What a year we had in 2010 and what a way to finish it off with our 13th annual concert It's a Wonderful Life. Our studio has had a very busy and successful year. We completed two ballet exam sittings with the Royal Academy of Dance of which over 90% of students were awarded distinctions for the grades and major examinations. We also sat jazz and tap exams with Ballet Australasia Limited with over 95% of students being awarded honours and above. Ella Quinlan and Brenna Dodds achieved distinctions in their Jazz Solo Award.

We had outstanding results at the three eisteddfods we competed in and at the two cheerleading championships at which we were awarded ACT State Dance Champions and ACT State Pom Champions. We also performed at the Woden Valley Festival. The studio also competed in the local Royal Academy of Dance competition the 'Betsy Sawers Memorial Awards' where many students made it to the Finals for all grades with Jack Whiter awarded a Highly Commended for Grade Five.

We attended a Michael Jackson workshop with Michael's specialist dancers Devin Jamieson and Nicholas Bass. We also ran a SDS workshop with a well know choreographer from 'So you think you can dance' Alvin DeCastro and were lucky enough to have a workshop with international choreographer Michael Schwendt.

We have had students represent the studio in local amateur musical theater productions. Charlotte Whiter was in Canberra Philharmonic Societies 'Joseph and his amazing technicolor dream coat', Brenna Dodds performed in the Queanbeyan Players production of 'Fame'.

Jack Whiter auditioned and successfully gained a position with the Australian Ballet Schools interstate program in Melbourne. Shannon Sked graduated from the Australian Dance Performance Institute in Brisbane and Stacy Nitschke successfully completed her three years course at the Western Australian Performing Arts.

Amy Radovanovic was accepted to do her Royal Academy of Dance Teachers Certificate and earned the SDS Dancer of the Year award. Ella Quinlan and Chloe Jones also received their SDS 10 year dedication awards.

I am looking forward to another wonderful year of dance in 2011 and wish you all a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.

Renee Whiter (Principal)

Sparkles Dance Studio award winners for 2010 are as follows:

• Sparkles Dancer of the Year 2010 - Amy Radovanovic
• Sparkles Dance Studio Senior Most improved Dancer 2010 - Annabel Bloom
• Sparkles Dance Studio Junior Most improved Dancer 2010 - Tegan Agnew
• Sparkles Dance Studio Most promising Dancer 2010 - Lily Tuomela
• Sparkles Dance Studio Most promising Baby 2010 - Kelsey O'Dell
• Sparkles Dance Studio Adult Dancer of the year 2010 - Margaret Braithwaite

10 year Dedication award 2010:

• Ella Quinlan
• Chloe Jones

5 year Dedication Award 2010:

• Tegan Agnew
• Lily Tuomela

Dance style winners of the year:

• Sparkles Dance Studio Jazz Dancer of the year 2010 - Hannah Nutt
• Sparkles Dance Studio Cheerleader of the year 2010 - Aliese Layden
• Sparkles Dance Studio Tap dancer of the year 2010 - Ella Quinlan
• Sparkles Dance Studio Ballet dancer of the year 2010 - Jack Whiter
• Sparkles Dance Studio Hip Hop Dancer of the year 2010 - Matthew Allen

Encouragement Awards 2010:

• Aislinn Grainger
• Elizabeth Dry
• Elisha Mackay
• Courtney Busby
• Georgia Owens
• Samantha Bodle