Glendale Puts the Right Foot Forward with a Day of Dance
The great dancer Fred Astaire once said, “Do it big, do it right and do it with style”, and that was exactly what happened December 5 and 6 when Glendale Secondary School hosted its annual Day of Dance.
The Day of Dance program is hosted by the HWDSB Program of the Arts at Glendale. The Day of Dance was open to students from Hamilton-Wentworth District School Board (HWDSB), Halton District School Board (HDSB), Grand Erie District School Board (GEDSB) and Hamilton-Wentworth Catholic District School Board (HWCDSB). Over 450 students signed up for the program. Elementary students participated on December 5 and secondary students on December 6.
All the students were given the opportunity to spend a full day in workshops with professional dancers and choreographers for only $5 each.
“The motto of the event is that dance belongs to everyone,” said teacher Erin Newton, who organized the Day of Dance. “It doesn’t surprise me that students from other schools would like to participate in this type of event. Not every school has a dance program and this event provides opportunities who may not be able to take private lessons outside of school.”
There will be no argument from Grade 12 student Emma Pettigrew about that. Pettigrew is looking forward to pursuing a dance career and is off to a great start. She has a tryout with the Radio City Rockettes in New York in April. The 17-year-old student also has an interview and audition with the Royal Caribbean Cruise Line.
“This program has definitely helped me to prepare for these opportunities,” said Pettigrew, who started dancing at age eight. “The dance program has really helped me with my time management. I don’t procrastinate as much.”
Another student who has benefitted from the dance program is Owen Marten who plays the cello in the orchestra.
“This program has given me the confidence to grow into the person I am,” said Marten. “I love being seen, performing, it’s different from playing the cello. I love musical theatre.”
Marten said he will be applying to Sheridan College to take the Musical Theatre program next year.
Auditions applications for the HWDSB Programs of the Arts at Glendale are in January and the Day of Dance takes place in the fall every year.
Updated on Thursday, December 22, 2022.