Hello Dancers,
Welcome to November. Our SOLD-OUT concert performances are 12 sleeps away (WHAT?!) and the end of the year is in sight!
Halloween Workshop Recap
A huge thank you to Maddy for bringing so much spooky energy to the studio on Halloween night! Thank you also to everyone who came along, got into costume and gave the parade-style choreography their all. It was such a fun way to wrap up October, and I loved see the creative use of our decorations and thrilled to know they spooked a few students too. Congratulations to Alana on Best Costume, you will see her sporting her free merch very soon!
Thank You, Crafters and Sewers!
To everyone who came along to our Craft & Sewing Bee and lent us your skills, thank you from the bottom of my heart. Sewing machines, overlockers, glue guns, spray paint and a lot of patience all went a very long way. Thank goodness for the camembert cheese and Brooke's focaccia to sustain us! I'm so grateful to be part of a community that rolls up its sleeves like this.
Hair and Make-Up Tutorials
A big thank you to Billy, Leah and some of our 6P students for putting together the hair and make-up video tutorials. Giving up your time to film, demonstrate and explain is no small thing, and it made life easier for so many dancers. You're all stars! If you're not sure where to find these tutorials, you need to read your Concert Performer's Pack!
Theatre Lane Carpark Has Reopened!
Good news for anyone who has been circling the block: the Theatre Lane carpark has reopened. While there are a small number of parking spots, it's certainly better than nothing!
A Note on Teachers' Gifts
As the end of the year gets closer, I wanted to share a quick note about thanking your teachers.
Our teachers love what they do, and a heartfelt thank you, whether spoken, written in a card or email, is always more than enough. I always pass on feedback to teachers, so you can trust it will get to them!
Gifts are never expected, and no one should ever feel any pressure to give one. To keep things comfortable and fair for everyone, from next year onwards we are asking that large gifts, gifts of significant monetary value and big group gifts that involve collecting money are no longer given. I know some have already been organised for this year, and that is completely fine.
This comes from a place of care: not every dancer is in a position to contribute, and I never want anyone to feel left out or obliged. Our teachers are so appreciative of your generosity of spirit, and they will be just as touched by the simple things. I have spoken with several of our teachers about this, and they feel exactly the same way as I do: a personal note is always the most meaningful.
If you would like to show your appreciation, here are a few simple ideas:
Write a short thank you message or card.
Give a small handmade or personal gesture, of any size.
Leave us a review or bring a friend to class.
If a group card is being passed around, it is always lovely when everyone who would like to sign it can do so, no matter what they are able to contribute.
6th Position is a space where every adult dancer belongs. I am so proud of the community we have built together, and I am grateful to each of you for the kindness you bring to class every week. Your teachers appreciate it too, but they do not expect anything more than that. Please be kind to each other, in class and in any group chats.
Post-Concert Timetable
Now that concert is done, all of our classes are reopening as drop-in, unless they are a term enrolment. Our enrolment classes are still welcoming new people, so if you've been curious, now is a great time to join. You can see everything on the timetable, and sign up for drop-ins or enrolments online.
Please note that Hip Hop and Heels are taking a little break after concert but they'll be back for Xmas Week! More info to follow on that later.
Mini Foundations Courses
Our Ballet Foundations & Tap Foundations mini courses are currently running, and you can still join for the mini term! This is the gentlest introduction to ballet, so if you have a friend who has always wanted to try, send them our way. For ballet, students can choose between Wednesday lunchtimes at the Northbourne Studio or Sunday mornings at Mitchell. Tap has time for one more full course on Friday nights at Mitchell. As a reminder, enrolment courses can't be booked with drop-in passes or the Unlimited Trial Pass.
Welcome, Alexandra!
I'm delighted to introduce Alexandra Cownie, who is joining us as a repertoire ballet teacher for all levels in our upcoming Summer Series (more info to come).
Alexandra is a conservatoire-trained classical dancer and teacher with a professional performance career across France, Austria and Australia, and nearly two decades of experience teaching, coaching and mentoring dancers. She is known for warm, high-standard teaching that builds technique, artistry, confidence and long-term dancer wellbeing. A few highlights:
Danced professionally in France, Germany, Austria and Australia.
Trained in the French school at the Conservatoire National Supérieur de Danse de Lyon, where her advanced-level solo was filmed as the French national technical reference for 2002 and 2003.
Studied the Vaganova method in Munich at the Heinz Bosl Foundation.
A sought-after master class, classical repertoire and mindset teacher across Australia, New Zealand and Europe.
A regular adjudicator at ballet competitions, including the Sydney Eisteddfod.
Author of How To Be A Ballet Dancer.
A former ballet-school owner herself, she now enjoys teaching again without running a dance school!
Please give her the warmest 6P welcome if you take her repertoire workshop series this Summer.
2027 Timetable Requests
I've started planning the 2027 timetable, and I'd love to hear from you first! If there's a class you'd love to see, a time that would suit you better or a level you'd like added, please get in touch at studio@6thposition.com.au by Sunday 15th November. I can't promise everything will fit, but I read every request and it really does help shape the year ahead. If I hear from lots of students on the same request, I'll know it's an important one!
Thank you, as always, for being such a wonderful community. Happy dancing and a big CHOOKAS to our concert performers!
Anouska