Dear Reader,
Welcome to MODS, the groovingest club at Monash. This is just a
little newsletter to let you know what our plans are for the year and how
you can get involved. We'll try and keep you posted throughout the year
on dance related events at uni and around Melbourne.
The first general meeting for all members will be held on Wednesday 26th March at 1.00pm in R6, the Rotunda. At this meeting we need to confirm the committee for 1997. Some positions are still open, including publicity officer and social co-ordinator, which everyone is welcome to nominate for, including first years. The other thing we need to do is ratify our new constitution: every club has had to alter their constitution in accordance with the new Clubs and Societies guidelines under MSA. This is your chance to find out how the club really runs, and to add your vote to an historical occasion (did you know that MODS is one of the oldest clubs at Monash University?).
Classes for semester one are underway, so if you haven't yet found your way down to the Rehearsal Room in the bowels of the Union Building (its beneath the Post Office), do so soon!
Open Contemporary - Thursday 1-2pm
Beginner Jazz - Friday 12-1pm
Inter Jazz - Friday 1-2pm
Beginner Funk - Monday 5.30-6.30pm
Intermediate Funk - Monday 6.30-7.30pm
Beginner is meant for those who've never danced before and intermediate for those with some or a lot of experience. (NB. if you did Kate's beginner funk classes last year, go for intermediate this year.) However, we aim to cater to all standards in a non-pressured environment, so don't be put off by either classification. Our classes are fun, convenient and CHEAP compared to any you'll find elsewhere.
Our first workshop for the year, Riverdance, introducing the basics of soft shoe Irish dancing, was held on Friday the 7th of March. It was greatly enjoyed by all who attended and we have had lots of requests for further classes in this style so keep your eyes out for details. Other workshops in the works for 1997 include classical ballet (once again, if this proves popular we may start regular classes) and African dance.
Immediately! - International Students have asked us to supply dancers (no experience necessary) to take part in a fashion parade of international costumes for Multicultural Week on Saturday 3rd of May. Please let us know right now if you want to be involved.
The first major chance to perform planned for this year is a choreographed fashion parade of second hand clothes from the uni market, on Wednesday June 4th. This will involve dancing, of course, but nothing terribly technical, so it is an excellent chanc e for those without much experience to be able to get up on stage and strut their stuff. There will be no auditions, all are encouraged to take part.
A major musical theatre production which will be a joint venture between MODS, the choral society and the philharmonic society, and produced by Student Theatre, will be performed at the Malthouse theatre in the city around July.
Opus Dei: a production based on circus skills, to be performed in the Bio-med gardens in October and hopefully taken to the Fringe. This will involve a series of workshops teaching the skills, including fire-twirling, acrobatics and ritual magic. It is a great chance to get creative, because the choreography is to be group devised.
Let us know if you're interested in performing or choreographing in any of the shows, and watch out for auditions and further details.
We're also planning a film night soon - all your old favourites: Fame, Flashdance, Footloose...with plenty of munchies (don't believe what they say about dancers living on mineral water and salad!). So there's plenty going on - take advantage. But even we at MODS are not bottlomless wells of innovation - if you have any brilliant ideas on workshops you'd like to do, shows or events you'd like to attend (make sure you get in early) or social activites you'd like to help organise, come and have a chat any time we're in the Rehearsal Room. Or here are the other ways you can contact us or find out what's going on:
Well, that's probably covered everything for the time being. Remember,
dance is good for the soul (and not to bad for the body either). Hope to
see you soon,
LOVE MODS.
President: Bridget Blair ph.9802 3383
Vice-president: Joey Blair ph.9560 4737
Treasurer: Ai-Lin Lee ph.9560 5628
Secretary: Carolyn Chin ph.9905 6325