All the world is an online stage for CSS
‘IF music be the food of love, play on’.
The famous quote from Shakespeare’s ‘ Twelfth Night’ summed up the spirit of Mallow’s Centre Stage School (CSS), which was not willing to let the trifling matter of the COVID-19 restrictions get in the way of their annual end of year stage show.
Instead school members took to the Internet for an online performance of their all-singing, all-dancing ‘Footwork 2020’ extravaganza, a show that normally takes place in at the Cork Opera House.
Centre Stage founder and artistic Director Aideen McAuliffe said students and teachers had been preparing for the show since last September – conducting classes online since March.
She said the end of year show is always a “whirlwind of energy, fun and practiced performance” and despite the COVID restrictions the attitude f everyone involved was very much one of ‘ the show must go on’.
“We decided we had to put together an online showcase which could be viewed by the students, teachers, families and friends of all involved,” said Aideen.
Broadcast through YouTube on May 17, the show featured footage of company dancers in competition, home recordings of solo singers and musicians anda performance from members of the school’s ‘ Pop Ensemble’ choir.
It also incorporated performances by ‘ The Singing Teachers’, the senior Musical Theatre classes, a special family rendition by Mags, Shane and Amy O’Riordan and a flashmob courtesy of some of the younger members, led by Dance Captain Katie Gallagher and her brother Eoghan.
It was also an opportunity to honour the outstanding performanecs of individuals over the school year, with Luke Walsh winning the ‘Student of the Year Award’.
Dance teacher and choregrapher David O’Connor presented the ‘We’ve got your back’ awards (named after the Centre Stage motto), with the ‘Crazy Creative Champions’ award going to Nataly and Tereza Krisova, the ‘Dizzy Dancer’ award to Olivia Chaber, the ‘ You can’t stop my smile’ award to Clodagh O’Keeffe and the ‘Funny and Fabulous Family’ award to the Manley’s.
The show can be viewed anytime on the CSS YouTube channel.
“This is a very special show, and CSS would like to thank all the teachers, performers and contributors who helped put together this celebration of what we are – a community of people who love the performing arts, and who won’t allow physical distance to get in the way of sharing the joy of performance,” said Aideen.
“We wish all of our students and their parents a lovely summer, filled with music, song and dance. Until we meet again, take care of yourselves,” she added.