Workshop Excitement!

Workshops are a wonderful opportunity for dancers, and we are beginning to push our keen young dancers to participate in these workshops to enhance their learning and growth. This week we hosted a Full-Day Workshop by Abiding Lines Dance Co. from Saskatoon. Kara Dubyk (Director), Kelly and Andrea brought their enthusiasm and unique choreography to the studio for a great day of dance. The studio was buzzing with the energy of a packed studio full of dancers ages 8 - 12 years.

I loved so much of what Kara, Kelly and Andrea said to the group! It was so fantastic for the kids to hear from a professional dance company just what Contemporary Dance is, engage in some amazing Improvisation exercises, and be encouraged and pushed to step out of their comfort zone and really attack and perform the routines that they taught to the kids.

Two of our dancers - Julianna and Mia - were awarded partial scholarships to attend Abiding Lines Workshops in the near future! The instructors said that they loved their FACES (the performance in their faces) and looked forward to watching them dance again.

Check out this video of some of the day's dancing! During the Question & Answer period, the girls got some great information and advice. The Abiding Lines dancers reiterated the importance of taking many, many classes, including ballet, in order to get to the level needed to be a part of a group like Abiding Lines. Kara, director of Abiding Lines, emphasized that she watches dancers during the auditions for the ones that make her SMILE as she watches - those are the ones she is most likely to choose to dance with the company.

The dancers also learned a bit about what happens behind the scenes during their performances and the work that goes into the show.

As a teacher, I love seeing the leaps in growth that occur during and after a workshop like this! Weekly classes provide the necessary substance that is required for a dancer to be successful, and workshops like these provide some of the flavour and "icing on the cake" that helps dancers step out of their comfort zones and come into their own. Every experience outside of the classroom helps to enhance this learning - this is why we encourage our dancers to participate in our Performance Division classes that attend Festivals and perform in the community.

"Outside of the comfort zone is where the magic happens" - Unknown I want to applaud all of the dancers that came out to this workshop - you stepped outside of your comfort zones and that's where the "magic" happens!

Enjoy the rest of your summer, and get ready for a Fantastic New Season beginning September 6, 2016!

Lots of love,

Miss Heather K