聽 聽 聽The Dance Zone School of Dancing's most recent recital, 鈥淎 Moment to Shine,鈥� showcased 10 years of dance excellence for the Weyburn and Carlyle-based studio, under the direction of its owner, Tammy Lawrence-Bhimji.
聽聽聽聽 The school teaches students from the age of three a broad spectrum of dance disciplines, including: ballet, tap, jazz, lyrical and contemporary dance, as well as musical theatre.
聽聽聽聽 The studio's final performance of the season was held in Carlyle on Friday, May 8, and featured 40 selections performed by dancers from Arcola, Carlyle, Lampman, Manor, and Oxbow.
聽聽聽聽 鈥淚'm so pleased that all of the performers have the opportunity to showcase their hard work, enthusiasm, and talent,鈥� says Lawrence-Bhimji.
聽聽聽聽 鈥淲e not only focus on excellence,鈥� she says. 鈥� I also want to foster a lifelong love of dance in our students.鈥�
聽聽聽聽 Along with a full slate of competitions, students from the school were also offered two unique performance opportunities, says Lawrence-Bhimji.
聽聽聽聽 鈥淎 group of dancers performed on a Carnival Cruise ship that sailed through the Caribbean in February and our dancers also performed as part of (Saskatchewan's) Telemiracle broadcast.鈥�
聽聽聽聽 The cruise-on the Carnival Liberty-took place during the dancer's February school break. The ship聽 sailed through the Caribbean, docking in Mexico, the Bahamas, and Isla Roatan. The Dance Zone troupe performed a two-night showcase, performing a 30-minute, non-stop routine; a performance聽聽 open to all of the ship's guests.
聽聽聽聽 鈥淲e had 34 dancers from ages five to 17 doing the cruise,鈥� says Lawrence-Bhimji. 鈥淚 learned about the opportunity to do a cruise through a friend who had taken their studio. To apply, we sent an audition tape of past performances. It usually takes about 12 to 18 months to be placed, but they were quite impressed with what they saw from the dancers, because we were chosen and given a date within four months.鈥�
聽聽聽聽 鈥淭he opportunity to dance on the ship was open to all of our dance families, and it was so nice to have so many that did sign on,鈥� she adds. 鈥淚t gives them an eye-opening opportunity to see what the future could hold for them as dancers, such as pernorming on cruise ships and seeing the world.鈥�
聽聽聽聽 Closer to home, dancers from the studio also performed during the 2015 Telemiracle broadcast; and also presented pledges and contributions from their home communities.
聽聽聽聽 Lawrence-Bhimji says the March telecast was another opportunity for her students to enhance their love of dance, as well as use their talent to enhance the lives of others.
聽聽聽聽 Dance Zone's senior dance troupe auditioned in Sptember 2014 with a piece called 鈥淎ll That Jazz,鈥� and in November, they learned they were chosen to be a part of the broadcast.
聽聽聽聽 鈥淲e chose to audition for Telemiracle because it was another opportunity to perform. As a dance teacher, I really believe that it's not all about competitive dance. It's also about the love of dance and participating in non-competitive settings like Telemiracle is especially good for that.鈥�
聽聽聽聽 鈥淲e've had an extremely busy year,鈥� she says 鈥淎nd I am so grateful for the support of our teacher assistants at the Dance Zone, the parents of our dancers, the places in Carlyle who let us use their facilities, and of course, our dancers. Everyone has helped us pave our road to success.鈥�
聽聽聽聽 鈥淚t's such an honour to come to teach in such a supportive community and to pass on the love of dance to another group of young performers,鈥� says Lawrence-Bhimji.
聽聽聽聽 鈥淚 consider myself very lucky to have the opportunity to inspire them and to teach them.鈥�
