Peanut Butter and Jelly Sandwich

Last night's final performance of Next Step Prep was so fun and inspiring. The students worked incredibly hard all summer and it showed for the final 90 minutes. On Friday, there were tears of sadness for leaving and tears of joy for celebrating the new friendships (and professional contacts) made.

I wanted to share this little sketch with you. Entitled "Peanut Butter and Jelly Sandwich", this is an original work developed by Dane Madssen (our acting teacher), Sarah Pace, Ana Dratz, Annie Caron, and Eric Wills. They worked on this during the "tableau" exercises facilitated by Bill Bowers. One of those days, they had to create a scene with only one word on a 4x6" index card for inspiration. Their word...peanut butter and jelly sandwich. They had 10 minutes to come up with an idea, how it would be implemented, and sound effects (if any) that would be added.

This is the final result. I hope you agree it was quite hilarious....

You Tube: MCT's Next Step Prep Peanut Butter and Jelly Sandwich

Music Ensemble with Troy Bashor

I popped my head in to music class one day, where our core music teacher, Troy Bashor, was working with them on their ensemble pieces.

Troy is a Montana native, born and raised in Shelby, Montana. In high school he traveled around Montana with All-State Choir, Washington State with the ACDA Northwest Honor Choir, and 7 countries in Europe with the Montana Youth Choir. He graduated with a degree in Music Education from the University of Montana and currently teaches in the Frenchtown School District, just west of Missoula. He has been the music director at MCT and the Performing Arts Camp (PAC), and plays drums-set and percussion for many productions. In the summers, Troy has taught and counseled at the Flathead Music Camp and the University of Montana Band Camp. He's also a percussionist with the Glacier Orchestra and the Missoula Symphony.

Phew...and in his spare time, I hear he sleeps a little...


Troy know his stuff. He has a great rapport with the students and they really enjoy working with him.



This is one of those times I wish I had audio for the blog...they sounded great!




Thanks for being a part of Next Step Prep, Troy. You have so much to offer the students and we appreciate all your time and dedication!

Guest Instructor - TJ Charlson - Stage Combat

Next Step Prep is so lucky to have the amazing cast of guest instructors who come from all over the county to teach the students. But what you might not know is the level of talent under the roof at MCT. TJ Charlson is one of those people. He is a Production Coordinator at MCT and coordinates MCT's two week performing arts camp (PAC) held on the shores of Flathead Lake every August. TJ took some time out of his schedule to teach stage combat to the students.

I missed this session last year, but delighted in seeing all the students practicing their techniques afterward. There were a few times I thought they were actually slapping each other, but they were just really good at their sound effects!

Here TJ demonstrates to the students how to throw a realistic punch. Rylee volunteered to be the first victim.

To be realistic, the actors have to make it look like contact occurred, while timing their sound effects (in this case one hand hitting the other hand)...

Elinor packs a mean punch. Great reaction Sarai!

Next up...the jab. I wish you could see the facial expressions Rylee was making. They were hilarious!

Nothing says "Good Morning!" like a sucker punch to the stomach...

Now everyone join in... Skye and Nyna practice sparring...

Maddy wallops Cooper...

TJ demonstrates for Mandie and Micaela...

Then they try it...

Micaela...don't close your eyes..she hasn't hit you yet! Ha ha!

TJ admitted he was inspired early on by the World Wrestling Federation. I think I remember seeing this move...

TJ pointed out that our normal reactions (such as closing our eyes) can't happen in stage combat due to safety concerns. He emphasized that EVERY move in a stage fight need to be carefully rehearsed and need to be the same every time. He emphasized that communication and eye contact were essential between stage partners, and couldn't emphasize safety enough.

Now practicing kicks. Maddy gives it a try...

...and TJ makes it look very realistic...


The students really enjoyed learning how to fight on stage...


TJ demonstrates the old Three Stooges standby..."head slam into the table"...when he demonstrated with Rylee, is was so realistic Rylee thought he had really hurt him...

How to fall when "thrown" across a room...TJ showed the students how to roll properly and instructed them on safety so they could avoid getting hurt...

Thanks for taking the time again this year to teach stage combat, TJ. The students learned a lot, laughed a lot, and slapped themselves silly afterward. What a great day!

Guest Instructor - Christi Fiara

Chrisi Fiara came to Missoula by way of Las Vegas to teach students acrobatic and trapeze techniques. She is a wonderful teacher, soft-spoken and graceful in her actions, her speech, and her coaching. What a wonderful addition to the Next Step Prep curriculum! She was also guest instructing at On Center Dance, where many of our students train during the school year. Christi taught over two nights during Week Three.

