I really enjoy dancing. I learned to dance by watching my parents, they were born in the late 1940s and worked their way through the 50s and 60s by jiving. Every family party or special occasion ended in dancing with cousins, singing and always plenty of laughter. The family phrase that is shared amongst my relatives, and I have heard it used here too: ‘keep dancing’.
The idiom can serve you well in approaching life at Patana: you might not know the change in tempo that is just around the corner, you might know the exact steps of the current dance, you might not know how to lead or take the lead from your partner. ‘Keep dancing’ means you are part of this family, you are welcome here just because you are you, so just keep dancing and be.
Talking of which, our Varsity Dance Crew is unbelievable. I am sure you have watched the reel on our socials, but when you watch live, its incredible. The blended cultural music, the elegant gold and black costume and the choreography which builds into a winning performance of art, culture and young people in harmony. It is one of the most deeply impressive artifacts of what it means to be part of Patana family.
And just when I thought the pinnacle had been reached, Dance Extravaganza arrived on Monday this week. The lights went down, little droplets of silver light appeared like small stars on the stage and our youngest performers broke out into Latin American and Ballet. Year 2 followed with their hip hop and then the 1950s iconic musical number with all the energy and glamour of the original. The audience were dancing out of their seats in one corner of the theatre and YMCA caused more smiles than I have seen for some time. I have nothing but praise for the way in which Sarah Dullaghan has embraced an already great academy and elevated the programmes for our community. It feels like there are some more winning teams going to break through in this Academy. Thank you also to our dance coaches who continue to build this impressive area of our school provision, you have been working together for some time and the discipline and cohesion is magnificent, congratulations and appreciation to Coach Nanzie, Coach Aum, Coach Boat, Coach Mux, Coach Oscar, and Coach Pimsai.
Term 3 has felt like a quick step in itself, holding yourself upright to move gracefully from one side of term to the other has not been easy—fast-paced, complex foot work at times and demanding precise coordination to get everything done. From the first arrival after Songkran to our final farewell assembly next week, this term has been packed with lessons, exams, extracurricular activities, and school-wide events that keep students and teachers constantly on their toes. The rhythm of Patana United, the three-way conferences just completed, the Year 7 Global Impact Projects next week, and the Science IAs and assessments shaping academic journeys continue. Meetings, deadlines, and administrative tasks make every day a whirlwind for teachers and learners alike, for which I have nothing but admiration and praise in all that you have achieved: it’s demanding, exhilarating, and deeply rewarding.
Rest well this summer and look forward to seeing you in August when we can do it all again, keep dancing Patana!
Ps: Don’t miss the Core 27 edition just published. What an imaginative and beautifully curated publication of poetry and images. Well done all of the team for landing this year’s copy.
