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 When Carole Anne announced that we were set to do another charity fashion show, we all got really excited. Previous shows had gone so well that everyone was delighted to strut their stuff, especially for such a worthy cause. We quickly got to work, reviving past routines and re-choreographing others to suit the occasion. And as usual extra rehearsals were scheduled for the week leading up to the show, just to perfect all the routines and add the finishing touches.
Before we knew it, it was the night before the show and we were in the gym for our final rehearsal eeekkkk… we were all frantically trying to polish our dance segments when we received the bad news! Poor Claire and Linzi were both in bed ill and wouldn’t be able to do the show! Argh! Panic stations! We then had to speedily re-arrange and re-choreograph most of the routines and poor Carole Anne had to step in to the role of aerobic instructor for the section, 'Gym and Tonic'. We were all really disappointed that the girls would have to miss out but, like true professionals, we all pulled together in order to perfect the show!
The day of the performance, I was at work, stressed-out as usual, when Carole Anne phoned to say that I was now doing another part in the show and that we would just have to 'wing it'! Remaining calm and collected and ever the professional (hee hee), I agreed to play the part of a jealous wedding guest with Gabby. It sounded like it would be a laugh if nothing else!
During the day, those who were able made their way to Pele's Hairdressers to have their hair styled and then headed to Aveda in Frasers where their make-up was applied. I however was unable to get in to town in time for such pampering sessions and arrived at the City Chambers at 5.30pm looking like a burst couch! On my way in I met Kat M and we made a bee-line for the ladies loos where I attempted to tame my curly locks and got to work on my make-up. Thankfully, the fabulous stylists and make-up artists arrived just in the nick of time to touch-up and groom everyone to perfection!
It was then time to select our fabulous couture for the runway and have a final practice on the catwalk itself. Everything was going well but then some of the audience started to arrive early and the rehearsal had to be quickly abandoned, so as not to give the game away before showtime. I was in the Hip-Hop, Fitness and the Pyjama sections, and so headed backstage to select my hot couture, only to find that there weren't enough clothes for everyone! Man, bet you Giselle doesn't have this problem! I quickly grabbed what I could and with a bit of imagination and teaming them up with a few of my own items, made the best of what I had! Everyone looked fab in their first outfits and we were all itching to get on the runway!
Being backstage was sooooo much fun! Brian Burnett, the TV personality was very charming and complimented all the girls as they headed to the wings. Everyone was buzzing with excitement and loving being top models for the evening! The team from JJB also joined us backstage, awaiting their chance to grace the catwalk. Will and the team had us laughing all night, mocking our diva-style antics as we scrambled for clothes and wrestled over shoes! Carole Anne, Kat F and Kat M looked fab in their Vogue power suits, and Clayr, Nicole and Carrie were very convincing Charlie's Angels looking glam in their gorgeous dresses. Kat F's customized Marie Curie t-shirts for the Gothic section looked amazing and Hazel, Karen, Julieann and Charlie looked fly in their Hip-Hop get-up. Michelle, Kelly, Hazel, Lisa Duffy, Julieann could hardly contain themselves as we piled on top of each other, playing insomniacs for the Pyjama section. We tried in vain to keep our sultry poses but when Michelle announced 2 seconds before going on that she had a hole in her pj's, we found it very difficult to keep a straight face! The Workout section went extremely well and Carole Anne did an excellent job standing in for Linzi as the instructor. Nicola was ace in her role as 'the latecomer' but Hazel stole the show with her 'miss over-enthusiastic' eccentric running on stage.
Nearing the end of the performance, out in the hallway, Carole Anne, her boyfriend Chris, Will, Kat M, Kayley, Gabby and myself frantically tried to piece together the Wedding section! What a scream! I couldn't move for laughing! It was like a scene from a Carry On film. We hurriedly whizzed up and down our makeshift catwalk, with Gabby and I practicing our Oscar performances as the jealous guests, fighting to be up front for the 'wedding photos'. Waiting in the wings, we all did our best to contain our hysteria but when I got my high-heel stuck in the lining of my dress and nearly keeled over, the girls were in knots! Nevertheless, we managed to keep it together and we successfully pulled-off the Wedding section. Carole Anne and Chris, the bride and groom, were up first and received a huge applause as they graced the catwalk. Backstage, all the girls sighed in unison, "AWWWW, that's so sweet!!!".
As we took our final bow and headed to the dressing room, all the girls agreed that it was a fab night and that all the backstage shenanigans only added to the success of the evening. Nearing the end of the season, it was lovely for the Support Squad girls and myself to be involved in something so worthwhile! Thanks to Carole Anne, the evening was a true success and I'm left wondering, who had the most fun, the audience or the Scottish Rockettes.
Lisa Dunlop x
     
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