Thanks to an amazing response last year, the REACH Performing Company will be live on stage at Sidney Days again this year. Half of the members of this dynamic group have a significant disability.
The other performers are members of the community with huge hearts, including a number of graduates of the Canadian College of Performing Arts and the UVic School of Music.
REACH was established last year by Sidney’s own Anne-Marie and Peter Brimacombe and rehearses each week at Saanich Commonwealth Place. Their half-hour show includes musical numbers that are truly energizing and inspiring. “We’ve had people in our audiences say we make them smile, cry, jump up and dance all at the same time,” says Anne-Marie.
REACH, (a signature program of the non-profit organization West Coast Reach Association), started just 1 ½ years ago. The group has already made waves in the community celebrating inclusion and diversity of ages, cultures and abilities through their rehearsals and performances.
“We each bring something unique to the group,”, says Brimacombe, “and we all have something to learn from each other. Many of our members, ‘abled’ and ‘differently-abled’ say REACH is a highlight of their lives.”
Their performance is sure to be a highlight at Sidney Days as well, 7 p.m., Saturday, June 30 on stage at Beacon Pavilion (at the foot of Beacon Ave.).
For information about the group their website is www.westcoastreach.org/
— Submitted
