While June is often a bittersweet time of the year for teachers who say B次元官网网址榞oodbyeB次元官网网址� to their graduating class, that isnB次元官网网址檛 quite the case for Leanne Harrington, director of Royal Bay secondaryB次元官网网址檚 dance academy.
ThatB次元官网网址檚 because HarringtonB次元官网网址檚 former students tend to hang around even after theyB次元官网网址檝e graduated through the academyB次元官网网址檚 alumini association.
B次元官网网址淭hey come back and help,B次元官网网址� she said, noting that one alumnus choreographed one of the academyB次元官网网址檚 dances. B次元官网网址淲eB次元官网网址檝e had alumni travel with us on some of our excursions this year. They always find a way to connect.B次元官网网址�
This yearB次元官网网址檚 graduates, along with the rest of the academyB次元官网网址檚 students, will be showing parents, family, friends and the general public what theyB次元官网网址檝e learned over the course of the year when they put on two end-of-season shows on June 14 and 15.
TheyB次元官网网址檒l also be hosting a special preview show on June 13 thatB次元官网网址檚 intended for parents and elementary and middle school students who are interested in learning more about the academy. Performers from Dunsmuir Middle SchoolB次元官网网址檚 academy will also be performing.
B次元官网网址淲e have teamed up to try and promote the academy within the community and offer this preview show free of charge just to let the community know what the academy is all about,B次元官网网址� Harrington said.
During all performances, dance genres will range from hip hop and jazz to ballet and tap, and itB次元官网网址檚 the last two that Harrington says is typically the most challenging for her students.
B次元官网网址淭ap is probably the most challenging because itB次元官网网址檚 the one where they have the least experience and they probably find ballet to be similarly challenging,B次元官网网址� she said.
While many students have gained experience dancing with studios prior to entering the academy, others come in with limited or no experience, and thatB次元官网网址檚 part of what makes the program great in HarringtonB次元官网网址檚 eyes.
While studio programs can be very costly, the academyB次元官网网址檚 tuition is roughly $1,100 for the year, making this more accessible for families in a variety of financial situations.
B次元官网网址淎bout a third of our dancers come to us with prior dance training B次元官网网址� many dancers find the academy is an opportunity to do dance where they wouldnB次元官网网址檛 otherwise have the opportunity,B次元官网网址� Harrington explained.
It has been a successful year for the academy and their efforts havenB次元官网网址檛 gone unnoticed.
Among the honours the program received this year are the B次元官网网址淪econdary School ShieldB次元官网网址� at the Greater Victoria Performing Arts Festival and the Karen Clark Jazz Award at the Dance Works Festival.
Tickets for the June 14 and 15 shows are available at the schoolB次元官网网址檚 office or at the door, although seating is limited to roughly 350 people at the Teechamitsa Theatre. Funds raised from the $10 tickets support the academyB次元官网网址檚 programs and excursions.
Parents, elementary and middle school aged students interested in checking out the free preview show on June 13 should email Harrington at lharrington@sd62.bc.ca to arrange to pick up tickets or to have them set aside at the door.
joel.tansey@goldstream
