A local Glitz & Glamour Can Can performance sparked the beginning of a 12-member dance troupe in the Cariboo.
100 Mile House resident Kelly Pollock and Bernice Weihs-Torheiden from Clinton performed at the Glitz & Glamour fundraiser for the Fischer Place and Mill Site Lodge last summer.
The Mill Site Lodge/Fisher Place Auxiliary decided on a gold rush theme and wanted Can Can dancers to entertain.
Pollock says she had the good fortune to meet Weihs-Torheiden who has more than 20 years of Can Can experience. She has performed throughout British Columbia, the United States and Europe.
Having recently moved to Clinton, Weihs-Torheiden says she was thrilled to be considered for doing the performance with help from Pollock, who has a background in dance, and the Mill Girl Follies Dance Troupe was born.
Wanting to honour their first performance opportunity is one reason they have the word, Mill, in our name, adds Pollock.
The troupe has quickly grown to 12 members and still growing, Pollock says, adding practices take place at least once a week and often twice, with more practices leading up to key performances.
“Right now, we have available practice space in Clinton and 70 Mile and would look at other areas, such as 100 Mile House, depending on the concentration of dancers and availability of practice space, but not all members are always available for all practices and performances.”
Ladies wishing to join the dance troupe can be from 20 to over 50 years old, she notes.
“We love it if our members have a dance or acrobatic background, but it is not essential. Being physically fit is more relevant than age, as this is a high-energy cardio workout.”
Pollock says the members pay a nominal monthly fee, which goes towards replenishing costume supplies.
“We will be doing some benefit performances and paid performances to keep the troupe afloat. We just performed at the Clinton Annual Ball, which was the ‘coming-out party’ for the expanded troupe.”
Many of our dancers have just come onboard since January, she adds, so it was a huge undertaking to get ready, but was a very enthusiastic response.
“With that under our belt, we are now looking at new opportunities. For starters we will be performing in Williams Lake on July 26 at 5 p.m. in their Concert in the Park series.”
Contact Weihs-Torheiden at 250-459-2259 or Pollock at 250-395-6134 for more information about joining this energetic dance troupe.
