On 18 November we surprised our Director Jan Bolwell well and truly. For weeks we'd been working in secret on a show that encapsulated the entire history of Crows Feet Dance Collective.

The Wednesday session began as usual with a workout until 8 pm. But not quite as usual: everyone was early, and we hid props, food and bottles in the green room. And a certain hilarity bubbled just below the surface.

Suddenly 7 invited guests invaded the dance studio and in a few minutes the show began.

One-minute snippets from 8 (?) different dances were lovingly reproduced by the Crows, strung together by tiny scenes from history. It all started way back when Jan, Jenny and Liz collaborated on a handbook for dance teachers to support a new arts curriculum for teachers in New Zealand. Then they created a 5-minute dance "to show teachers what the new arts curriculum was all about". Invitation to another conference... and another... culminating in today's 20-strong dance group, Crows Feet.

Jenny Cossey had the idea. Wrote the script. Organised rehearsals and production. And danced. Hats off to Jenny and a thousand thanks.

What a brilliant evening. Our target was Jan, and she and all the hand-picked audience laughed, cried, shouted and loved it.

Photos: The cast in old lady dressing gowns. Writer, director, producer Jenny Cossey is just behind gesticulating Jan.