The annual YMCA dance show will feature a mix of dancers ranging from very young children to older adults. The range of dances performed during the Luminous recital will include ballet, jazz, tap and hip-hop. Photos courtesy of the YMCA
More than 100 local dancers ranging in age from 3 to 70 will perform dance routines this weekend at the Arrowhead Center for the Arts. Dancers have been learning choreography under the instruction of Breana Roy, Christine Curtis, and Lesli Higgins over the past several months and will be putting on a show for the community.
The annual performance will take place on May 10 (7-9 p.m.) and May 11 (7-9 p.m.). The show features ballet, jazz, tap, and hip hop pieces. It also includes solos from the instructors and outgoing seniors, Andrea Larsen, Claire LaVigne, and Robin Henrikson. The theme for this year is Luminous and songs and costumes have a “light” theme. This popular community event has sold out the past several years.
For the Y’s instructors, dancing has truly been a family affair. Lesli started dancing in California at the age of 4. When she moved to Grand Marais as a child she continued to take classes under Wendy Yecoshenko. She then went on to study ballet, tap, jazz, African, and modern dance at the University of Minnesota. After college she returned to Grand Marais and kept dancing under Renee Moe, the Lenna Stever Dance Company, and the YMCA. Lesli’s daughters have also been taking dance for the past several years at the Y.
Three YMCA dance instructors who have been committed and practicing their art form since they were 3 and 4 are, from left, Lesli Higgins, Breana Roy and Christine Curtis.
Breana Roy has been dancing since age 3. Despite her first encounter with the stage resulting in coaxing and tears, her love for performing quickly ignited and she’s been performing ever since. “It’s a way to release emotions, and a form of stress release,” says Breana. She has studied tap, jazz, ballet, pointe, theatrical, lyrical, and modern dance and has worked with many different companies including Stuart Pimsler Dance and Theater, UWRF Dance Theatre, Sterling Dance, and Lenna Stever Dance Company. She has a Dance Education Minor from the University of Wisconsin – River Falls.
Christine started dancing when she was 4 years old and has not stopped since. Her favorite style of dance as a kid was jazz but now her favorite is ballet. She has studied ballet, tap, jazz, pointe, lyrical, theatrical, and modern dance under a variety of teachers in Iowa and Minnesota.
After moving to Grand Marais, she expanded her love for dance with Renee Moe and Sterling Dance. She has studied under and taught for Sterling Dance, the Lenna Stever Dance Company, and the YMCA. “I dance because it’s great exercise, but it’s also a form of personal expression,” says Chistine. “As an introverted adult, it’s a way to express myself.”
Rodney and Dottie, Christine and Breana’s parents have never missed a recital and continue to support their daughters in the production of the annual performance. Christine’s husband Ashley and father Rodney do the sound and lights for the show along with Breana’s partner. Dottie, their mother, does the stage-managing. Christine’s son Axton is a toddler and has yet to play a role, but one day he’s likely to have to choose between being behind the lights or in them. Time will tell!
Many community members walk away from the performance feeling inspired. They say, “I need to do this next year!” The YMCA dance program holds its performance season January-May. But for those that are interested in dance and are not yet ready to commit to performance season, the Y holds a shorter trial session or “warm-up” session each fall for interested participants to get a feel for it.
The instructors have this to say about the shorter fall season, “Just try it! Go for it! The fall is a great time to be introduced to dance and learn, but you just have to sign up and try it! We love seeing the dancers grow and progress as they learn, especially the ones that started out really little and continue to be interested in it,” says Christine.
Breana says, “We see them fully enjoying it. Their faces brighten when something ‘clicks’ while they dance. I love watching them commit to it over the years and grow as dancers.”
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