Acting, dancing and singing will be taking over the Mary Winspear Centre this summer as Mountain Dream Productions offers camps for students who are looking to expand their artistic horizons.
One Week and Two Weeks to Stardom are the two summer camps being offered by company artistic director and choreographer Margaret Watt, who has been teaching and mentoring students for over 20 years.
Mary Winspear Centre theatre manager Phillip Sutton said the two summer camps will give students the opportunity to work towards performing a full length production at the end of camp.
“Being in a summer program keeps kids not only active, but also helps them to continue their learning during the long school break. The practice of memorizing scripts and the repetition of learning a theatrical production helps retain skills that they use during the school year,” said Sutton. “Teaching a student how to act is one thing, but fostering a confidence in them that will carry them throughout their life is quite another.”
Sutton said the return of many of Watts’ students year after year is a testament to the experience she offers .
This year, the camps will also have a new partner as the Kumon learning method signs on as a sponsor. Sutton says with both organizations sharing so many of the same values, it is the perfect fit.
A preview of what the camps offer happens this weekend with the spring class performing their production Memories. Sutton says for people interested in enrolling their children in the program, it’s a great opportunity to see what the camps are about.
Shows take place on Saturday, June 23 at 7 p.m. and Sunday, June 24 at 2 p.m. Tickets are $10 for adults and $5 for children 12 and under, available through the Mary Winspear Centre box office at 250-656-0275 or online at www.marywinspear.ca.
