Prince Albert Daily Herald 9 Thursday, March 18, 2010 Arts WWW.PAHERALD.SK.CA ARTS LISTINGS Local dancer steps up to new challenge

BY TESSA HOLLOWAY

HERALD STAFF annah Russell may look poised and cool- Hheaded as she practises dance at Ballet n’ All The Rawlinson Centre partici- That Jazz, but three weeks ago she was a bundle pated in two well-attended of nerves and excitement. community events last week. She was just auditioning for the School of A display was set up at the Ballet’s summer program, a two-week SIAST Health Fair and the Prince course in July, and had to find a way to overcome Albert Exhibition Association’s all that emotion. Focus on Women. “I was nervous, but I think I was more excited. Winners of the SIAST Health I guess that overcame my nerves,” she said. Fair free-ticket draws for a pair It must have, because she was accepted. of tickets to Brent Butt, Kate “I’ve been dancing since I was three and that Rusby and Naden Band were was first starting with ballet,” said Russell, who is Colin Jones, Jennifer Ryan and 13 years old. “Everybody has their thing, like soc- Dion Taylor. cer or something, and for me it was just dance. Winners of the Focus on That’s what I’ve always been in, and I just love it. Women hourly ticket draws That’s my sport.” were Lynn Telfer, Barb Prince, The audition was an hour long, and was filled Lynn Locke, Dorothea Herron, with mostly stretches to test the flexibility of Beth Porter, Eleanor Glynn, dancers. Karen Nedzielski, Kala Dragneth, While for Russell, dance is a passion and Tabitha Moldowan, Char Ermine, something she does for fun, she also recognizes Doreen O’Donnel, Deborah the possibility of taking it a bit more seriously. Opalski and Flo Nolan. She declined this year to audition for the pro- Thank you to everyone who fessional division, which would mean attending entered the draws and picked school full time in Alberta while dancing after up promotional material. class. She may decide to change that depending A special thank you to the on how she feels after the summer class. volunteers who represented the “Hopefully it will just be fun, and really some- Rawlinson Centre at both of thing I’ll remember for the rest of my life,” she these events. said. One of the most successful “I think it’s going to be a huge experience for songwriters in the history of me, getting to dance with world-renowned ballet country music, Whisperin’ Bill instructors who are going to be at this thing. It’s Anderson, performs Saturday at very exciting and very nerve racking at the same 7:30 p.m. Anderson was a huge- time.” ly popular singer in his own For her success, she thanked her teacher, right, earning the nickname Stephanie Tokinger. “Whisperin’ Bill” for his gentle, “She’s half the reason I think my technique airy vocal style and spoken nar- and everything is so good,” said Russell. rations. This legendary performer is [email protected] Ballet dancer Hannah Russell practises with her class at the Ballet N’ All That Jazz school. Herald photo by Tessa Holloway presented by Today’s Country 900 CKBI and the Prince Albert Daily Herald. To purchase tickets or for Ness Creek more information on upcoming Local boxing club inspires author shows visit the website at earawlinsoncentre.ca. BY TESSA HOLLOWAY alone. This is a fictional character, but these are real auditions See you at the theatre. life circumstances that go around it.” HERALD STAFF Now a reporter at the Kindersley Clarion, Kiunga Linda Jensen is marketing You can’t write about something you don’t know, says spent about seven months writing the bones of the coming to P.A. director at the Rawlinson Centre author Jessica Kiunga. book in between her work and raising two kids, but So when she sat down to write her first nov- the editing took another year. BY TESSA HOLLOWAY el, titled “Twelve,” a story of a teenage misfit It’s now available for purchase at Coles HERALD STAFF Inspired Dance Company plagued by bullies and a mother suffering from Books in Prince Albert or for loan at the showcases local talent alcoholism who finds purpose in the boxing Cuelenaere Public Library. The Ness Creek Music Festival is The Inspired Dance Company is ring, Kiunga drew on her own experience at holding auditions in Prince Albert