What to do in Brisbane During the Easter School Holidays

Keeping the kids entertained during the school holidays is always a challenge. Living in a big city has its advantages, with a plethora of school holiday activities on offer. Brisbane is no exception, its great climate and laid back lifestyle makes it an ideal city for kids. Here are a few ideas for the coming holidays.
1. Sir Thomas Brisbane Planetarium
A visit to the Planetarium is a great family day out and sure to fascinate children of all ages. The Sir Thomas Brisbane Planetarium runs a number of activities and shows appropriate for school age children, some included in the entry price while others incur a small charge. There are a range of 45 minute films aimed at all age groups, some give information while telling a fictional story, and others are more documentary style. Book some Brisbane accommodation at one of the many hotels in the Brisbane CBD and treat the kids to a mini holiday.
2. Mount Coot-tha Reserve
While you're in the area, the Mount Coot-tha Reserve is well worth a day of exploration. Boasting some of the most spectacular views in Brisbane, the Lookout has panoramic views over the Brisbane city and also offers a café, restaurant and gift shop. At the base of Mount Coot-tha are the Mount Coot-tha Botanic Gardens, which feature a tropical plants hot house and Japanese Gardens. There are several popular walking tracks through the reserve, varying in length and difficulty, although most of them do contain sections of uphill and stairs. There are also a range of mountain bike trails, again offering varying degrees of difficulty, suitable for beginners to advanced cyclists. After a day exploring the great outdoors, heading into the city for a night in one of Brisbane's hotels will provide a nice contrast.
3. Theme Parks
Although Theme Parks aren't everyone's cup of tea, a well planned day can be a great family outing. Choose your theme park carefully; if you don't like rides, steer your children towards Sea World or Movie World where the range of shows, exhibits and rides are more likely to satisfy everyone in the family. Sea World has a number of shows including the Jet Stunt Extreme and the ever popular sea lion and dolphin shows. There are also a number of extreme rides, a water park and the Sky High Skyway, perfect for the whole family.
4. Visit Chinatown
Chinatown Brisbane is a hub of Asian commercial and cultural activity. The mall has a number of Asian restaurants, multicultural stores and yum cha palaces as well as hosting a range of events, festivals, dance troupes and touring artists from Asia. Treat the kids to the unique cultural experience of yum cha, there's sure to be something on offer to tempt even the fussiest eaters. Located near the city centre, close to a plethora of Brisbane hotels and Brisbane accommodation options, a visit to Chinatown can be finished off with a fun night in the city.

School holidays don't need to be boring, particularly when you live in a big city. Check out local council websites, tourist bureau websites and city guides, you're sure to find a huge range of activities and ideas to keep the kids busy and entertained.

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What to do in Sydney During the School Holidays

Entertaining the kids during the school holidays is never an easy chore, and the Easter school holidays can be more difficult than most with the weather often being wet. This year, after the summer that has just passed, we can probably expect the worst. Below are some suggestions on how to fill the long, damp days of the Term 1/Easter school holidays in Sydney.
1. Visit the Power House Museum
The Power House Museum is one of only a few Sydney attractions that are equally interesting to both kids and adults alike. The Power House is Sydney's museum of science, technology, design, decorative arts and social history and its regular exhibits are full of moving and speaking displays along with a multitude of buttons to press, to reveal new information or turn an exhibit on. Currently the Museum is hosting the spectacular Harry Potter exhibition, although this closes on the 9th of April, so get there quickly if you don't want to miss out. For the young and the young at heart, the Wiggles exhibition will provide hours of entertainment and have you singing along to all the Wiggles classics. The Museum also holds a range of school holiday activities and programs ranging from shows to workshops. Nearby, there are quite a few luxury Sydney hotels if you're feeling like treating the kids to a night in town.