P.S. This blog post is dedicated to Skye's mother, who has patiently awaited trapeze photos for the past two weeks. :) Thanks for your patience!

Here is the challenge for the night...

And here's how it got there...thanks for getting it all set up, Greg and John (John came down the ladder afterward but he was so quick I missed him!)...

Before anything happens, a stretching session (or a groaning session, depending on who you ask)...
Practicing splits...

Christi demonstrated various ways to do a back bend, depending on each individual's flexibility level...this is the basic back bend...

Or the more advance version...

So, to review...beginner...

Um....advanced? Not so much... :)

No, she didn't kill them all. What would we do for three more weeks? Just a very relaxing super-stretch...

And, of course, handstands, with and without wall (and friend) support...

And shoulder stretches... (Logan and Sarah B...this one makes ME groan...you guys have amazing flexibility)...



Christi gives a rundown of what's going to happen the first night of coaching. The students broke into groups and worked on various stations for the night, including trapeze work, stretching, and various acrobatic techniques...

This is a stretch called the pretzel. Um....I call it...WOW.

Jadi helps demonstrate one of the acrobatic poses. This one uses counterweight and balancing between partners...


Christi demonstrated the various poses that could occur with these techniques. Did I mention she's INCREDIBLY flexible?

Christi teaches Caleigh how to be the base person in this partner stunt...

And then the students started to practice...


Zoom in on this photo...Tessa's facial expression is priceless. Tess is so fun to photograph. She just always has an expression of joy in everything she does. She'll be leaving us after this week due to family commitments, and we'll miss her...



Christi works with her first group on the trapeze. She shows them the various tools trapezeists (is that a word) use, the swivels and hooks that help hold them in mid-air. It's amazing how such a small little hook can support a tremendous amount of weight.

A can of rosin. You might know this from violinists, who use rosin to help their bow stick to the strings. This spray-type is a kind of stick-um that helps the acrobat grip the trapeze.

Demonstration time...Christi jumps up to the bar with the greatest of ease (sorry, I had to say it)...
It's only about six feet off the ground, but trust me, according to the students, it may as well be twenty, it feels so high once you're up there...



Michael was first up. Christi taught him how to swing upside down while intermittently gripping the bar. All the students later reported "Man...that bar HURTS."

Rylee was up next (he did get up on the bar...see the pictures later on)...

Eric's smile is even more brilliant from six feet above...

Learning to turn around...NOT as easy as it looks...

And now a word from a few of our stations, which were happening simultaneously...

Nicky and Sarah P. work on a partner stunt...

Maddy and Elinor stretch...

As do Nyna and Skye...


Wait a MINUTE...no one told me there was a geek station... :) Never a dull moment with this group...
Riley takes to the bar...

Sarai defies gravity...
Michael, my thoughts EXACTLY...

Sarai gets up on the trapeze...


Maddy practices a developee (sorry, can't spell it correctly on the blog without a French language keyboard...my apologies to the French)...

Sarah B. on the trapeze...she will also be leaving us after this week, which makes us doubly sad...

Elinor celebrating a successful stunt...

Jacque striking a pose...

Logan is up for the challenge...

And striking a pose as well...

Christi gives pointers to Jadi about gripping the bar in-between swings...


Jadi is another person who always exudes enthusiasm and energy. She will be leaving us after this week, which makes us triply sad...

Eric shows that STRETCHING IS FUN FUN FUN...

Rylee stretches with Ana...at least I'm pretty sure that's Ana...

Sarah P. on the trapeze...
Nicky learning how to swing. I think all the students appreciated Christi holding their feet while learning this skill. There might have been a few flips, otherwise..

Superman pose?
Um...kids...don't try this at home. If I had audio on the blog you could hear the collective *GASP* that happened when Christi demonstrated this...

Em poses for the crowd...

Caleigh practices swinging...she's so tall that her fingers brushed the mat when she swung!

Another successful attempt...

Elinor and Sierra pull off a stunt...

Clayton on the trapeze...

Sarah P. pulls off the pretzel. YEOUCH. Good job, Sarah!

Mikaila makes it onto the trapeze...

Mandie swinging...
Cooper stands super tall up there...

Cooper and Christi share a laugh after he jumps down...

Tessa is a happy acrobat...

