Collings
New Brunswick Heart Centre Research Initiative
PO Box 2100, 400 University Avenue, 5DN
Saint John, New Brunswick E2L 4L2
From: Davidson, Alison
To: pctydnce@nbnet.nb.ca
Sent: Friday, August 12, 2011 5:07 PM
Charlotte and I really enjoyed the performance last night, very talented people!
dancing bodies - what it is
July 2011
Andrea, Georgia and Liam,
What a fantastic time! The show performed last week by Liam Caines and his students was engaging, exciting to watch and left me wanting to see more! The diversity of dance styles ranging from ballet to modern, complimented by the choice of music (LOVED BPM's track) was really enjoyable. The piece choreographed and suggested by the public also turned out to be pretty amazing. The mesh of musicians, of choreography styles and of the public's voices was pretty neat to watch. I especially liked the questions/comments section post-performance where the audience had the opportunity to interact with the dancers.
Many thanks for bringing Liam to Saint John; he is a great artist, teacher (and overall person) that local dancers should have the pleasure of meeting and learning from.
Best Regards,
Danika
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Frank Goguen wrote:
I hope this is the right avenue to thank PCDA for bringing Liam Caines to teach the Intensive Ballet Program these past two weeks. My daughter really enjoyed learning and didn't want to miss a single day !.
Thank-you for giving her the opportunity to work with a wonderful teacher, very inspiring and his creativity was refreshing. Please bring him back next summer!
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Hi,
when I was listening to Liam at CBC to announce that he was looking for an
input I felt instantly that I had to call and make my contribution. So we met and he told me about his intentions and we put a few bits and pieces together.
Given my circumstances I could just make it another time to meet and work
and then to the result. Let me just express my profound thanks to what I was allowed to watch and perceive and to embrace the opportunity of being reunited with my former field of expertise and work!
I enjoyed working with Liam very much and hope we can come together again the next summer and create another little bit.
Sincerely,
Sabrina Zepelin
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Bravo Liam for a wonderful evening of dance and giving us such a wonderful glimpse into your professional career...which began many years back at Port City Dance Academy! Thanks also very much for sharing and teaching the young students at PCDA, it was great to see their enthusiasm and skill.
Bravo Andrea and Georgia for bringing Liam back to Saint John and show us all what your amazing organization has and can do for dance and culture in our great little city!
Look forward to seeing Liam back again and to the next events!
Friendly regards,
Peter
Happinez Wine Bar
42 Princess Street
Saint John, NB
E2L 1K2
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Dear Ms. Scott,
I want to congratulate you, Liam Caines and your staff on the recital you presented on July 8, 2011. The dancing was excellent and the interaction between Liam, the students and the audience was very informative.
The opportunity to have a teacher such as Mr. Caines is tremendously valuable to the young dancing students of Saint John. I hope this is only the first of many such events with Liam as instructor and mentor for your students.
Again congratulations to Port City Dance Academy. Keep up the great work. Hopefully financial support will be available in the future for similar events.
Yours truly,
Russell D. Webster MD FRCS
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Dear Mrs. Scott
Thank you for giving us the opportunity to work with a professional dancer. Liam Caines' camp was an incredible experience. I learned so much and I feel like in the short time he taught us I improved as a dancer. It was a wonderful camp and a lot of fun. I am so glad he was able to come to Saint John. It was really great how he was able to help out the community. I hope to see him again next year!
Sincerely,
Amanda Verner [PCDA STUDENT]
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NOTE FROM ANDREA SCOTT: Thank you to The Manitoba Arts Council and the City of Saint John for making it possible!
PCDA CLASSES in St. Andrews, NB
It's my pleasure, Andrea. I am so pleased that Karen is coming to St. Andrews. I think that she did a fantastic job this fall! I ran into the lady who took the great photographs which you posted on the website. She was amazed at how much her daughter had learned in 6 weeks. Well done, Karen!
I'll save some copies of the photograph form the Courier.
June
PCDA SPRING RECITAL
MAY 19, 2012
Lydia is loving dance. I couldn't believe how independent she was at the recital. She wanted me there backstage and during breaks but when it was time for rehearsal then for the show, she was so focused. It was a fantastic day! I am so impressed with the level of professionalism and the dancers' respect and great behavior. What a wonderful environment for Lydee to be in.
- Tracy Ross
dancing bodies ~ CH A O S
July 7/8 2012
was also beauuuuuuuuuuutiful.
Can I last until Friday.
- Grat
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Imaginative, enchanting, superb show. The summer students (and so many of
them!) performed so well; and Liam and Clare danced absolutely beautifully
together. Ever so satisfying. Thank you.
- Grat Wennberg
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Hi Andrea. I really enjoyed the show today! The students did a fantastic job
in the choreography, music selection, costumes, masks, and dancing! And having
the District 8 string orchestra perform was a real treat. Liam and Clare danced
beautifully together. It was a wonderful show!
June
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Absolutely a stunning performance, I peaked at a couple of pieces at the end. Congratulations.
Li-Hong Xu
Dear Georgia and Andrea,
I just wanted to say how much I enjoyed the CHAOS and ROoP recitals. It was a great privilege in particulare to be able to watch Liam and Clare from close range, and really appreciate their control and artistry... I look forward to seeing you and Seth and Jane Alison in August for another wonderful and imaginative show. (By the way, my oldest
daughter is a Scottish country and East Indian bharatanatyam dancer, and we'll be seeing her in Vancouver at a show with the Shakti Dance group there. I thought your Bollywood choreography was pretty authentic!)
All the best, Ron
Ronald M. Lees
Centre for Laser, Atomic and Molecular Sciences (CLAMS)
Physics Department
University of New Brunswick
100 Tucker Park Road
Saint John, NB, Canada E2L 4L5
Phone: 506-648-5864
Fax: 506-648-5948
The Nutcracker & The Girl With The Shell, 2012
Dear Andrea and Georgia,
A week has gone by since the Nutcracker & the Girl with the Shell, but the memories are still very vivid. Congratulations on a stunning production. The staging and costumes were extremely creative – the Lollypop and the Fog scenes in particular were quite brilliant! The two “Dark Lilies” prowling around the scenery at the back were also always entertaining. What impressed me enormously was the strength and the depth of the company – there were a lot of dancers and they all performed with terrific skill and enthusiasm right down to the smallest little girl. And having Liam and Karen display such artistry as previous members of PCDA just topped it all off perfectly, with the two Taras as a special treat. It was a wonderful show, and Miranda, Li-Hong and I enjoyed it thoroughly!
All the best, Ron Lees
