| OCR Text |
Show Virginia Tanner Dance Theatre EmaMcB9 s (DMitll! ff (D r spres I(D)ini y ft .sr. ... '. ....ni ' A ': . .lip' by Louise Page "There are only two lasting things we can give our children. One is roots, the other is wings." So said the late, great Virgina Tanner. Such was the character of the personality that created and molded the Virginia Tanner Creative Dance Program. Pro-gram. And in turn, molded some of the most refreshing and rewarding contributions to a very specific art form, Dance Theatre. A pioneer in the teaching of creative dance as an art form, Virginia Tanner was the guiding force behind the organization of the Childrens Dance Theatre back in 1949. Since then, the Childrens Dance Theatre has gained national and international recognition and acclaim. The Childrens Dance theatre is one of five groups invited to perform this summer at the second 'Dance and the Child International Inter-national Conference' to be held in Stockholm, Sweden. Twelve year old Emalie Thiriot, a sixth grade student at the North Summit Middle School, is a member of the Childrens Dance Theatre. Emalie first became involved in-volved in creative dance when . she was four. Hec mother enrolled her in a five week summer session at the University of Utah. Her i dance teacher. Miss Mau-rine, Mau-rine, felt that she should go on with her instruction and suggested she be enrolled in the fall quarter, which she was. However, when she. was six, she dropped out. Mother, Helen, had a baby that year, little sister Amiee, and couldn't keep up the pace. But, enthusiastic student Emalie, and equally enthusiastic enthus-iastic mother. Helen ("I guess I have always been an unfulfilled dancer."), returned return-ed the following year. "We were a little concerned concern-ed about her missing one year." Helen said "We wondered if Twotfld be able to keep up with the group." Emalie echoed. Then, right in the middle of their anxiety, a wonderful thing happened. Virginia Tanner came in to watch. "She wasn't actually teaching the class herself, but she was very much in control. She was very fond of young people, but very strict and exacting. An of coarse, the students were in complete com-plete awe of her. She influenced them to accomplish accom-plish their best." Helen explained. "She watched Emalie for a minute, then guided her foot into proper position." "She touched my toe and madvi it into a beautiful point." Emalie recalled. Dance Theatre are selected on rcconimentdation of their instructors. Not all students, who enroll in the creative dance classes, will be recommended recom-mended for consideration in the Dance Theatre. But then, not all who are recommended recommend-ed stay with it. If a student truly wants to have that opportunity and has what it takes to join: talent, determination, self discipline, love of dance, and supportive parents, among other things; that opportunity opportun-ity is there, for everyone. The excitement and enchantment en-chantment of creative dance is very contagious, as was evident following the recent appearance of the Childrens Dance Theatre in Coalville. "I knew something special was happening when I saw all those Seminary students leaping across the road!" one mother was heard to say. Throughout the entire community, residents watched watch-ed with mixed feelings, as bus students leaped and twirled along the highways at their various stops. Young people were observed ob-served leaping down the sidewalk in Coalville proper. And, I suspect a few 'old people' leaped a bit too, when no one was looking. But, the real enchantment enchant-ment came that evening, when the Childrens Dance Theatre performed in the North Summit Auditorium. delightful experience it is to watch this group. Or, more correctly, to be, as a member of the audience, a part of their performance. The highlight of the evening was the performance perform-ance of 'The Rainbow Goblins', Gob-lins', a delightful and imaginative imagi-native fantasy about evil goblins who live on color. They travel to the valley ol the rainbow and secretly plot to steal the great arches of color. Each goblin tries to capture his own color, but is foiled. After a storm, the goblins unite to seize a newly formed rainbow, but are overtaken and drown in the colors they have come to steal. This beautiful production didn't just hapen. The idea for the dance, inspired by an extraordinary book by Ulde Rico, was initially presented to members of the Dance Theatre for group input. Total involvement is a key element in successful creative crea-tive dance. When the Dance Theatre undertakes to create a new production, group input is an important part of this process, from the smallest to the oldest member. mem-ber. In that sense, Emalie, who joined the Dance Theatre in the second grade, was a part of the development of 'The Rainbow Goblins'. "When we work on a new dance, we are asked how we feel the different elements of the dance would best be expressed." Students are encouraged to freely interpret, through dance, then many of these expressions are incorporated in, and become a part of the total. The dance doesn't just happen. It is the result of hours, days, weeks and months of planning and co-ordinating, and, practice, pratice, pratice. "Sometimes, we may work on developing a new piece for an entire year," Emalie said. Group sessions are always accompanied by live music. How does Emalie feel about the Dance Theatre? "It is kind of like an extended family, they care