Silly Dwarf heads to Sydney, Australia!

In the spring of 1999 Heather competed at a dance competition in St. Louis, Missouri. She danced in group numbers with her dance team as well as a solo number. One particular group number won their studio an invitation from "Bowl Games of America" to perform a routine during the 2000 Summer Olympics in Sydney Australia. Here are the "Silly Dwarfs" in a photo taken at a dance competition that year:

From the left: Cassie, Heather, Desiree, and Briana tapping their way into the judges' hearts.

Although those 4 girls won the invitation, it was extended to the studio to take a large group to Sydney to perform and entertain the crowds of people visiting the city during the Olympics. The coaches accepted the invitation and work began right away to prepare a routine for the occasion. The invitation was then extended to all team members in the studio (dance, cheer, or gymnastics) to begin the long process of raising money for the trip and learning a 15 minute routine. The commitment to be part of this team was a big one. Team members had to be committed to raising over $3,000 per person in addition to long practices throughout a year and a half. Marty and I never once hesitated in deciding to be part of this trip. Chaperones would be needed and would have to pay their own way. Most of those committing to this team were high school students and Heather was 7 years old at the time of the invitation. Marty and I decided we needed to go as well rather than send our 7-year old off with so many teenagers without us. Our family is only 3 people and it wouldn't have been right for only one of the 3 to stay home so work began to make it possible for all 3 of us to go. It was a very long year and a half of preparations, practices, yard sales, car washes, and miscellaneous other fund raisers. On top of the long dance practices for this routine regular dance, cheer and gymnastics classes continued for Heather, as well as her practices for her solo. For a 7-year old she was one busy little girl. But she thrived on it! I teased my friends that we lived at the studio and visited our house. Many hours were spent sitting in the viewing room upstairs watching the kids dance and tumble and stunt and cheer. The only practices Heather missed during that year and a half of preparations were during the time we traveled to Wyoming for Marty's family reunion and during the week she attended a dance camp in Tennessee for which she'd won a scholarship. It was nothing to be at the studio for 5 hours straight on Saturday or Sunday with all the practices she had. I look back now and wonder where that drive went. I guess the answer is "she's a teenager." She's still a great dancer, but doesn't work as hard as when she was young and was so determined to do her best. And now, there are boys, homework, friends, cell phones, mp3 players, etc., that divide her attention. Back then it was all about dance and gym. Period. That's how she wanted it. So we made sure she had every opportunity.

Heather's only tv appearance was as a result of this team heading to Sydney. Our hometown didn't have a tv station, but KY3 was about 100 miles away in Springfield. They showed up to video a practice and interview a few of the kids one afternoon. Heather was one interviewed. She said she wanted to see an alligator in Sydney and to meet Katie Couric and Matt Lauer who were on location in Sydney for the TODAY show. The tv station sent a news crew to the airport to do another story the day we departed. Once again they wanted to interview Heather, but she was very uncooperative that morning, much to the dismay of her parents.

I took over 30 rolls of film during that trip. It was very hard deciding which ones to scan for this post!

We landed in Sydney very late at night and took a very long bus ride out of the city to catch a ferry to a lodge on an island where we ate breakfast each morning, dinner each evening, and slept each night. Very early the first morning it was breakfast then off to wait for the ferry to take us to wait for the bus to take us to Olympic Park! The team would have their first performance there. We had our schedules for the week with quite a bit of free time to explore the city between performances.

The day we were in Olympic Park turned out to be one of the days when the most people were present. Our team performed on the Samsung stage near the park entrance. After the first performance the routine was elvaluated and officials decided our team would be performing many more times than originally planned. How exciting, but at the same time it would lessen opportunities to explore Sydney. With the new schedule we'd have an afternoon here and there on our own and only one full day of free time. It was decided we'd make the most of it and embraced the opportunity for the team to show off for more crowds throughout the city.

Heather and her dance partner Dustin. When these two began practicing for this part, he wouldn't get close enough to touch her let alone practice their lift! We were sure their part was going to be cut from the routine. But eventually they overcame their shyness and did a remarkable job.

In another portion of the routine Heather did some "stunting" with her coach Mr. Chris.

Olympic Stadium.

There were 2 performances in Olympic Park that first day. The whole team went exploring during the break between the two. There were so many people that we wondered if we'd make it back in time for the next performance. I kept stopping to take pictures of course and if you notice in the lower right corner in the picture above Marty's getting a little anxious for me to get moving!

The Famous Sydney Opera House

The entire C&C Bravo! Dance Team with the Opera House behind them (it just blends into the coloreless sky - drat!)

Another performance day was held at Wonderland Sydney, which contains a theme park and petting zoo. Here Heather pets a kangaroo and below she pets a koala bear.

Because of the time zone difference the Today Show was taped very late at night. We opted not to stay in the city any of the nights we were there and attempt to get transportation back to the island. Several in our group did, but with the early mornings, late nights and Heather's age we decided against it for all our sanity. If any of you know Heather, you will know this was probably the best choice for her temperament. I'm sorry you were so disappointed, Heather, not to have met Matt and Katie!

Heather in front of the Opera House

Heather and me taking a walk along the beach on the island.

On our free day Heather decided to have olympians sign her jacket. The first to sign were these 2 Romanians from the rowing team who won gold. They were so pleased to sign her jacket and sold me a polo shirt they also signed. When we went shopping at Paddys Market there were olympians everywhere and that day she got most of the signatures for her jacket. A group of boxers got the biggest kick out of this little bitty girl asking for their autographs.

Another performance day was at Sydney's Fox Studios backlot. Before and after performances there was free time to shop and play. Here Heather is bungee jumping!

Heather "driving" our ferry back to the island.

The stage at Wonderland Sydney was set up to look like a ship and was surrounded by water. Chris (holding Heather) is standing on the air-filled platform the team used for their gymnastics tricks. Before this day, Heather and Chris had never stunted on this! Only on solid ground. Her daddy was pretty nervous about this one with all the water all the way around. The crowds LOVED the performance and really went nuts when Chris and Heather did their stunts. She was hamming it up!

Most of our kids on the steps of the lodge where we stayed.

Practicing while waiting for the ferry.

Marty and Heather during our lunch cruise of Sydney Harbor and Darling Harbor.

I've always wanted to go back to Sydney. We loved every minute of it and there's so much we didn't get to see. Everyone was so friendly and welcoming! This post makes me want to go back even more. Some day.....