The Broadway Experience

Done, done, and done! Our three week extravaganza has come to an end and what a three weeks it has been. This past week was a little different compared to the first two weeks due to having scheduled meetings in Tokyo and Osaka with the main addenda of finding a home for our program in spring 2013. I’m happy to report that we have and will be moving into the Koko Plaza, a state of the art cultural facility in the middle of Osaka. It is absolutely the right fit for the program and we couldn’t be happier. The great thing about Koko Plaza is that there’s a youth hostel in the building which will be so convenient for all the students that take part. Not only that, they provide three meals a day, what more could you want! With the location ticked off the list, we met with a few other people telling them all about our plans for next year. We then headed south to Fukuoka, the final stop on our tour. Friday was an off day and then we taught at a ballet studio in the center of town Saturday and Sunday. Classes were good and challenging for the most part because theatre dance is so different for ballet dancers. There were quite a few boys which is always so great to see and everyone worked hard trying to come to grips with a new dance language. A good time had by all… I can’t believe it’s all over; three weeks has flown by. It is always such a pleasure to come to Japan to work with so many wonderful students. Their teachers are so appreciative that you are there to help make a difference. I have to thank a bunch of people who without their help this would not have happened. Michiyo, Natsumi, Mayumi, Emi, (and her parents) and of course Mami who I could not do this without. You are amazing and I can not thank you enough. We have a lot of work ahead of us looking forward a year from now but I am confident that it will all fall into place. Bringing The Broadway Experience to Japan will be thrilling for us all and the opportunity of a lifetime for all of the participating students. I hope to see you there and we can not wait to work with you all at the very first TBE Japan spring program. Till next year…

The penultimate stop on our teaching tour before we head off to Tokyo and Osaka for meetings was at the TYJD dance studio in Mie which is a city close to Nagoya. It was more of a hip hip based studio and let me tell you if you didn’t know that before hand you certainly did when you saw the students! They were all decked out in their best street wear, hair done and sneakers shining which made for a very colorful class indeed. Little fly girls and b-girls everywhere; it was like a shoot for a kids music video! I’ll post some pictures so you can see for yourselves. Hairspray and Chicago were the chosen rep and they had a ball. Aside from hip hop the students do study a little musical theatre and jazz so they were at least familiar with want we wanted and needed to accomplish. They were a fun crowd so it made it really easy for Mami and I. Parents were invited to come and watch the last fifteen minutes and we ended with a q&a for anyone and everyone that had questions. Back to Osaka tonight and then an early start tomorrow headed back to Tokyo. Happy Easter Sunday everyone!

Had a wonderful day off at Mami’s house in Fukuoka. Trouble is, is that you don’t want to anything except eat, drink, and stare and the ocean and mountains. It is so beautiful and relaxing. We headed off around 5:00pm to make our way back to Osaka because it was better to get the long commute done before our day of teaching the following day at Dance of Hearts. Don’t a lot of the studios have such happy names? We visited them last year and we were so pleased to see them all again today. We turned up to find a big street festival celebrating the cherry blossom season which was lovely as it was parallel to the river and people were hanging out having a grand old time. We however were here to work and not enjoy view and free sake! Two great classes today especially the advanced students; I think we pushed them to their limit. They were so quick and so hungry that anything you threw at them they just soaked up and threw it right back. The class was supposed to be two hours but went over by half an hour which no one seemed to mind at least that’s what I was feeling. Maybe they were thinking when will this end! We had a meeting with the two owners afterwards which went well and they were extremely complimentary about Mami and I and what we accomplished which is always so lovely to hear. Back to Nagoya tonight for more classes tomorrow and then have four days of meetings in Tokyo and Osaka. Can’t believe it’s all coming to an end; it’s flown by so quickly.

Arriving in Kagoshima to find ash all over the streets and cars was a bizarre and slightly unnerving experience due to the fact that this town in the southern most part of Japan is neighbor to an active volcano! It was an extremely windy day yesterday so the ash had blown through the city. Apparently the volcano hasn’t had a big eruption in quite some time so I guess that’s supposed to put you at ease. The jury is out… Another delightful experience at Maria’s school due to her sweet natured students. Two dance and song classes, (Gypsy and Pajama Game) were followed the next day by two theatre dance classes, (Dancin’ and Sweet Charity.) Strong vocals were a big surprise but this is a musical theatre school after all so it is expected. Third class learned the lesson of how full out, full out actually is which is always an interesting realization for young students to make. Some literally don’t know and haven’t discovered it yet. Well they did today! Back to Fukuoka this afternoon and then tomorrow evening will head back up to Osaka. I feel like a gypsy or a traveling salesman! All that said, we’re having a wonderful time so no complaints here.