Dancing with the light

Times Reporter 

 

Each year the dance and drama classes put on one big performance and a number of smaller performances for the community. This year Paula Richardson’s Grade 11 and 12 dance students are putting on a show called Dancing with the Light. 

There are approximately 16 dances that will happen over the course of the show, almost all of which are student choreographed. The idea behind the dance came when the boys in the class were inspired by a dance called Tron. 

“The boys were quite interested in it. It involves an electric current wire that is attached to a suit,” said Richardson.

Richardson decided the class would see what different ways they could use light. Some of the dances are done behind a screen, underneath spotlights, and disco balls and even one with no light. 

All of the dance performances by Richardson’s students have an element of student choreography behind them but in this show all but one dance are student created.

“This show is really student directed. In the past I have tried different things and it sort of depends on the strength of the students. This particular class is very creative and very driven, so I felt it would be more beneficial to let them explore their creativity rather than me bringing someone in or me doing the choreography. I have just kind of let them come up with the ideas,” said Richardson.

“This dance show is kind of unique in that I have a number of dances that have been choreographed by the guys.” 

The guys are also making their own Tron suits, which is another unique aspect of the show. A friend of Richardson’s husband worked with the boys on how to plan their suits and helped her find a supplier of the material she would need. The guys are hand stitching about 50 feet of electric wire onto a sweat suit and they are doing it all themselves. 

Dancing with the Light will be held on the Strathmore High School stage on Dec. 16 at 7 p.m. Tickets are $10 each and can be purchased in advance by calling the school at 403-934-3135 or at the door.