As always, I have taken the time to read Goldrush from cover to cover. Your “Words from the Publisher” really hit home this time.  My son Leo danced because I was his mom and that’s what we did in our home. He took so much abuse in school that it was always a struggle to encourage him to take more classes.  It wasn’t until he started attending competitions that he started to realize that he needed more dance classes. In high school I gave him the opportunity to do a solo at competition. We went to New York and he learned a tap routine choreographed by Michael Minery. Of course he was very impressed with Michael, returning home more determined than ever to go for the gold! He worked very hard and he got the results he wanted.

 

At that same time Leo [was looking] at colleges.  “I want to major in dance!?” He followed his dream all the way to Northwestern University in Chicago. The first phone call he made to us wasn’t “I’m having a wonderful time,” it was, “Hey Mom, no one is making fun of me when I tell them I dance. I think I’m going to be OK”.

 

As a freshman, he started a tap company, “Tonik Tap” which is still performing around and on campus. After graduation he auditioned for a dance company and became an apprentice, and now he will join them for a couple of performances.

 

If I had stayed in my own little community and not explored the competition world, I’m sure that my school would be very different today. Personally I know what it has done for my son and many of my dancers that have gone off to college as dance majors and as students that experienced hard work, motivated to achieve more and having learned many life lessons along the way.

 

I can’t express how wonderful it is to have a publication that explores many levels of dance education. I wish I had this tool 30 years ago.

 

Debbie Lamontagne

North Andover, MA

 

I just wanted to take a minute to thank you for your great magazine. I get so much out of it. I am looking forward to another recital issue. Sometimes I feel like it is time to make a few minor updates in the usual program. Your recital issue last year gave me some great ideas.  I also used your summer camp ideas this year. I had a very successful princess camp. I plan on expanding it for next summer. Now I have a better idea of what I am doing. Thanks again for all of the encouragement and support that your magazine offers.

 

Molly (Mills) Kaleikilo

Innovative Dance

Wilsonville, OR

 

We at the Bennett School of Irish Dance congratulate you on your convention/competition issue! Although we read each issue eagerly and glean helpful insights from every issue, I’ve got to say that your latest spoke to us more than any other. You may know that Irish dancing is very competition-oriented (in fact, our school is unusual in being more show-oriented than competition-oriented; we performed in 74 shows last year and competed in 7 events.) The wisdom that each article brought to the whole process of competition impressed us. We certainly will recommend this issue to everyone.

 

Bill Bennett

Denver, CO

 

Thanks for your superb magazine. I love the fact that it’s on both paper and internet! I find that though I’m a very patient teacher, I’m an impatient reader... so the preview of each article and the “Read on...” [in the email version] is just as perfect as it could be. Even though I read only that which is of interest to me the on the first pass, I find myself going back to read the rest of the articles when I have time – and I seem to read all of them!

 

I just read “Anna Pavlova meets Annie Oakley”. It was nice to read about someone finding new interests after running a dance school. I’ve reached that place where I’m wondering what I’d do if I were to retire. It’s getting to be that time – I guess. I completely love what I do, but my knees are complaining. Still, I can’t imagine doing anything else, so until something more magical comes along, I’m hangin’ in there. I hope you’ll continue to occasionally include inspirational articles about life after dance.

 

Micky Powell

San Francisco, CA

 

I can not express enough how much I need the Goldrush! This month’s Goldrush [Sept/Oct] is another piece of your incredible work! I want to congratulate you and thank you for helping all of us dance studio owners out there!

Keep up the incredible work. I would beg you to do a Goldrush monthly... Your magazine is the most needed, most anticipated I can get!

 

Dori Matkowski

Walled Lake, MI

 

 

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