Time for an update on the PMPA America tour. I have been trying to update you daily with visual images from our amazing time away but their are a few exciting things that have happened to us that you just have to hear about!

Firstly, we survived the flight. Patrick decided that sleep was for chumps and proceeded to stay awake for the first 10 hours of the trip… in my arms… but then drifted off and we made it through. I was entertained by the kids walking the isles, stashing up on snacks form the help yourself bar in the galley, they brought me fruit and MnM’s on their way through every hour or so. Not many slept, but this didn’t damper their spirits during our parade and show rehearsal in the car park when we arrived at the hotel. You heard right, jet lagged and full of sugar we paraded around the carpark ready to blow the Disneyland audiences away with our energy the following day.

Parade day was great, we caught up with old friend of the school, ex-guest teacher at PMPA Josh Horner who heads up the Dance the magic team leading the parade rehearsal. We had parade pictures and video then, rehearsed the umber, saw our families for lunch and then went backstage at Disney for the big show. This was a great day, it was Lucinda’s first time into Disneyland and therefore her first experience seeing Sleeping Beauty’s Castle in real life (we had done a lot of research with her prior to the trip) and the look on her face was priceless. She ran up Main Street and didn’t look back. It was awesome.

Speaking of awesome, the parade was just that. It gave me just as much pride as the first time we did it in 2013, I balled when I saw our dancers coming around the corner near the Small world ride and I balled again as they danced past me, smiles beaming! I did the run through the park to see them dance past at several vantage points. I was so proud of how well they did, its not an easy feat, it takes so much stamina and precision, they were amazing. Disney smiles all the way.

The next day we performed in the Showcase concert, a variety performance show, kind of like our concert at the Glasshouse but this year for the first time it was perfumed on a working Disneyland stage, the stage where ‘Mickey’s Magical Map’ show performs daily. Due to a hiccup in the schedule, our girls and LAchie, had a fast change between items, too fast to get back to the designated dressing areas, so… in a first ever special exception, they allowed our dancers to change in the official theatre dressing rooms. It was incredible, we were surrounded by costumes, makeup, lockers, shoes and work stations for the official disney show. This was an area that only Cast members usually were allowed. It was such a special experience.

Next it was off to Disney Performing Arts for our workshop and performance at California Adventure Park. The Disney workshop is like nothing else I have experienced. As a teacher I always take so much away from the lesson, the kids take twice that amount away and we always having knowing we have shared something incredible. Today’s class was inspiring. A mix of clever choreography and encouraged all dancers to ‘create a magical moment for their audience’ just like the performers do at Disney. This then translated into the dancers first official show performance that afternoon at the Hollywood Backlot stage. Again, insert me crying here. So proud of how everyone lifted to the occasion. The improvement in so many of our dancers, the way everyone’s personality shone through and brought the performance up to the next level, I just can’t tell you how great it was to sit there and be in awe of our dancers, so proud. That night we watched the ‘POaint the night parade’ now thats something else and then the Fireworks… Disney now how to put on a show!

Universal studios didn’t know what hit them the next day, we were on fire and ready to go. Harry Potter world had just opened and all of our tour group was keen to see the dancers perform and then get into the park. We performed on a different stage to previous years as the Blues Brother’s stage has been torn down with the new (and spiffy) renovations at Universal. We performed on a brand new stage, a lot bigger than the last one, with great lights and a full screen above the stage that the performance is projected onto, how cool is that!! Twice the show! I didn’t know where to look, to the live version or the screen! So great. our host that day was Stacie, the same host we had 3 years ago, she remembered us and made sure she was put on our shift so that she could see us dance again, it was great to catch up. She says she will look out for us in July 2020! The dancers danced beautifully and then headed into the park for a day of rides, popcorn and potter-ness.

