Beyond his accomplishments as a tenor, Ken Lavigne strikes a poised and manicured image in a well-tailored suit.

In person, he is charming and well spoken, and on stage he sings opera and pop ballads alike with an earnestness hard to miss from the back row.

Difficult, then, to try to imagine him cutting loose doing the hula.

It may be funny but itB次元官网网址檚 no joke.

Rather, hula dancing was just what the doctor ordered. The singing doctor that is.

Selena James has sculpted many of Victoria's most talented voices, and has earned a reputation both for getting results and for her frank critiques.

Lavigne calls it shooting from the hip.

He recalls being incredibly intimidated during his first lesson with James B次元官网网址� who is now in her eighties B次元官网网址� in 1997.

B次元官网网址淚 had been going through some vocal difficulty at the time and I was very nervous,B次元官网网址� said Lavigne. B次元官网网址淲e started to sing, and she got me to do the hula dancing in the first lesson. It loosened me right up B次元官网网址� and it was as if somebody had just opened up a window and a gust of fresh air came through.B次元官网网址�

Fifteen years later, heB次元官网网址檚 still visiting James. In the days leading up to his annual Christmas concert, he has returned for a tune up.

Before leading a series of scales at the piano, James explains the whole hula thing in this way.

B次元官网网址淚B次元官网网址檓 always trying new things and for a while there I got bored,B次元官网网址� she said.

So, she took a job in Banff where she was mentored by an actor in whatB次元官网网址檚 called extended voice.

B次元官网网址淗eB次元官网网址檇 been a stretcher bearer in the World War and heB次元官网网址檇 been amazed by the range of the human voice that comes out of somebody when they are dying or when they sick,B次元官网网址� James said. B次元官网网址淗e could make a sound like a motorcycle or a baby, and it so reached me B次元官网网址� and IB次元官网网址檓 hard to reach.B次元官网网址�

He got the whole body involved, she said. B次元官网网址淲hen youB次元官网网址檙e standing static, then everything seizes up.B次元官网网址�

Hence the hula.

B次元官网网址淚B次元官网网址檝e never heard that side of the story,B次元官网网址� says Lavigne. B次元官网网址淚 always thought it was because she likes to watch me wiggle my hips,B次元官网网址� he says, kidding with her.

James laughs.

Smartly dressed, sheB次元官网网址檚 sharp and full of stories about her international travels.

As a girl, James journeyed to New York and Europe as a pianist and singer.

In her 50s, she got her MasterB次元官网网址檚 degree from the Manhattan School of Music, and then came to the Victoria Conservatory of Music as the director of its opera studio. There, she taught Richard Margison, Benjamin Butterfield, and Barbara Livingston, among others.

Though officially retired, today she continues to coach her favourite students.

What distinguishes a singer is their ability to reach you with their words, said James. B次元官网网址淭here is some indefinable thing that makes the whole thing work, and usually it's the inspiration of the poetry and the music.

B次元官网网址淭here are four of five people who I said would have a career because they had this ability,B次元官网网址� she said. She counts Lavigne among them, but sheB次元官网网址檚 not all praise for her student.

She doesnB次元官网网址檛 condone Lavigne using his voice to sing pop.

B次元官网网址淚f youB次元官网网址檙e going to be an opera singer, youB次元官网网址檝e got to develop more muscle because it is a muscular pursuit,B次元官网网址� she said. The style of pop and the use of microphones are at odds with opera, she explained.

For the past year, the two have been working on what Lavigne describes as a B次元官网网址渧ocal overhaul.B次元官网网址�

B次元官网网址淏eing on tour so much, you run into trouble,B次元官网网址� he said. Bad habits develop B次元官网网址� such as pushing a high note B次元官网网址� and become ingrained. It gets you through the concert, but can wreck your voice in the long term, said Lavigne.

Upon his return from touring, he got a scolding from James: B次元官网网址淏次元官网网址楳y dear, what are you doing? You look like you just had a sour candy!B次元官网网址橞次元官网网址� Lavigne recalled her saying.

B次元官网网址淪he can really get inside a personB次元官网网址檚 head B次元官网网址� and challenge and cajole,B次元官网网址� said Lavigne. James cuts him off, adding  B次元官网网址渁nd bullyB次元官网网址� to her list of characteristics.

The two share another big laugh.

B次元官网网址淚 never learned the important things in my singing until somebody really hurt me,B次元官网网址� she said, simply. B次元官网网址淏ut if you want to sing, you go back and try to find a way that you donB次元官网网址檛 do those physical things that get in the way of natural singing.B次元官网网址�

This week, one of LavigneB次元官网网址檚 biggest challenges will be the carol O Holy Night.

B次元官网网址淭he last note goes on and on and on forever, and that's what I'm really going to be focusing on, is making sure I can hold that note far longer than anyone expects me to,B次元官网网址� Lavigne said.

James shoots him a look B次元官网网址� B次元官网网址淚 didn't know about that.B次元官网网址�

LavigneB次元官网网址檚 Christmas concert, Under the Mistletoe, takes place at the Royal Theatre Dec. 3, and benefits C-FAX SantaB次元官网网址檚 Anonymous. The show offers a range of traditional carols and humorous anecdotes. Tickets at the Royal Theatre box office, by phone at 250-386-621 or online at rmts.bc.ca.