The Bonnington Arts Centre was packed on May 28 as parents, friends and residents came out to watch the year end recital for local dance company Move on the Kusp, in association with the Arrow Lakes District Arts Council.
At the beginning of the show, it was announced that a portion of the night’s proceeds will go toward the creation of a subsidy for youth to attend dance programs in the area.
There were a few giggles in the crowd when some difficulties arose in getting the right song to play, but everything turned out fine as the evening was kicked off with the intro jazz class, aged three to five, coming out to perform as caped crusaders to the Fall Out Boy song “Immortals”.
One number the crowd really enjoyed was “Rubber Boots”, performed by the senior ballet class. The premise was simple, but very funny. A ballet instructor insisted her students perform in rubber boots. While they go along with it at first, the students eventually rebel against their instructor, taking off their boots, throwing them on the floor, and walking off in protest while the instructor begged and pleaded for them to come back.
“We wanted to do something fun and simple,” said Cassia Parent, owner and operator of Move on the Kusp. “We decided to make it more about being characters as opposed to being super prima ballerinas.”
Parent said coming up with ideas for the show can come from anywhere. Sometimes from listening to music, other times she’d recall something she did in the past. Sometimes an idea would come when she and her students were in the studio goofing around, or working through some combination of steps.
It was clear throughout the show the performers had a lot of fun, something audience members picked up on.
“The kids really enjoy it, and there’s some talent out there,” said Andrew Minchin, one of the parents. “It’s good to see.”
Minchin thinks having the dance studio is a great opportunity for the youth of Nakusp.
“It’s really good because it’s another outlet, and it’s not like your typical sports,” he said. “It gives them another creative outlet.”
At the end of the show every performer was given an award for their dedication. Names of the awards included the heart award, dedication award, creative spirit award, and the show must go on award.
“They are some of the most hard working individuals that I have ever had the pleasure of seeing grow,” said Parent. “I love them all, each in their own individual way.”