Born2Dance Moose Jaw is expanding its programming by launching a new initiative called the Triple Threat Theatre Company designed to give youths more skills with singing, acting and dancing.
There is a need for a theatre company like this because kids who want to become professional performers don’t have anywhere in town to take that next step, explained co-director Jessika Kopp. There is no organization to train children, develop their skills, take headshots, set them up for a life in the arts, or help them find auditions.
“It’s gonna be fantastic. We’ve seen a need for a while, and now that we have a well-established dance program, we’re able to add these things confidently and know they will stick because we’ve been doing this for 10 years,” she said.
The theatre company — based in Church of God’s Hochelaga Street East location — will offer two streams for different age groups.
Children ages seven to 11 can take six weeks of classes on Mondays for 45 minutes from May 9 to June 13. These classes will teach kids how to sing, act and dance — making them triple-threat performers — and prepare them for a future of stage performances.
No experience is required for this part of the program.
Meanwhile, youths 11 to 18 can audition for a role in a summer musical on Monday, May 2, from 4 to 9 p.m. This program will be more time-consuming and give youths knowledge about theatre and performing.
Triple Threat Theatre Company plans to put on the musical “The Addams Family,” with performances on Friday, June 24 and Saturday, June 25. The location of the performance has yet to be determined.
Visit www.borntodance.ca/register/triple-threat to register for these programs or visit Facebook.
Directors chose a musical about The Addams Family because they wanted something that was not well-known and that local high schools had not done before, explained Kopp, who has 17 years in musical theatre. Furthermore, the directors see this fictional TV family as aligning with their vision, which is to think outside the box and buck the trends.
“The Addams Family is a family that doesn’t really go with the status quo. When everyone is telling them they should be doing something different, they kind of stick to their own weird self,” she chuckled. “So it kind of plays into the things that we’re teaching our kids: learn to think for yourself, be yourself (and) you are wonderful.”
Born2Dance is excited to break into this aspect of performing via the Triple Threat Theatre Company, Kopp added. Teachers are also eager to do something new and allow youths to learn about acting, singing and dancing in Moose Jaw.
