ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT Musical Theatre on Offer at Prairie Soul

Starting last year, the Prairie Soul Dance Company has offered two different musical theatre classes. This gives students who love musical theatre a chance to be involved at a much more focused level than they would be just through annual high school productions. 

“We started up a Broadway class and a Musical Theatre class again last season,” says Danielle Auld and Melanie Ducharme, sisters and owners of Prairie Soul Dance Company. “For the upcoming season, we have also added a Performing Arts Ensemble class where students will attend various festivals and perform at additional community events.” 

These programs are for students ages six and up. They also cover a wide range of artistic ability for those who can sing and dance. The types of performances cover a range of material, from Disney shows to Anne of Green Gables, Annie, Hairspray, and more.

The sisters explain the different classes. “Broadway is a fun intro to the songs and style of Broadway musicals, incorporating elements of basic dance steps, acting, drama, performing arts, and theatre. Musical Theatre is a fun, interactive class exploring musicals and performing arts through acting, characterization, vocal technique, performing vocally while dancing, and occasionally live musical accompaniment. Performing Arts Ensemble is a fusion of the two classes.”

Regional musicals, such as the ones performed at Rainbow Stage in Winnipeg, often have one or two parts that are open to children. For example, the last show done, Shrek, featured a few child and teen performers. Classes at Prairie Soul Dance could open up opportunities like these for students in the future. 

“Students will perform at our annual May recital,” Ducharme and Auld say. “Students will also attend the Southeastern Manitoba Festival in March as well as the Manitoba Provincial Dance Festival in May.”

Last year, the programs were received well by the community. The classes are taught by two local women, Janeen Peters and Beth Downey Sawatzky. Both of them took the Musical Theatre class in the early 2000s when the studio was called Sadler School of Dance. 

“The classes are designed to get students moving, build self-esteem, meet new friends, and have fun!” the Auld and Ducharme add.