Dancer-in-residence for Living Sky School Division, Ashley Johnson, has some big plans for dance workshops to be held over the coming months.
The series of community workshops runs from Feb. 24 to May 18 with the Chapel Gallery and the Upper Mezz of the Don Ross the venues.
The plans are for those workshops to cover a wide range of topics and are made possible through a partnership with Living Sky School Division, the City of North Battleford and Sask Culture's Creative Partnerships program. The workshops are open to all ages and will feature live music by Keith Bartlett and Kurtis Kopp.
The idea is to "engage the community and get people interested and involved in dancing and being joyful about moving and using their bodies, and engaging different people from different walks of life and age groups and organizations in the (community)," Johnson said.
Johnson is a dancer and dance educator who works as a teaching artist and collaborative performer in the Battlefords. She had hosted previous workshops, though this is her first partnership with the City.
She was an artist-in-residence with Living Sky last year as well and hosted workshops out of Connaught and McKitrick schools.
"That's where the idea came from - we did a series of community-based dances," she said.
However, last year Johnson also tore ligaments in her knee, which required surgery. Johnson says she is still recovering from that injury, but she is dancing again and is ready to go with workshops over the next three months.
Among her plans is extending an invitation to a guest dancer from Winnipeg, Man., Sarah Roche, to teach with her and also collaborate in a dance performance to be presented in May.
The community programs are as follows: Feb. 24, Creativity and Play, an Intergenerational Creative Dance, will run from 1 to 3 p.m. at Chapel Gallery. It will be free of charge.
March 21 "Dance on the Brain," Self Care and Maintenance for the Body/Mind, will run 7 to 9 p.m. in the Upper Mezzanine, Don Ross. Registration is $10.
April 13 the workshop is entitled "Old Tyme Dance"- pattern dancing for all ages. It runs from 8 to 11 p.m at the Chapel Gallery and is free of charge.
April 25 the workshop is called "Basics of Partner Dance." It runs 7 to 9 p.m. at the Upper Mezzanine at Don Ross, registration is $10.
May 11 is the date for "Deep Listening Through Dance" with guest teacher, Sarah Roche. It runs from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Upper Mezzanine at Don Ross, registration is $25.
The last event on May 18 is a performance. "Dance by Distance" will feature a performance by Ashley Johnson and Sarah Roche. It is to run at 4 p.m. at the Chapel Gallery and admission is free.
Those looking to register for classes can contact Joe Campbell at the City of North Battleford, 445-1755. Also, anyone seeking more information can contact Johnson at artist@lskysd.ca or at 306-937-7956.
