Dressed up in Games memories

By Rebecca Fraser
CASEY performers have held on to some colourful pieces of Commonwealth Games history.
Thirty dancers from the Cathy-Lea Dance Academy in Narre Warren performed in the recent opening and closing ceremony of the 2006 Games and got to keep some of their elaborate costumes.
Cathy-Lea Academy proprietor Cathy Smith said her students had joined a throng of 1000 gladiola-wielding Dame Ednas as part of the night’s entertainment and were able to keep some of their colourful wigs and glittery glasses.
Other students dressed up as oversized sweetheart lollies and Formula One racers when they took part in the performance at the MCG.
Ms Smith said all students were excited about their new keepsakes but some had given part of their costumes to athletes keen to hold on to some of the memorabilia.
The dance teacher said Berwick student Andrew Kinsey was also shortlisted to play the role of the now-famous “duck boy” in the opening ceremony and only narrowly missed out on the part.
Ms Smith also praised the hard work and dedication of students who attended the countless rehearsals in Laverton.
She said some parents took dance classes at the academy and also performed in the opening and closing ceremony.
“The rehearsals were so far away and it was a big time commitment.
“But they all got such a buzz and had a ball when they were part of it,” she said.