Secondary Dance and Choral Festivals take over Bell Performing Arts Centre

École Panorama Ridge Secondary (Photo by Jacob Zinn)

Song and dance were once again centre stage as secondary dance and choral festivals returned to the Bell Performing Arts Centre this week.

The dance festival began Wednesday, Jan. 11 while the choral festival showcased several ensembles on Thursday, Jan. 12.

“We’re very fortunate to be able to run these kinds of events,” said arts education helping teacher Tricia Liversidge. “There are not a lot of other districts that are able to do things like this to the degree that we are and I’m really happy that we can offer this to out-of-district groups.”

The choral festival featured vocal performances from North Surrey Secondary and École Panorama Ridge, while the dance festival saw 31 classes from 14 secondary schools perform, including Enver Creek, Fleetwood Park, Frank Hurt, Grandview Heights, Guildford Park, Kwantlen Park, L.A. Matheson, Lord Tweedsmuir, North Surrey, École Panorama Ridge, Princess Margaret, Queen Elizabeth, École Salish and Sullivan Heights.

“We have beginners, we have advanced, we have students in the BASES program who are performing,” said Liversidge. “We actually have four students in wheelchairs who are a part of one of the dances. I love the inclusion factor and the way they accommodate others.”

École Salish Secondary (Photo by Jacob Zinn)

Liversidge also highlighted that many of the dance groups worked with student choreographers to design and implement their dance routines.

“This isn’t just teachers working as choreographers for these classes, they are using student leadership and student choreographers and having their visions enacted,” she said. “It’s quite exciting.”

The dance festival included a presentation and performance by Nanaimo professional dancer AJ Kule Kambere, and the choral festival was adjudicated by Erick Lichte, artistic director of the Vancouver-based Chor Leoni Men’s Choir.

“Being able to have our students participate, I am just so thrilled,” said Liversidge.

“It’s such an amazing feeling to see these dance groups and hear all of the student voices and the harmonies. It makes the hair on your arms stand up just, it’s such a rich environment.”

Congratulations to all of our dance and choral festival students!