Taking a break and relieving some puppy stress before their turn on stage are three of the 16 Dalmatians in Saturday evening’s rendition of Disney’s 101 Dalmatians featuring Cruella Deville, played by Allison Chilton. Pictured, from left, are Sara Smi
Paula’s Dance Academy packed the house with its ‘Disney on Parade’ and ‘School of Rock’ year-end recital over the Memorial Day weekend. Around 200 students worked months to get the choreography down on 44 routines. ‘This is a chance for them to get to show all they have learned,’ said Paula Barnes, owner of Paula’s Dance Academy. ‘We start practicing once a week in the first of March for this. They have a good time and like to show off a little bit.’ The recital was held at Warren County Middle School on May 23 with a follow-up performance on May 24. With a packed house both evenings, and the hard work done by the students, the performances proved to be a hit with everyone. ‘Our goal is for the children to have a good time and for the audience to be able to sit there and enjoy it,’ said Barnes. The recital lasted slightly more than two hours and included: ‘ ‘Disney on Parade’ with Minnie Mouse and characters; Belle with the Beast; Cinderella with her mice and the Fairy Godmother; Ariel with Flounder, Sebastian, Sea-Maidens, Ursula, Flotsam and Jetsam; Peter Pan with Hook; Princess Aurora with Prince Phillip, Flora, Fauna and Merryweather; Simba with his lion cubs; Alice with her White Rabbit, Queen of Cards and Queen of Hearts; Pocahontas with her Indians; Pinocchio with Marionettes; Aladdin with Arabian Dancer, Genie and Jasmine; Cruella Deville with Dalmatians; Snow White with her Seven Dwarfs; and Tinkerbell. ‘ ‘School of Rock’ with ‘Rock Star,’ ‘Hurt,’ ‘Please Don’t Stop the Music,’ ‘Lady Marmalade,’ ‘Shake and Bake,’ ‘Misery Business,’ ‘Hiding Underwater,’ ‘We’re All in This Together,’ ‘Footloose,’ ‘Wild Horses,’ ‘Girls Night Out,’ ‘Shot Thru the Heart,’ ‘Bombay,’ ‘Lake Whoa,’ ‘If I Was the One,’ ‘Macarena,’ ‘Picture Perfect,’ ‘You Can Escape,’ ‘Oh La La,’ ‘Side to Side,’ ‘Hallelujah,’ ‘Can’t Stop the Beat,’ ‘4 minutes,’ ‘Faster Stronger,’ ‘It Is You,’ ‘Chicken Dance,’ ‘Life is a Dance Floor,’ ‘Jukebox Hero,’ ‘Battle,’ and Senior Routine. While working months, in some cases years, perfecting their skills for the end-of-the-year finale, dance teams also compete in competitions. In 2008 alone, her junior dance team was awarded first in pom and best overall uniform youth hip hop during state competitions and several honors in the Rocky Top Challenge held in Knoxville. After years of hard work, individual dancers try for scholarships to college. This year, two students received dance scholarships and a third student may as well. Paula’s Dance Academy is located at 119 W. Main Street in McMinnville and can be reached at 473-0505. The academy works with 4 year olds and up.