performing a show this week- the Prince Albert Boxing Club during a year [email protected] on April 11 for main-stage perform- end at the Rawlinson Centre spent in the city in 2007. ers at the annual event. that will highlight Alice in Won- “I was a stay-at-home mom and I was look- The festival is seeking local tal- derland and the band Kings of ing for an outlet and I found the P.A. Boxing Kiunga ent for both single musicians and Leon. Club there,” said Kiunga, a former Herald full bands to play alongside The show, titled The Electric reporter. “There’s something about boxing Saskatchewan talent such as the Feel, takes characters and situa- that seems to attract a certain kind of Deep Dark Woods, Little Miss Hig- tions from the famous novel crowd, maybe you say people who are gins, The Sheepdogs and musicians Alice in Wonderland and fuses it looking for something and not really from around the world. with an electronic, beat-driven sure what they’re looking for.” “Part of their mandate as a festi- music and a new dance for the As is the case with the protagonist in val is to have 50 per cent first half of the show. her story, a boy named Georgie Christ- Saskatchewan entertainment,” said The second half will feature mas. Jesse Davis Selkirk, who is organiz- dances from guest choreogra- He starts out the book embarrassed, ing the auditions. phers to seven Kings of Leon angry, and often afraid, scraping through It would help make up for last songs. life with little more than a box of mouldy year, when there were no current The show will feature a num- Cheerios in the cupboard. In one scene, he Prince Albert residents playing the ber of dancers from Prince Albert has to help his mother clean up after vomit- main stage. including Heather Flaman, Brit- ing from the effects of alcohol, a sound “We’ll give them each probably tney Hoemsen, Jennifer Maczek, described as like a human garbage disposal. 10 to 20 minutes to play three to Amy Rusheleau, Linea Ruszkows- “All of a sudden he gets an opportunity to four songs,” he said. “Most of the ki, Mara Selanders, Alicia Wother- check out this boxing club,” said Kiunga. “He solo acts end up getting picked to spoon and Chisa Seniuk, as well gets to feel special having been invited there, do in-between sets on the main as a number of dancers from and feeling special is not something this char- stage, sets between the main-stage . acter gets to feel a lot.” acts, and then the bands will be The company performs one Kiunga said writing the book became an out- considered for an actual main-stage show each year in both Saska- let for her in much the same way she used boxing slot at the festival.” toon and Prince Albert, and per- before, to help her get through a tough break-up. Anyone interested can sign up by formed in Saskatoon on March While the character and situation is fictional, it phoning Selkirk at 970-2137 or on 12, while the Prince Albert show deals with many of the same issues she’s faced in the Facebook event page titled Ness is March 20 at the Rawlinson her life, as well those around her, she said. Creek Auditions — Prince Albert. Centre. “I wasn’t able to box anymore because I moved The auditions will be held at Tickets sold out for that from P.A. but I still wanted to feel the feelings that Stavros Lounge on April 11 starting show, so anyone interested is boxing had given me in the past,” she said, adding she at about 7 p.m., though there are advised to contact the box hopes the reader can also find a connection with the also auditions in Saskatoon. office at 765-1270 in advance character. for tickets. “I want them to understand they’re definitely not [email protected]

May 7, 8 p.m. April 17, 7 p.m. & 9 p.m. Brent Butt Search for Brent Butt has the reputation of being one of the the Stars funniest people in the Country. His sitcom Corner BOX OFFICE Gas was hugely successful and he has now launched, Lineup to be announced 765-1270 OR 1-866-700 - Arts soon. Hiccups , a new series, on CTV and the Comedy www.earawlinsoncentre.ca Network. He is working on his own comedy special On-line Ticket Sales and a feature film set for this year. See him live on Available NOW April 17 at the E.A. Rawlinson Centre. TTheatreheatre & LoLobbybby RRentalsentals 25907