Ladysmith Secondary School was humming with excitement and enthusiasm on Thursday, last week.
“Over the past few years, many students, and families have missed gatherings to see the students at Ladysmith Secondary School perform what they love to do,” said principal Dave Travers. “Performing the skills and confidence they have learned and practiced is really giving them strength.”
Thursday, June 9, featured the students from Ladysmith Secondary showing off the schools first Fine Arts Showcase since the onslaught of the COVID pandemic.
“Having not been able to show the community what we’ve been able to do at LSS, for the past coupe of years has been a struggle,” said a school spokesperson.
Since 2019 the local high school has not been able to hold public performances of their various arts or culture programs due to the COVID-19 issue.
Last week, in the first Fine Arts Show since COVID, the theatre room at the school was packed to capacity by an audience excited about watching the various performances by the musicians, dancers and student artists displaying their achievements. The main foyer, showcasing the iconic John Marston Welcoming Figure, featured a variety of art projects created by students at the high school. Starting at 7 p.m., the students showcased a variety of locally-choreographed dance routines produced by the students themselves.
According to principal Travers, “there were a lot of requests for dance class this year, but the school did not have a teacher, so the program was in jeopardy but fortunately one of our staffers, Madeleine Dwyer, stepped in and the program became possible.”
According to comments after the show on Thursday, 100 per cent of the audience felt that the decision was hugely beneficial and appreciated.
According to Dwyer, “it was really neat to see a lot of the international students involved in the program. They were really having fun, and that’s the goal – learning and interacting is what it’s all about.”
The various dance routines were performed by LSS students from grades nine to 12. The show featured over eight performances and all of them were greatly appreciated by the packed crowd in the theatre room at the school. There were original performances, created by students themselves such as the trio of Hannah Schneider, Marleen Roemer and Anita Uhlig, all international students who created their own interpretation.
“The performances were outstanding and there was standing room only,” said principal Travers, “this is where we want the school to be, it’s part of the heart beat of the community, your future is growing up here and we need to appreciate their various outlooks.
“Times don’t change, people don’t change, understanding has to start to work it’s way into everyday life and that’s what we try and allow to happen at Ladysmith’s school. People need to accept and embrace.”
Following the exceptional dance performances by the students, the school’s Senior Concert Band performed a medley of songs by Queen and various other artists. LSS music guru, Rod Alsop, informed the audience that the Concert Band had been invited to attend the national awards at MusicFest Canada, in Niagara Falls, next year in May.
“This is very unique for two bands, from the same school to be adjudicated to go to the nationals. The concert band was in competition in Port Alberni provincially and then the jazz band was judged in Nanaimo and both were very tough for the kids, but they showed where they wanted to go, and damn, they made it,” Alsop said.
It’s impossible to put on paper how a local band can perform or what the sound can be. I attended the event, last week, and can attest to the quality time that the students, and teachers, from the local high school worked so hard to produce for their audience of not just moms and dads, but locals that want to see how youth are doing.
They want to go as far as they can, but if they can turn on the local audience, then I really believe they have accomplished their goal.