STRICTLY BALLROOM

Strictly Ballroom is not just a story about a couple of ballroom dancers, but an extended metaphor for artistic expression, and the notion that art and rulebooks don’t mix. It shares the story of our ability to withstand pressure and tofight for what we believe. It reminds us of our power to feel, be true to ourselves, and to not let fear get in the way. The world we created in our Senior School musical production of Strictly Ballroom was indeed larger-than-life, flamboyant, and stylised. Our students, from Ruyton and Trinity, did not let fear get in their way of their commitment to this production. They gave it absolutely everything. Originally slated to open in mid-2020, our production of Strictly Ballroom persisted through four Victorian lockdowns totalling 171days. Despite enduring distance learning and the complications of virtual rehearsals, Strictly Ballroom continued to unite the Ruyton and Trinity communities. In fact, for many of us it was a focal point in the fog and gave us purpose in navigating the new world described as ‘before COVID’ to ‘the new normal’. It provided us many moments of hope. Rehearsing a musical through a pandemic revealed the importance of human connection. We need each other to tell stories, to laugh, tocry, to experience something together. Wewere so excited to consider the possibility of finally performing to a live audience, as we so longed to connect and share our achievement. Sadly, unless you happened to see the Wednesday night open dress rehearsal, this was not our fate with many cast members becoming primary close contacts to a positive COVID case on opening night closing the show for good. Out of isolation, we know our students will continue to need great art because we need each other. Art offers us a unique opportunity toprocess our experiences, to laugh at them, defy them or to escape from them. Thestudents involved in Strictly Ballroom have thesupport of each other, the creative team of teachers involved and the broader Ruyton and Trinity communities. We will always remember this journey and the absolute joy it brought us all. We are so thankful for the generosity of parents, teachers and students who worked behind the scenes and for our incredible student and staff orchestra.

Darcie Kane-Priestley Director of Drama

‘A LIFE LIVED IN FEAR IS A LIFE HALF LIVED’

— FRAN, STRICTLY BALLROOM