In between rotations, Christi talks to the students about her career and how she took her dance training into the acrobatic arts field. Pretty fascinating how we can extrapolate so many of the skills learned at Next Step Prep into a variety of careers.

Ok...I had to put in ONE artistic shot...

Sarai ...
Maddy practicing swinging. Christi encouraged the students to arch their back as much as possible and try to look at the other side of the room...

Maddy makes it up onto the bar...

This one is for Skye...and her mom :)

Christi coaches Elinor...

The swing...

The stand! Hooray! You made it!

Christi coaching Sierra...she has an amazing coaching style and is super-positive. It was so great listening to her suggestions and encouragement to the students. Way to go, Sierra!

Nyna's turn...

Sarah B. with another developee...

Now this would be one of those unconventional stretches...Ana is also amazingly flexible.


What happens when two dancers stretch together...Jadi and Sarah P. WOW.


Arielle stretches with Logan...

Michael and Eric pair up again to stretch. I'd never seen vertical stretching before...

But apparently vertical is in :)


Nicky is the base for Sarah B.'s stretch...

And then Nicky's turn to stretch. I hear you, man...I hear you... :)

This was the start of night two...after stretching, Christi casually asked for a few "volunteers". She had four people sit in chairs...

Then lean back on each others thighs...

Then link arms...

Then, oh, hey...we're going to REMOVE THOSE CHAIRS...eeeeeek!

And give us a little wave, just for fun...

And, of course, being dramatic, let's throw in a little flair...


The use each others' strength to pull each other up...

Applause, applause, applause...nice job!


Christi then demonstrated another acrobatic partner stunt and showed the students how to do the stunt and how to spot each other...


Then it was back to the trapeze. A little rosin spray to start off the night...



Getting down from the bar is sometimes as much of a challenge as getting up there. Michael does both with ease...

Eric works on a pose Christi had demonstrated for the group. This stunt involves hanging pretty much on your hip bone.

A little pose during down time...these kids makes me laugh...

Hi Sarah B... :)
Arielle looks so graceful up there. I'm so happy they didn't ask yours truly to try...

Another group working on the group stunt. I think the biggest group they got was ten people. Pretty impressive...

Ana makes this look so easy...

Even upside down...

And a little flair as well...

Rylee worked really hard on the trapeze. Christi is a great and patient teacher and she really pushes the students to go past their perceived boundaries and to try things outside their comfort zone. This isn't an easy task when you're six feet off the ground.

Go Rylee!

Logan was a natural at the trapeze...
Balancing on one's backside on a 1" bar is NOT easy...

Logan flashes a smile for me. She is leaving after this week as well, which makes us quadruply sad.
What happens when you don't hold on to the bar. Thank goodness for crash mats. Nicky is such a good sport (which is why he won't mind me posting this photo). He got right back up and tried again..

Ta-dah!!!

Sarah B. up next...

Another natural...her dance training definitely helps!

Jacque works so hard and really listened to Christi's instruction...


Another stretching session...really needed after all that trapeze work...

Jadi is another dancer who makes hanging upside down from a trapeze look incredibly easy...


Sarah P. is another dancer that looks so graceful on the trapeze...




Christi had Sarai get into a "catcher" position, which is the position one uses in order to "catch" a partner when sailing through the air.

Logan gets underneath and simulates being the catch
More partner stunts...
Mandie takes to the trapeze...


Em gives me a quick pose...


Mikaila...

Caleigh hangs upside down. She has an amazing acrobatic ability. Christi had her to a spinning stunt in which she hung by just her legs and spun the ropes. It was really graceful and cool to watch.



Go Clayton. This trapeze stuff is hard work...

These students are NOT exuberant...nope...not one bit...

I'm not sure why I like this photo...I just do...

"Defying gravity" is a popular song with the students this year...this is defying gravity personified...

Go Elinor!!!




Skye is amazingly athletic. She jumped up to that bar in no time flat...

Skye makes really beautiful lines with her body...

Maddy holds a pike position before she gets to the trapeze...





Nyna has been so much fun to watch this year. She is a returner from last year and she has really incorporated the lessons she learned last year into this year's experience. I was talking to her one day and she said that she hadn't stopped talking about Next Step Prep since she left last August and couldn't wait to get back this year. That's some endorsement!


Christi--you were an awesome addition to our guest instructor staff. We so appreciated your help, your persistence, your encouragement, your calm demeanor and your warm, beautiful smile. The students just loved working with you.