By Leanne Joyce
Take one dance teacher, three residents of an aged care facility with nearly three centuries of life between them, a complement of student dancers, a little inspiration and the result is a moving tale of life’s highs and lows.
For Kolbe Catholic College Dance Teacher Sally Shanassy, the lives of Pat Davis, Emily Benge and Rod Bartholomewsz, all of whom are residents at the Shoalwater Aged Care Home, was the inspiration for the College’s dance night entitled Profectus held on June 27 and 28.
Profectus tells the story of the three 90 year old’s lives from childhood to the present, highlighting moments of love, rebellion, war, loss and celebration.
Mrs Shannassy said she wanted to create a dance night which told a story and kept the audience involved.
Each Sunday for the past semester Year 11 and 12 students from Kolbe have visited Pat, Emily and Rod, who took time out of their own lives to sit down and tell us their stories. The students recorded the stories about love, war, loss, celebration and many more, which they used as audio between dances.
Mrs Shanassy also hoped that the dance students would learn that older people aren’t what the young so often assume; rather that they are gems full of stories to tell.
On the dance nights, students from Year 7 to Year 12 played out the stories through dance which pulled on many audience member’s heartstrings leaving them crying, laughing and smiling.
Dance captain Jack Ryan said up to 170 students rehearsed for the production. “We wanted to do something really different to what we have done, not just dance after dance, but tell a story and get a message across to our audience that they can take home and think about — something meaningful.”
Jack said talking with the seniors was an ‘eye-opening’ experience.
“At first we were all really nervous and we didn’t know what was going to happen but, once they got comfortable with us, everything just kept flowing through and we got everything we wanted out of it and more.”
On the final night the students lined up in a guard of honour in the Sports hall for Pat and Emily.
Thundering applause and loud cheering from students and audience alike for the two ladies was spine tingling and heart warming.