The popularity of the Estevan Drewitz School of Dance continues to grow as evidenced by this year’s response to their 33rd annual recital on May 28.
This year’s performance featured no fewer than 268 young dancers ranging in age from a few years to Grade 12 graduates.
“And I just love it, love them. I get to learn their personalities and they seem to love to dance,” said Lorie-Gay Drewitz-Gallaway, director and head instructor as well as choreographer for the show.
But it doesn’t happen without the assistant teachers and class helpers, she said, explaining how it works in co-ordinating the various dance genres with their instructors and time schedules. The school offers classes in ballet, pointe and character, tap, jazz, lyrical, musical theatre, Highland and stretch and while the Saturday recital wrapped up another formal season of learning and dancing, the summer offers more opportunities to stretch the knowledge base for young dancers prior to the formal registration begins for another season of instruction, on August 31.
This year Drewitz-Gallaway had Chelsae Mack, Hunter Hildebrand and Kim Mayuk as assistant techers while class helpers included senior dancers such as Madison Frehlick, Kia Rosenbaum Kelsey Romanyk, Mia Hanson, Reese Handley, Tamira Krall, Makenna Mack, Jaclyn Schindel and Lorin Fichter.
This year’s recital with the Sweet Treats theme was directed by master of ceremonies James Lainton.
The recital doesn’t happen without the volunteer assistance from a group of willing helpers who set up programs, lighting, camera, backstage staging of stars, sewing, props and even setting up chairs for the final performance, she noted.
Drewitz-Gallaway will be engaged in the annual ballet summer school and will lead a mini-dance workshop for early learners in early September.