a-lot a-lot about each other. - Many began dancing with the group years and years ago. They are all totally dedicated dancers. We watch out for each other, work with each other. No performance is ever exactly like another. You have to be always aware of the others around you, so you don't run into each other. It is a total team effort. Our instructors are nice. My instructor this year, Chris, is so nice and she is funny. Even if we are not dancing right, she makes us feel good about what we are Most of the children begin in the Dance Theatre in the From that moment on, Emalie was committed. In fact, it has required - total commitment from both of them. Besides twice weekly trips to Salt Lake for classes and long hours of practice, there has been involvement in fund raising projects and personal expense. But. they have no regrets. "Some evenings we are so weary," Helen said, t'we just kind of lean on one another, to tired to even try to move. But it has been such fun, such rewarding experience experi-ence and the cost has not been excessive." "There is a tuition every quarter plus a fee to be part of the Dance Theatre. There are regular annual fund rasing drives which the parents participate in, to raise money for costumes and such. They have their annual 'Wine and Cheese Party and Art Auction', rummage sales and swap meets." "In front of the studio at the University, there is a brick walkway, anyone can buy a brick and have their name put on it," Helen explained. When one commits to the Childrens Dance Theatre, one commits to involvement, work and moral support, rather than a financial burden. Potential members of the second grade. After the seventh and eighth grade groups, a lot drop out, as they become more involved in outside activities. Many who stay, go on to other dance groups when they get older. Emalie has had total support from her family. Mom and dad, Helen and Don, brothers, Blaine and Bart and sisters, Lori and Amiee. "We have had to make the effort," Helen Said. "But it has been well worth it." Ocassionally, Emalie has had to deal with the frustration of not being understood by her peers. Sometimes it hurts when she hears negative comments com-ments like, what's so neat about that? or Anybody can jump around to music. Such comments only reflect a lack of understanding and respect for Emalie's love of the dance and dedication to an art form. . Understanding for all the long hours of work and training that go into the finished product is some- in -mi f 1 times hard to come by. Likt any other activity requiring proficiency, you have to love what you're doing and, if you're going to do it well, you have to learn the necessary steps to master it. Emalie recognizes that not understanding, all the elements ele-ments of dance, can make it difficult for everyone to understand how she feels about her commitment. Members of the Dance Theatre were thrilled with the reception they received at North Summit. "It was such a rewarding experience for all of them," Helen said. "Everyone loved our facility and expressed a desire to come back soon." And members of the audience were thrilled with the performance. We are fortunate to have a group with this high level of proficiency in the performing arts, so close to home. "Creative Dance, characterized char-acterized by beauty of spirit, artistry, true love and respect for it's chosen art form," has enriched all our lives. Something quite remarkable remark-able happens when artist and audience communicate over the footlights. It is the kind of magic that somehow lets everyone know that everything every-thing is right. It is something felt by both artist and audience alike but something some-thing that neither can describe. des-cribe. That kind of magic happened hap-pened that night. "This was the best experi ence I have had with the Dance Theatre," Emalie said. "When we performed per-formed here, I think everyone every-one felt that way. You can just tell when everything is going well and that night, everything was right, everyone every-one felt it. when you feel that good about the way a performance is going, you do your very best. We all sensed it. It was the best experience yet." There really are not adequate words to describe the program that night. Some things just have to be seen to be fully appreciated. Imagine if you will, clear blue stars, plucked from the heavens and put in motion, in the form of dancing children. . What do you think a small animal, or a butterfly, or a fairy princess, would look like, wrapped in color and clothed in human form?. Fancy a brilliant rainbow forming, then breaking a-part, a-part, each vivid color being consumed by an evil looking goblin. What would you suppose a real live goblin would look like? Ask any child who was in that audience, goblins were climbing over their seats and crawling up and down their aisles. Combine those visual senses with beautiful music and carefully choreographed motion and, if you have a really terrific imagination, you might have just the tiniest inkling of what a lilSi mm: : A . - iu; -:::f:S:::ifV.f .: !'. . ' . Vi'S'ii :'5 - tf:S' ' ' fsM. f . sSsSiSSPsiW ;K isiisSs 'ss;;; , N x xN x ; I y . rlu'h f i II x xx x - - x i v ' - i A . ..)llIWli ijjiw - - v x f Mi I r. . J i v ;- ( ' I t I I ' - , ' i t t i mLHma aama am ah c-nn a ImlnA tfv - . . t . mnair . ,c r. Performance for the v.rR.n,a uer l)anc. Theatre was held in the North Smmil High School Adilrim. v , , , , - y ... ,,. V,,-,. ,. . ' ' ' ' v' v |
