Starship Dance Theater, a non-profit dance company started by Joyce Dilauro of Guilford in 1988, known for it’s annual production of “The Magic Toy Shop” and many community productions, has awarded it’s annual $ 2,000 scholarship to Nicole Lemelin of Killingworth.  Nicole is a senior at Mercy High School.  She used the scholarship money to attend The Boston Conservatory this summer, where she was encouraged to apply as a full time student in the Fall 2011 session.  She continues dancing at Starship Studio of Guilford.

Schulyer Kennedy of Madison was awarded the honorable mention for her dedication and talent in dance.  She is a junior at Daniel Hand High School.  She attended The Boston Ballet School this summer and also continues to dance with Starship Dance Studio.

Photo Credit Top: Nicole Lemelin and Antonio Harvey taken by Sandy Connolly 11/09
Photo Credit Bottom: Schuyler Kennedy and Abigail Connolly taken by Sandy Connolly 11/09

Hey all– Alta here.

I can’t believe that tonight will be my last Tech/Dress rehearsal for Starship’s The Magic Toyshop. I’m getting ready as we speak (I know it’s early, anything to avoid studying for my huge AP Economics test tomorrow…) and going through my pre-show rituals I feel as though nothing has changed. I could be eight years old right now, excitedly preparing to be a Baby Doll.

Earlier today I swung by CVS to pick up some false eyelashes for the show, and you should have seen the look on the woman’s face as I checked out. “Are you wearing false eyelashes now??” she asked. Not many people buy false eyelashes, I suppose. But that’s one of the fun parts of performing. It’s like Halloween; you get to dress up in way you never get to, and be someone you aren’t. Everyone dreams of wearing big tutu’s and dancing about en pointe, so it’s bizarre to realize that, if only for a moment, you are living what most little girls dream about.

After last Sunday’s rehearsal, I’m not quite sure what to expect tonight. Between Isaiah’s laughing and Alicia’s giggling and my own chuckles, all of which occured throughout the Sad Dance, (and Cheryl’s shouts of “Isaiah! Alicia! We don’t want a repeat of last year!! — they laughed on stage during their pas de deux last winter) we had quite a night. One always get the giggles at the worst times! Something is just irrepressibly amusing about acting sad. When you’re actually performing it’s different, for you’re so into the dance that you don’t think to laugh. But during rehearsal’s I now force myself to look at Alicia’s hair or halter straps, and at Isaiah’s hat instead of at their faces. Eye contact is a sure-fire way to start a laughing fit…

But they always say a bad tech rehearsal is a recepie for a good show, so I’m not really worried. The Magic Toyshop always seems to come together for the show somehow. Maybe it is magic afterall.

Alta Dupont, Lead Can-Can in 2007′s Magic Toy Shop is pictured here with Abigail Geshwind, as a baby-doll.  Abigail was also featured in 2007 as Baby Bear.

Gigi Clark performed in the Magic Toyshop show in December of 2007.  She filled each child and teen role in Magic Toyshop over the years she danced with Starship, from Baby Bear to Ballarina Doll (2007).  Here she is shown after the last show of the performance weekend with 2007′s Baby Bear, Abigail Geshwind in her first Magic Toyshop experience.  Who knows?  Maybe we’ll see Gigi back in an adult role one day?