The young students, children and teenagers at the Happy Feet Ballet & Performing Arts School in Dominical (related article) gave an excellent presentation of their incredible talent. The very hard work six days a week, not only training ballet, but singing and performing as well, paid off. Little Red Riding Hood carried the spectators at the Complejo Cultural in San Isidro (Pérez Zeledón) off into a magic forest, full of colors, fantastic costumes, spinning motion, different musical genres and lots of fun. Mastering different dance styles, the kids played in the meadow while trees observed them, watched out for the wolf. Then finally they freed grandma from the claws of the big bad wolf!
Director Heather Gamewell herself had attended one of the best performance school in the world The Royal Conservatory and wants to pass on her knowledge to the young dancers. “Art helps to improve self-esteem tremendously,” she said. “Quite a few of the kids have become so confident and gone over their boundaries that they might even develop a professional dancing career and apply for a scholarship. Performance schools all over the world are looking for new talents.” Dancing is not an inexpensive pastime.
Heather has been making a great effort to support kids that cannot afford to frequently buy new dancing shoes for different dance styles, such as tap and ballet. She is motivating people who identify with the young dancers to sponsor a kid. After the cheering applause at the end of the show, Heather shared important news: Om Suite Om in Dominical has generously granted their ample space for expanding the School to enable for more classes. What a great announcement anticipating the visit of dance teachers from abroad who will help prepare the students for international competitions, performances, and the planned dance camps in August 2018, January 2019. So Dominical will become a dance and drama destination worldwide!
By Dagmar Reinhard
INFO: Happy Feet Ballet & Performance Arts School and Company - Heather Gamewell