2. Sydney Observatory
Like the Power House Museum, the Sydney Observatory runs school holiday programs for kids and families. The activities cover most age groups and range from all day workshops to short films and telescope tours, while some activities are included in the admission price, some incur a small charge. For the older kids, why not stay the night in one of the many hotels in the Sydney CBD and attend one of the night activities at the Observatory. The rings of Saturn Pizza Nights will be held on Tuesday the 10th and Wednesday the 18th of April. A telescope viewing of Saturn (weather permitting) is the highlight along with a 3D space theatre adventure, pizza and a Milky Way bar for dessert. Bookings are essential, as this is a popular activity.
3. Hoopla Festival at Darling Harbour
From the 6th to the 9th of April, Darling Harbour is host to the annual Hoopla Festival, a combination of circus, sideshow and street theatre for all the family. There are many free outdoor events, plus a fantastic line up of indoor shows featuring some of Australia's most talented (and slightly unusual) performers. Book some Sydney accommodation and spend a couple of days soaking up the carnival atmosphere.
4. Luna Park
Weather permitting, Luna Park can be a great way to spend a day or evening. If you're like me, and love to ride the rollercoaster and big wheel then you'll have as much fun as the kids. If you prefer a more tame form of entertainment then Luna Park can still come up with the goods, visit the Deck Brasserie and Bar for some gourmet food, a good glass of wine and some of the best views in Sydney. A ferry back to the city and a night in one of the many Sydney hotels in the CBD and everybody's happy. Buy your Luna Park passes online for a $5 discount per person.
These are just a few of the activities on offer in Sydney these Easter school holidays. Book a couple of nights in one of the hotels in the Sydney CBD and spend a few days exploring the Sydney culture and attractions.

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How to find a good acting school

Although you can learn the art of acting in numerous different places, searching for a quality acting school does not have to take a long time. Much of the process requires preparation on your part, so that you are ready to audition once you think you've found the right school. Considering your personal goals and expectations allows you to narrow down many of the institutions in your area
Narrow down the long list of reputable acting schools by first choosing a location. This decision should depend upon where you intend to work as an actor as well as where you can afford to live. For example, big cities such as New York and Los Angeles have plenty of opportunities for aspiring actors, but they also entail a high standard of living. Be honest with yourself about what you can afford.
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Spell out your goals before you choose an acting school. If you want to end up with a degree, you need to check out performing arts colleges and traditional four-year universities. If you want to be on a fast track toward an acting career, you might only need a few months of training from a vocational school or actors' lounge.
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Use Internet listings as well as phone books to gather data on acting schools that will presumably fit your needs. You can compile a list of locations, phone numbers and the names of office personnel.
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Make phone calls to each of the acting schools that interest you and set up a tour, interview and audition. During these meetings, check the school's credentials to verify that it is accredited or affiliated with a reputable agency, guild or organization. You'll also want to make sure that the facilities meet industry standards. In anticipation of the audition, be prepared to perform in front of a small audience or class just in case. remember acting is like any other profession, its take time and effort to gain the skill and experience needed in order to be proficient. Acting is also a very competitive business and most actors don't earn enough money to support themselves strictly from acting alone. Often times I hear actors say they wish they had chosen a totally different profession altogether. But once bitten by the acting bug it's hard to move on to something else. The best advice I can offer is try and learn to enjoy the journey.

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Dance School Classes

Have you ever had a dream about taking center stage following the steps of Fred Astaire or Twyla Tharp, or perhaps be involved in a production of the Nutcracker? You have always been in the audience and now it's your chance to take the lead!

Dance is more than an element of theater arts. Whether you are taking dance classes as an aspiring professional or dancing as a hobby, dance can be proven to be a valuable life lesson for you and your kids. The benefits of partaking in professional dance school classes are endless. Dance promotes a healthy and active lifestyle and fosters positive self-image in both adults and children. A child that is introduced with dance in an early stage will develop discipline, and a love for a culture that influenced beyond academic excellence.

Dance is one of the most rigorous forms of exercise, and despite what many people say; it is both an art form and a sport. It requires the dancer to work many parts of the body muscles all at once. Dance includes strength and flexibility training due to many traditional dance routines relying on a strong, limber body. Dancers learn how to control the muscles of their bodies and achieve balance. With balance comes positive body posture, which is the definition of grace and poise. By developing consistent strength and flexibility training one will also be less than likely to be injured in the field.

A professional dance schoolteacher encourages you or your child to set a realistic, achievable goal. They employ challenging courses designed to cultivate self-growth. The ultimate goal in any teaching environment is to foster an independent decision making skill while developing active physical skill. By exercising the physical aspect of your body in a positive aspiring environment where a teacher gives constructive feedback can expand a healthy self-image. Supportive self-esteem will allow you and your child to enjoy social and community events.

Another great aspect in taking professional dance school classes is that it brings together a community. A professional dance school offers students leadership and achievement opportunities in participating in upcoming recitals around the community. The passion for rhythm inspires the people around you. You can be an inspiration to your community.

You become the role model, mentor, and friend from the life lessons that you take with a professional dance school class. You learn self-discipline, responsibility, and self-love. The lessons will ingrain with the decisions that you make. You become a better person, and boy do you look good too! Take the lead. Take a professional school dance class.

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