The Dance Works Academy recital last weekend packed a lot of drama into its two-hour plus performance. Entitled Two Stories, the performance showcased many of the younger children during the first half in a plot that involved sunbeams, pirates and princesses, a mean queen and a kind king, choreographed by Penny Hudson and Tara MacLeod. Some highlights were the wee dancers in their bumblebee performance, whose costumes, complete with stingers, were super. (Costume design was by Rebecca Thompson.) The two queen bees, teenage ballet dancers Shantaya Erb and Hayley Van Streppen, did a graceful job of keeping the younger ones in rein.
The kind king was played by a little guy with a big role. Ben Luporini carried off the role of the regal lion with dignity and managed to look majestic even beside his six-foot guards Charles Cottrell and Franklin Cottrell. Guest artist Melissa Thompson danced the role of the mean queen while dance instructor Tara MacLeod waved her wand as the queen fairy.The second half, a New York scene, featured the teenage and more experienced dancers in selections from West Side Story. Highlights included a song and dance rendition of Tonight by Danielle Allanback, Emily Cardinall, Charles, Franklin and Skye Cottrell and Shantaya Erb. Charles' fine voice was heard again later singing the part of Tony to Shantaya's Maria.
The choreography of Sarah Whyte shone in the lively performance of Rockin' Robin. Tap dancing seems to be showing a resurgence in popularity and the various tap performances were generally well done, better than the hip hop numbers which will need more practice before they can reach competition standard.
For the final number, Charles and his talented and confident partner Shantaya performed a moving dance to the strains of Time To Say Goodbye (Sarah Brightman and Andrea Bocelli.) This was Charles' final role with Dance Works as the 18-year-old will be leaving soon to study for a new career, as will his dancing sister Jennifer Cottrell.Dance Works will host a dance summer school in Gibsons. Call Penny Hudson at 604-886-4121 for more information.
