The Birth of the StarJam Van!

The year started with much forward movement with the delivery of StarJam’s purpose built van on Jan 6th. ASB Trusts gave us a most generous donation for this purchase. The van will be working hard this year getting the young ones to and from meetings and rehearsals, moving musical equipment and much more. The van has been specially fitted out for us so that it can seat 11 all up. Three of the seats are removable which allows for two people in wheelchairs to easily fit into the back. Portable ramps fit onto the ledge when the back door is open. Easy! Sincere thanks to everyone at ASB Trusts!!! We would also like to acknowledge Giltrap City Toyota for the big discount they gave us on the van’s purchase price.

Trustees Roy Bartlett (left) and Sarah Travaglia (right) have big plans for the van. Russell Hayes, a collegue who works in the Disability Resource Centre and myself were happy to join the celebrations.

---

StarJam raises the bar yet again - January StarJam meeting

What did we learn in 2004? Many things…… but the most important was that the Jammers, the young ones who are prepared to go on stage, will stop at nothing. They exceeded our expectations many times over and I suspect in many instances, they surprised themselves. When they combine their courage with their inate talents and their uninhibitedness, it’s sheer magic.

In preparation for 2005 performances, our January StarJam meeting will focus on the Jammers’ ideas and thoughts. This will all be happening next Saturday at the usual time and place. There will opportunity for the young ones to give expression to their ideas with paint and paper and also in a ‘talkfest’ brainstorm.

We are delighted that Mary Jane O’Reilly and Mark Dennison have joined StarJam in preparing for our major 2005 production. More details about that soon. Mary Jane is working as our choreographer and Mark as Musical Director. They will both be at the meeting on Saturday and are really keen to meet the young ones.

---

Mary Jane O’Reilly and Mark Dennison

Mary Jane O’Reilly has had a professional career in dance spanning over 25 years both in New Zealand and internationally as a dancer, choreographer, teacher, Director and Producer. She was a co-founder, dancer and choreographer with the Limbs Dance Company (1977-89) and held the position of Artistic Director from 1979 to 1986.

Her events included the choreography of the Opening Ceremony of the Commonwealth Games (1990) involved a cast of 6000 and the Millennium Dawn event in Gisborne(2000) and she founded and directed the Auckland Dance Company (1996 - 2001 ) She has received numerous grants and awards including the $30,000 Allen Highet Award (1984) for outstanding achievement by a mid-career artist and was awarded a Queens Service Medal for her services to dance in 1990. I n 2001 she produced and directed a sellout Limbs Retrospective performance series and in 2003 she created a thirty minute dance element for the Auckland Choral Society’s 2003 presentation of ‘St Matthews Passion’ at the Trinity Cathedral, Auckland.

Currently she is working as choreographer for StarJam’s major 2005 production, recreating her work ‘Gallipoli’ for Anzac Day at Te Papa and is Conference Director for the Danz national dance conference in July 2005.’

---

Mark Dennison was born in Sydney, Australia. He attended the Sydney conservatorium of Music for six years. Mark has toured and or recorded with an impressive list of artists including John Farnham, Rolf Harris, Jimmy Barnes, DD Smash, Australian Crawl, Lou Rawls, Barry White and Sting.

He moved to New Zealand in 1996. He then started working with Tina Cross, Jackie Clarke, Frankie Stevens and Suzanne Lynch. he was asked to be Musical Director on TV2’s Big Time Celebrity Christmas and then Showstoppers series with Michael Hurst and Stacey Daniels. Since then Mark has been Musical Director for Team New Zealand, the Princes Trust, Lakeside (Rotorua) Concert Series, Queenstown Winter Festival and Huka Lodge. He is also Band Director for St Kentigern’s College.

Here’s Mark sandwiched between Sting and Rolf Harris.

---

Celebrities and StarJam

People are constantly amazed at how StarJam attracts celebrities like a moths to a bright light. Everyone gets to see the ones who participate but there’s another side to it.

We receive some very lovely letters from celebrities who are unable to participate in specific events owing to their commitments.

In recent weeks, we have received such lovely letters from stars ranging from Cate Blanchett to Dame Kiri Te Kanawa, often addressed to our young stars.

If you have any thoughts, any questions, any requests, any suggestions……….. you know where we are. Have a GREAT 2005!!!

On behalf of everyone at StarJam and especially the Jammers

Warm regards,

Julie Bartlett