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8 B a c k t o S c h o o l / M u S i c & D a n c e - S u p p l e M e n t t o t h e W i n n i p e g F r e e p r e S S - S a t u r D a y , a u g u S t 1 6 , 2 0 1 4 MUSICLESSONSOFFEREDCITY-WIDE ANDATFORTGARRYCAMPUS AllLevels, Instrumental&Vocal EnrichmentProgram PianoPedagogy PerformanceOpportunities MusicalTheatre EarlyChildhoodMusic FeldenkraisLessons MusicTheory&History ASKABOUTOURMASTERCLASS PROGRAM! 204.474.9797 prepmusic@umanitoba.ca umanitoba.ca/music/prep Prep Studies Adevelopmentallydesignedmusic andmovementcurriculumfor childrenbirthtoage7andtheir families � Remarkableandresearch-proven childdevelopmentbenefits � Over50weeklyclasses � Somesimultaneousclass optionsforsiblings � Canada'smostsuccessful Kindermusikprogram � Enrolanytime Instruments�Creative Movement�MusicalConcepts VocalandRhythmDevelopment FreePreviewClasses:RegisterToday! kindermusikdiscovery.com 204-453-1222 3Locations:TheForks-St.Vital Tuxedo/Charleswood w w w . E v o l u t i o n D a n c e . c a F a l l R e g i s t r a t i o n O n N o w ! T W O ' S & Y O U A D U LT D A N C E A D U LT F I T N E S S H I P H O P A G E S 2 + B A L L E T J A Z Z R E C R E A T I O N A L & C O M P E T I T I V E P R O G R A M S TA P C R E AT I V E M O V E M E N T LY R I C A L P R E - D A N C E 200-366 Main Street │Selkirk MB│R1A 2J7 │204.785.1285│info@EvolutionDance.ca Join Us at Our New Location! SELKIRK TOWN PLAZA | 200-366 MAIN STREET 6200+ Square Feet 3 Large Studios Spacious Lobby & Change Room Ample Parking w w w . E v o l u t i o n D a n c e . c a F a l l R e g i s t r a t i o n O n N o w ! T W O ' S & Y O U A D U LT D A N C E A D U LT F I T N E S S H I P H O P A G E S 2 + B A L L E T J A Z Z R E C R E A T I O N A L & C O M P E T I T I V E P R O G R A M S TA P C R E AT I V E M O V E M E N T LY R I C A L P R E - D A N C E 200-366 Main Street │Selkirk MB│R1A 2J7 │204.785.1285│info@EvolutionDance.ca Join Us at Our New Location! SELKIRK TOWN PLAZA | 200-366 MAIN STREET 6200+ Square Feet 3 Large Studios Spacious Lobby & Change Room Ample Parking w w w . E v o l u t i o n D a n c e . c a F a l l R e g i s t r a t i o n O n N o w ! T W O ' S & Y O U A D U LT D A N C E A D U LT F I T N E S S H I P H O P A G E S 2 + B A L L E T J A Z Z R E C R E A T I O N A L & C O M P E T I T I V E P R O G R A M S TA P C R E AT I V E M O V E M E N T LY R I C A L P R E - D A N C E 200-366 Main Street │Selkirk MB│R1A 2J7 │204.785.1285│info@EvolutionDance.ca Join Us at Our New Location! SELKIRK TOWN PLAZA | 200-366 MAIN STREET 6200+ Square Feet 3 Large Studios Spacious Lobby & Change Room Ample Parking SELKIRK TOWN PLAZA | 200-366 MAIN STREET 6200+ Square Feet 3 Large Studios Spacious Lobby & Change Room Ample Parking TWO'S & YOU HIP HOP JAZZ CREATIVE MOVEMENT ADULT DANCE AGES 2+ RECREATIONAL & COMPETITIVE PROGRAMS LYRICAL ADULT FITNESS BALLET TAP PRE-DANCE Students from the RWB Recreational Division School dance at Ballet in the Park in July, performing a hip-hop piece created by talented local choreographer, Eugene Baffoe. Photos by Bruce Monk By Jennifer McFee For the Free Press D ance programs keep kids on their toes — both at the ballet bar and beyond. At Canada's Royal Winnipeg Ballet School, more than 1,200 students take classes each year. Some aspire to become professional dancers, while others pursue the art of dance for the sheer joy of it. For Nicole Kepp, vice-principal of RWB's Recreational Division, it's never too early or too late to start. "We have classes that start at three years-old, and the first session is introduced with a parent. For the second half of the year, those three-year-olds are in the studio by themselves. We also have classes all the way up until adults of any age," Kepp said. "We are accessible to anyone of all ages and all levels. So if you've never taken dance before and you'd like to give it a try, come join us. If you have a lot of experience, we'd love for you to come and take some classes with us as well." Located downtown at 380 Graham Ave., RWB's Recreational Division offers classes seven days a week. "Monday to Friday is all after school classes. Then we have classes that run all day Saturday, as well as a few classes that run on Sunday," Kepp said. "You could come once a week and we'll have an appropriate class for you, or you can come six or seven times a week and we'll find a program that works for you." Although the school is best known for its ballet classes, it also offers instruction in jazz, tap, musical theatre and hip hop. As well, boys-only classes are offered for male dancers from ages four to nine years-old. "Our hip-hop program is growing here in the school, and we also have a lot of popularity within our jazz and tap programs," said Kepp. "We do limit our class sizes, which vary depending on age group. For our three-year-old program, we limit it to 10-15 students per class, whereas the rest of our classes won't usually have more than 20 students in a class." While the students learn to dance from highly qualified instructors, they also develop skills that are transferable to other areas of their lives. "It is a form of physical fitness. Within the classes, they learn structure and the art form of dance, while also working on co- ordination, basic motor skills and confidence," Kepp said. "The discipline of dance definitely helps students to be disciplined in the classroom as well. For the students who are dancing many hours a week, they have to be quite diligent with their academics to ensure that they're not only staying on top of their dance training but that they are staying on top of their studies at school. They have to be organized. It teaches them about time management." Recreational dancers also have the opportunity to perform their way onto the big stage. "We do have a number of students that audition every year and are accepted into the professional school," Kepp said. "As well, our Recreational Division students are sometimes invited to audition for select company productions. For example, every year, students with us are invited to audition for Nutcracker if they fulfil the age and height requirements. If a company performance calls for young dancers, there are very specific requirements that are put out within the audition applications. These are available for our Recreational Division students to audition for." As an added perk, Royal Winnipeg Ballet students receive discounts on tickets to RWB company performances. This year, the shows are especially impressive as the organization celebrates its 75th anniversary. "With the exception of our three-year-olds, all the students will perform in one of our recitals at the end of the year," Kepp added. "This is another benefit, since students learn to work towards a goal." To get involved in this year's dance classes, mark your calendars for the last-chance registration coming up on Aug. 28 and 29 from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. and Aug. 30 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Registration is taken in person at the RWB for classes that begin Sept. 8 and end in June.

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