The Show Goes On: Documentary chronicles Lethbridge dance students' pandemic year
The pandemic has created some unique classrooms challenges over the past year, but it has also opened up a new opportunity for students at a high school dance academy in Lethbridge.
Staff and students at the LCI Arts Academy Dance have created a documentary that chronicles their learning experiences during the pandemic.
The Show Goes On features behind the scenes footage, as well as a dozen dance performances under stage lights.
“We documented our entire year,” said artistic director Geordan Olson.
Normally, the academy would put on a live show at the end of the year to demonstrate what students had accomplished, however that was not an option due to COVID-19 restrictions that resulted in venues like the Yates Theatre stopping scheduled events.
“The Yates called and cancelled our show on us,” said Olson. “We’re like, okay, what are we going to do?”
Like many performing arts groups during the pandemic, they decided to create a virtual dance show. One of the students came up with the suggestion of recording behind the scenes footage, and that turned into a documentary.
“So the restrictions did literally create the project,” said Olson.
The LCI Arts Academy dance has grown to include 65 students, from Grades 9 to 12. The documentary includes in-class training, interviews with students, and a dozen dance performances featuring the work of instructors and choreographers from across Canada.
According to Olson, about 80 per cent of the classes were taught through Zoom, which made learning possible despite constant interruptions due to COVID-19.
A scene from The Show Goes On, a documentary chronicling the last year for members of LCI Arts Academy Dance. (Courtesy LCI Arts Academy and Lethbridge School Division)
“We had times when I was in quarantine, half the kids were in quarantine, and we were working with a choreographer from Montreal,” said Olson. “We made it work. It was a little crazy but at the same time it was all part of the story.”
The students recently had a chance to sit down and watch the documentary.
“It left me speechless,” said Grade 12 student Nali Richards.
“This was the process of seeing us kind of grow as dancers and artists this year, and even our teachers, to see how they changed over the year.”
Richards added, “it was good to watch actual progress happening when if feels like nothing good is happening.”
Olson says in addition to the physical and therapeutic benefits of dance, working on the documentary also gave the students something positive to focus on.
A scene from The Show Goes On, a documentary chronicling the last year for members of LCI Arts Academy Dance. (Courtesy LCI Arts Academy and Lethbridge School Division)
“We didn’t sit around and feel sad that there was COVID and restrictions. We just used that as part of our story.”
Instead of flying in one well-known choreographer during the year, the program used its funds to connect with dance instructors from across Canada, working with a pair of choreographers from Toronto, one from Montreal, and another from Vancouver.
Olson said co-artistic director and breaking coach Koji Nagahama also deserves much of the credit for the way the documentary turned out.
“Not only is he my co-artistic director, he is a choreographer for the academy, he’s the videographer for the academy, and happens to be the (Information Technology) guy for the school.”
Olson says being able to continue their dancing was also healing and therapeutic for the students.
“Whether you are in a pandemic or not, dancing is such an amazing thing to do. “
Richards said with so much uncertainty over performing on stage and shutting down schools it was sometimes difficult to stay motivated, “but dance was always something I was looking forward to. Being able to do what I love and be with people.”
“I'm just really proud of the kids because they have so much grit and resilience,” added Olson. “They really persevered and pushed thru this year, and they're really proud of what they've accomplished.”
The Show Goes On is set to premiere at the Movie Mill in Lethbridge June 28 and 29.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
DEVELOPING Person on fire outside Trump's hush money trial rushed away on a stretcher
A person who was on fire in a park outside the New York courthouse where Donald Trump’s hush money trial is taking place has been rushed away on a stretcher.
Mandisa, Grammy award-winning 'American Idol' alum, dead at 47
Soulful gospel artist Mandisa, a Grammy-winning singer who got her start as a contestant on 'American Idol' in 2006, has died, according to a statement on her verified social media. She was 47.
She set out to find a husband in a year. Then she matched with a guy on a dating app on the other side of the world
Scottish comedian Samantha Hannah was working on a comedy show about finding a husband when Toby Hunter came into her life. What happened next surprised them both.
Senators reject field trip to African Lion Safari amid elephant bill study
The Senate legal affairs committee has rejected a motion calling for members to take a $50,000 field trip to the African Lion Safari in southern Ontario to see the zoo's elephant exhibit.
'It could be catastrophic': Woman says natural supplement contained hidden painkiller drug
A Manitoba woman thought she found a miracle natural supplement, but said a hidden ingredient wreaked havoc on her health.
CFIA monitoring for avian flu in Canadian dairy cattle after U.S. discoveries
The Canadian Food Inspection Agency is encouraging veterinarians to keep an eye out for signs of avian influenza in dairy cattle following recent discoveries of cases of the disease in U.S. cow herds.
DEVELOPING G7 warns of new sanctions against Iran as world reacts to apparent Israeli drone attack
Group of Seven foreign ministers warned of new sanctions against Iran on Friday for its drone and missile attack on Israel, and urged both sides to avoid an escalation of the conflict.
After hearing thousands of last words, this hospital chaplain has advice for the living
Hospital chaplain J.S. Park opens up about death, grief and hearing thousands of last words, and shares his advice for the living.
Vancouver firefighter in rehab at home after losing leg to flesh-eating infection overseas
A family trip took a frightening turn for Christopher Won when he was diagnosed with flesh-eating disease while in Hong Kong and now, after weeks of treatment overseas, the Vancouver firefighter is back home recovering.