學舞趁早           文 田田 圖 Richard Bradford/Audrey Pointon               

明日之星--Ashlee Pointon

   學舞趁早」,一個十二歲的小女孩這麼告訴我。

是的,一年之計在于春,一日之計在于晨。

   初次遇見Ashlee Pointon 是在三年前的一個聖誕舞會。她來了,她來到ABAV借座于St. Christopher小學禮堂的舞廳,看著父親Stuart Pointon教舞,看著我們跳舞,天真爛漫。

  再見她已是一年之後。父親Stuart的Let’s Dance Promotions借座博士山市政廳禮堂舉辦「周四舞會」,她來了,她來幫忙清潔杯碟,幫忙整理檯椅,安靜勤勞。

  去年Pointon先生終于覓得位于Wantirna的Hungarian Club (匈牙利俱樂部)舉辦「周二及周四」舞會。她又來了,她來告訴我：「學舞要趁早」,成熟自信。她是這麼說：

 「 嗨!我叫Ashlee,今年十二歲,現在我要談談我的舞蹈生活。

  我首次嚐試到跳舞的滋味,是在我四歲剛進入幼稚園,每星期跳一次〔爵士芭蕾〕。在那個時候,我非常害羞,但是(一如大多數人一樣),舞蹈令我脫殼而出。去年我開始在JAMM舞蹈學院學舞,我的老師Julie Jones是一個了不起的舞蹈家,我希望有朝一日,我也能成為一位像她那樣優秀的舞蹈家。我在JAMM結交了很多朋友,他們大多數都參加了澳洲體育舞蹈協會主辦的舞蹈比賽,我為他們驕傲!我也參加了兩項比賽,我跳得很好。

  當我長大了,我要建立自己的舞蹈學校,我也要去《黑池》參加比賽。《黑池》是在英國舉辦的舞蹈盛事,來自世界各地的舞蹈好手,都湧往《黑池》接受挑戰。

  我的爹Stuart是我最好的支持者,他是我所知的最優秀的舞蹈家之一,從他身上我學到很多,我感謝他督促我去學舞。

  交際舞是我的生命!這是我最心愛去做的事情。我鼓勵人人都去試試,跳舞既能保持身材苗條,又能結朋交友,更且帶給你無窮樂趣!」

  十二月十六日,我很榮幸被邀請參觀Ashlee的舞蹈考試。JAMM舞蹈學院借座East Doncaster College作試場,考試由8:45am—6:30pm,項目繁多頻密,難為四位考官。Ashlee應考兩項-------現代舞銅組(Bronze Bar Modern)和拉丁舞銀組(Silver Bar Latin)。

  首先考的是現代舞。紅上衣、黑長裙,高佻挺拔,亭亭玉立,秀髮向上梳成一髻,橙金眼影,嫣紅櫻唇,Ashlee輕輕挽著老師Mark Wilson,盈盈步入舞池。她跳了華爾滋(Modern Waltz)、狐步(Slow Foxtrot)及快步(Quickstep)。考官Mrs. Maureen McCabe給于的評語是：「步法好,音樂感強,身子的一起一落,左旋右擺,都能控制得宜,一舉手一投足,舞姿婆娑優雅美妙,具有自己獨特可愛的風格。小腿的動作若能放柔些,頸部和肩膊若能放鬆些則更佳。」Ashlee獲得「榮譽」。(The Australian Dancing Society 評分標準,得分95—100屬榮譽級)

  接著考拉丁舞。她換上迷你淺橙大露背短裙,裙上鑲滿朵朵紅花,背後拖著長長尾巴,耳上盪著大大耳環,右臂扣著紅紅手鐲,光彩奪目,令人無法相信她僅僅是豆蔻年華。她跳了倫巴(Rumba)、桑巴(Samba)、鬥牛舞(Paso Doble)及牛仔舞(Jive),舞伴是老師Julie Jones。考官Mrs. Jennifer Blum讚她：「時間掌握得宜,步法正確無誤,膝蓋轉動、手臂揮舞、身體的扭擺,在在敏捷靈活,尤其是小腿的伸展完美得無與倫比,惟須注意臀部勿太後傾,具備無窮的潛質,她超越的拉丁舞水準,為她的老師增光。」這樣的評語,當然又拿到「榮譽」。

  小小的Ashlee 不鳴則已,一鳴驚人,兩項考試都獲得最高榮譽,憑著她的天賦,父母的培育,名師的指導,假以時日,我們可拭目以待,澳洲舞壇上又將升起一顆璀璨光亮的明星-----Ashlee Pointon!

