We are family

Each year students in the grade 11 dance class at Widdifield Secondary School are charged with an assignment to hosting a benefit show for charity and this year is no different.

The show, which hits the Widdifield Stage at 7pm Thursday, is part of the dancers’ course as a culminating activity called Dancing for a Purpose. The students research their chosen charity and develop an understanding on how they can help make a difference in their community through the arts.

Grade 12 student Jody Percy says the class has been hard at work researching music and rehearsing pieces that will represent the true spirit of their chosen charity the Special Olympics.

“We have been choreographing our dances for three months now … it is all student choreographed,” he explains.
Percy further explains that the students have divided up into small groups working on dance numbers for the two rounds of choreography that they provide for the show.

“For example I am in a hip hop trio for the first round of choreography and then for the second round I decided to do a solo.”

“We are listening to songs and trying to find things that fit with the theme of the Special Olympics … a Canadian theme because we are trying to be pro Canada and we are also talking about believing, believing in yourself, believing in your teammates and all that stuff.”
The students a graded on not only how well they perform but also how well the show comes together and is the show is well attended. This year the Grade 11 group is stepping outside of the box by including the special needs students from the 'Towards Independent Living' (TIL) class in the program.

“It gives us a lot of confidence because it is going to a good cause especially because we get to do a number with the TIL students they come and they are dancing with us to the song 'We Are Family',” states Percy.

“So they love it and it is a blast for everybody because just to see them smiling and getting up and moving around shaken it's just a lot of fun.”

He says choosing the charity was an easy choice for the class as they know a number of fellow students who benefit from the program.

“Mostly I think it is just the fact that we have had some students here that have competed in the Special Olympics … swimmers, we've had some people on the curling team that was I think our main reason behind (it) because we were so close to some Special Olympians that we though hey why not.”

Percy admits that working on the special number has been a learning experience on its own and came with its own set of challenges.

“It can definitely be frustrating at times because it's hard to get along I find sometimes they might not be wanting to pay attention and it's hard to work with sometimes … my partner for example he doesn't like the song at all,” he says of the challenges.
“But we have fun joking about it and so you just find ways to cope and you get to know … we are all partnered up with another person from the TIL class so you get to know your partner and you laugh and joke around. And you see them in the hall which is nice and everybody always says hi now, so it brings the community of our school together more I find as a whole.”

“And we know whenever we say an announcement or we talk about it (the dance recital) you just see their faces light up in the hall and that just makes it worth it every day.”

It is clear by the smile on TIL student Cher Lafrance's face and the sheer enthusiasm she exudes that being part of the program has had a great impact on her school experience.

“It's been awesome being with my friends … my family is going to come and they'll enjoy it and have a great time on Thursday.”

“Well it was fun I mean we had to get up and do the dance rehearsal … it feels right, it feels good actually because I've always been a performer because I've been in Broadways and musicals and stuff like that,” she says with a huge smile.

Lafrance has participated in a number of Dreamcoat Fantasy Theatre productions including Razzle Dazzle and Charlie Brown and says she is anxious for this week's show.

“Yes I am ready to kick some butt on Thursday!”

Lafrance says she wants the public to come because the show is for Special Olympics and while she is not an Olympian she benefits from the program.

“I watch it and it makes me proud to see all the athletes do their thing and it's so cool cause they come from different countries, and different places.”

“And ya I get to spend time with the family … so it's pretty special.”

The show features a variety of dances in duets/ trios and group numbers showcasing dance styles such as jazz, hip-hop, tap, ballet, lyrical and modern.

Tickets are just $5.00 and show time in the Widdifield Theatre on Ski Club Road is 7pm sharp.