Maybe it will be watching Vernon’s mayor get sawed in half, or perhaps it will be seeing dancers flitting across the stage in all their finery.
Whatever it is, City Dance has a little magic for everyone.
The Vernon dance studio is about to present its third dance production with this year’s Dance: The Magic, a fun-filled show for all ages featuring multiple dance styles, death defying magic feats and special guest performers.
The show takes place for two performances Nov. 21 at the Vernon Performing Arts Centre.
“This year’s theme, magic, opens up a whole world of dance and illusions that will have the audience, young and old, marvelling at the dancers, the magic, and the way they blend seamlessly together,” said City Dance owner Heather Stranks.
“City Dance believes that everyone should be exposed to the magic of dance, and so, to help encourage young people to experience dance in many forms, children 12 and under will be admitted free at the matinee with the purchase of an adult ticket.”
City Dance students have been working feverishly since the beginning of September to perfect their dance routines.
Dancers will perform a variety of styles including ballroom, salsa, tango, jive, hip hop, contemporary and Polynesian, and more. Joining the studio dancers will be special guests, Diversity Dance, Hula Halau Ke Aloha Polynesian Dancers, soprano Melina Moore, and Dream Party Productions.
Adhering to the magic theme will be a performance by Vancouver magician/illusionist John Kaplan, who has enjoyed a national career spanning more than 30 years, during which he has performed thousands of shows in more than 500 Canadian communities.
Career highlights include performances at the opening ceremonies of Expo ‘86 and at the National Men’s Curling Brier. He has also appeared with former Tonight Show host Jay Leno and has created and performed halftime shows for the Calgary Stampeders.
Most of Kaplan’s career, however, is devoted to turning family fun into thousands of dollars for schools and community organizations through his Fundraising Magic performances.
As part of his Vernon performance, Kaplan will amaze with a death defying feat involving either Vernon Mayor Akbal Mund or Sun FM morning host Brian Martin.
“For each of the past two years that City Dance has produced their show, partial proceeds have gone to Have a Heart Radiothon, which benefits the women and children’s ward at Vernon Jubilee Hospital. Between Brian Martin and Mayor Akbal Mund, the one with the most donations for the Have a Heart Radiothon will be sawed in half at the afternoon show,” said Stranks.
The public can get involved by casting a vote of whom they’d like to see sawed, with a monetary donation in either Mund or Martin’s name. Donations can be dropped off at either Sun FM or City Dance, said Stranks.
Dance: The Magic takes to the stage at 2 and 7 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 21. Tickets are $25 for adults and $20 for children/students, with children 12 and under free with the purchase of an adult ticket for the matinée performance. Tickets are on sale at the Ticket Seller. Call 250-549-7469 or visit www.ticketseller.ca.