   後記：《詩經》說舞蹈由情而生。凡是有情者,必有所感受,情動于中,便形之于外。雖說學舞趁早,然而,孔子說：「活到老,學到老。」西諺也有句：「永不嫌遲。」(Never to be too late),情之所鍾,誰說臨老不能學舞?!

Dancers  Start  Young !

                                                                                                                                                 By Dee Dee 

 “Dancers start young!” A 12 year old little girl told me.

 It seems right. As a Chinese proverb says, “A year begins in the spring and a day begins in the morning.”

 The first time I met Ashlee Pointon was in the ABAV’s X’mas Ball in St. Christopher Primary School Hall 3 years ago. She came to watch her father Stuart teaching and us dancing. She was cute and lovely.

  The second time I met her was a year later. Her father ran the Thursday Night Social Dance in the Box Hill Town Hall. She came to help to tidy the place. She was quiet and diligent.

  Last year Mr. Pointon moved his Tuesday & Thursday Night Social Dance to the Hungarian Club in Wantirna. Ashlee came to tell me, ”Dancers start young!” She was mature and confident.

 ” Hi! I am Ashlee and I am 12 years old. I am going to talk about my dancing life.

  The first time I got a taste of the dancing life was when I was four years old and had just started kinder. I did jazz-ballet once a week. At that time I was very shy but dancing (like it does to most people) brought me out of my shell.

  Just last year I started having lessons at JAMM Dance Centre. My teacher Julie Jones is a wonderful dancer. I wish someday I will become a great dancer like her. I have made a great group of friends at JAMM; most of them compete in the Australian Dance Sport Championships. I am proud of them! I had done two competitions and I did it well.

  When I am older, I want my own dance studio. I also wish to compete in Black Pool. Black Pool is a competition held in England where all great ballroom dancers around the world go to compete against each other.

  My best supporter is my dad Stuart who is one of the best dancers I know. I have learnt a lot from him and thank him for pushing me to have lessons!

  Ballroom dancing is my life!

  It is my favourite thing to do. I encourage everyone to try it. It is a great way to keep fit, make new friends and it is heaps of fun! “said Ashlee.

  I was invited to attend Ashlee’s examination held in East Doncaster College on 16^th last December. It started from 8:45am—6:30pm, there were so many examinees and only four examiners. Ashlee attended the Bronze Bar Modern and the Silver Bar Latin.

  She wore a red top and a black long skirt, tall and slim, with golden eye-shadow and red lip-stick, she held her teacher Mark Wilson’s arm gently and started to dance. They danced Modern Waltz, Slow Foxtrot and quickstep. Mrs. Maureen McCabe,   the examiner commented,  ”Musically well controlled, good use of sides of body shown throughout, rise and fall well controlled throughout, footwork and movement lovely ,presented a most elegant display. Leg action could be a little softer on some movements and try to relax neck and shoulder a little.” Ashlee passed her Bronze Bar Modern with honors.

  Later she changed into a light-orange mini-skirt with a long tail on the back, big shinning ear-rings, huge red bangles; she was too charming to be 12 years old. She and her teacher Ms Julie Jones danced Rumba, Samba, Paso Doble and Jive. Mrs. Jennifer Blum, the examiner’s comments were ”Pelvis tending to drop back in places, leg stretch excellent footwork very positive with good knee action, accurate timing, style developing nicely with arm-lines excellently placed, good carriage of body throughout, excellent feel for the music.” Mrs. Blum congratulated her Latin being of a very high standard, she was showing great potential and was a credit to her teacher.” Ashlee passed her Silver Bar Latin with honors too.

  Ashlee is born to dance. With her talent and endeavor, with the help of her teachers and parents, we believe that she will become a great dancer, a super-star in the future!

  According to the Chinese classic “Shi Jing “, human feeling breeds the dancing. Since our language is not enough to express our various feeling, we dance. Though we believe dancers start young, yet never to be too late. Besides Confucius said, “Learn as long as you live. “ Therefore, why can’t we start dancing at whatever age we are?!

8--1--2007