After months of hard work, more than 1,000 dedicated performing arts students are converging on the Comox Valley to strut their stuff at the 41st annual North Island Festival of Performing Arts (NIFPA).
NIFPA is a non-profit society dedicated to giving young performers the chance to perform their passion before adjudicators who are professionals in various disciplines – piano, vocal, fiddle, guitar, strings, speech arts, musical theatre and dance. Children and youth from around the Comox Valley and the North Island take part in this confidence and community building, educational event, and have the opportunity to take their dreams to the next level.
NIFPA begins Feb. 5 with music and speech arts performances at the Old Church Theatre until Feb. 13. Musical theatre and dance performances will be held at the Sid Williams Theatre in Courtenay from Feb. 18-26. The public is invited to watch festival sessions and support performers, but potential audience members should keep in mind that these are adjudicated performances with pauses between each one.
Admission is $2 per session, $5 full day or $25 for a festival pass. For a complete calendar of session dates and programs, visit www.nifpa.org
To wrap up and celebrate the festival, three entertaining shows are scheduled. The Festival Variety Showcase which highlights a variety of all disciplines takes place Friday, March 3 at 7 p.m., the Provincial Rep Showcase is on Saturday, March 4 at 1 p.m. (entry by donation), and the Dance Gala will be held March 4 at 7 p.m.
Tickets for the Variety Show and Dance Gala are $20 and are available at the Sid Williams Box office or www.sidwilliamstheatre.com