We then had 2 free days to explore. Some famiies drove to San Diego, some to Las Vegas, some stayed in bed to recover from the frantic first part of the tour, come went shopping. We… went for lunch with Ariel, at Ariel’s Grotto… it was AMAZING!!! We met all the princesses and Lucinda was in her element, full Snow White get up, complete with mum’s best pigtails and sparkly shoes. Whist daddy went on the rides, Patrick, Luci and I went and lined up to see Ana Elsa and Olaf…. for 90minutes!!! Worth it. Lucinda was stoked. That night we watched ‘World of Colour.’ The light and water spectacular, which was actually choreographed by our friend, Josh Horner! Josh and I managed a catch up amongst the princess visiting and rides, we recorded a live episode of my podcast ‘Ask a Dancer’ which you should subscribe to on iTunes, if you haven’t already!!!

On our second day, we took Lucinda to the Bibbity Bobbitt Boutique… where do I start. What an experience. When we first went on tour in 2013, Lucinda was only 3months and mum and I just couldn’t wait to bring her back, we have literally talked about it for years, today was the day! All week, actually all year we had quizzed Lucinda o which princess she would like to dress up as… her answers had ranged from Elsa to snow White, from Buzz Lightyear (glad that phase didn’t last!) to Cinderella. And on the day Cinderella won out! As part of the package she got to crown, the wand and the dress, her hair done like a princess, the royal nails, sparkles and glitter hair and some magical photos taken with a Lucinda size carriage. It was just the best hour. She had a great time, I had the BEST time! Then they escorted her through the Royal Hall to meet all the princesses, and the real Cinderella. (no lining up, yes!!!) It was so great! We topped that day off with our Rainforest Cafe dinner together as a group. With thanks to Ros and Charlene from Dance Around the World for the pressies and Claudette for your lovely words. Then early to bed to get ready for our 5am wake up call.

Off to Goofy’s breakfast today, we sat and ate pancakes shaped like Mickey Mouse, omelettes, muffins, eggs and other buffet type items. Then the dancers went nuts on the other ‘not so normal buffet items’ Penut Butter pizza, waffles and soft serve ice-cream, every kind of lolly you can imagine, the list goes on… Im sure the girls would be able to tell you more about what was there, I stuck to an omelette and toast, Lucinda demolished a Mickey pancake. All of the characters came around. Pluto and Minnie were the biggest hit and of course Goofy himself. Breakfast will seem so boring tomorrow!

Then onto the bus to head to the Abby Lee Dance Company. We had warned the dancers when the classes were booked that its just their studio, Abby won’t be teaching the class, Abby won’t even be there, she will be in Pittsburgh, the girls will be at school etc etc. We stepped off the bus and were greeted by a crew of people holding waivers and throwing pens in our direction, we must sign immediately to get into the building… OMG it was happening. The dancers and Abby were inside and they were filming. ‘We need you to sign these because theres a good chance you’re going to be on the show’ Can you imagine how the kids lost it that they heard those words!!! Not only were they filming, but they were lovely, took time out to have photos with us, the dancers watched our dancers take class, we did Jazz and Tap workshops, both very different, challenging and fun. Then the Mom’s came and were super lovely too. I had a chat with Abby herself, she was lovely and very encouraging… yep you heard right. We all left on a high… I want to go home and put the show on now!!!  Next was onto Santa Monica for sight seeing, Beveley Hills, Rodeo Drive, Sunset Blvd, to Hollywood and Highland and into Madam Tussades to get dressed for our performance. When we arrived they already had our name up in lights on the strip. It was such a buzz to come around the corner next to the Dolby (old Kodak, where the Oscars are on) Theatre and Port Macquarie Performing Arts there for the world to see! It was so exciting. This, our final performance for LA was super energised and the dancers did great. We finished the day off with some free shopping time and have just come home to pack. As I type this, my family is all asleep around me, I’m in the dark and my laptop is on 1% battery. So I will end here. Its been awesome and tomorrow I fly home…. to NYC!!!! YAHOOO!!!!!