Dancing with the movies

Times Reporter

 

Since September, drama students at Strathmore High School, SHS, have been preparing for their performance “Hollywood: Dancing at the Movies”.  

“You hear a lot about Dancing with the Stars on TV, so I thought we’ll call it Dancing with the Movies… just kind of a play on words,” said teacher Paula Richardson. 

Hollywood is the theme because all of the songs are supposed to be from movies. Richardson said they cheated a little bit and got songs from TV shows, and there was another dance an instructor taught them. 

Students have been working hard, learning a variety of different dances, including some Latin dances. 

“We had a professional choreographer from Calgary come and work with the kids for just over two weeks,” said Richardson. 

Expressions the Dance Gallery also had instructors visit the high school to teach the kids. 

“We’ve had quite a bit of work with professionals in the business, that’s something that we just haven’t done before,” said Richardson.

“We’ve had little bits here and there, but this one was quite concentrated.”  

When the students were about to begin learning the Latin work, the instructor asked if there were any more boys. Richardson went around the school during lunchtime and found a couple of boys who were on spares. 

“I asked them if they would like to learn to Latin dance and I had two boys in Grade 12, that have never done dance before, actually take me up on the offer. “

The boys are getting credit for it, and she was impressed that they gave up their spare and took a leap of faith to learn. There will also be a variety of small group dances, which the students choreographed themselves. The students also were able to pick their own costumes for their performances. Richardson said some picked outfits based on the song, while others picked outfits that go with the movie. 

“It goes right across the board which I think is really cool. In a show, a broadway show, generally speaking it’s one style throughout the entire show,” said Richardson.  

Opening night is on Jan. 6, which could invoke a few concerns with the Christmas break landing right in between rehearsals and opening night. Richardson is confident that the time off will not affect the performance and said the students had their dance moves down pat before the break. There will be a few days before opening night to polish anything that needs a little work. 

The show is running for three days, Jan. 6, 7, 8 with all performances taking place at 7 p.m. Tickets are $10 at the door, or call Paula Richardson at 934-3135 to purchase in advance.