HYPE lives up to its name
Applewood School, presented “What’s All the HYPE About?” last night. Here (from left): Brandon Grove, Iskra Padjakovska and Nadeen Ismal give their version of STOMP. The evening featured plenty of amazing acting, great music, raffles coffee and sweet treats.
Bookmark/Search this post with:
April 1, 2009 09:35 AM -The students at Applewood School certainly lived up to the hype surrounding their annual talent show last night.
The concert, staged at held at Stephen Lewis Secondary School and titled What’s All The HYPE About?, was a chance for the students with developmental disabilities to show off their singing, dancing and acting skills while taking part in the Helping Young Performers Excel (HYPE) program.
Applewood is a special needs school with satellite campuses at John Fraser, Meadowvale and Applewood Heights high schools. The HYPE program was designed to highlight accomplishments in visual and performing arts.
“The student’s participation increases their self-esteem and self-worth,” said Leigh MacArthur, a teacher from Applewood School’s Meadowvale location. “It allows people to see all their talents and show that when a lot of effort and hard work is put in, students can accomplish anything they set their minds to.”
The 11-act show included blacklight performances, a rousing recreation of Stomp, dancing, book reenactments and two original plays.
After studying Romeo & Juliet in the fall, the Meadowvale and John Fraser
group decided to put a cultural spin on the Bard’s work, and came up with the play ‘Shakespeare in Bollywood’ for their contribution to the show.
As Shakespeare narrates a new book idea he’s got brewing about two young lovers named Romeo and Juliet, the company of 20 singers and dancers acted out his intentions in a show that included some impressively choreographed Bollywood dance numbers.
“Being onstage felt fabulous,” said Renee Ellis, opulent in her Juliet costume after the show. “I practiced every night and I’m sad it’s over. It was a fun time.”
Renee’s co-star Kara White also practiced for months to remember all her lines and dance moves. “I really loved all the dancing I had to do, that was my favourite part,” said Kara, who played Lady Capulet.
The night also included an art show exhibiting student’s sketches, 3-D and felt art, a raffle, silent auction and 50/50 draws. Admission was free but donations were accepted at the door with all proceeds going to Applewood’s student council.
“All of the students have really enjoyed themselves,” said MacArthur. “It’s been a lot of work, a great challenge for the students. They had to memorize lines, dances, body movements across the stage and how to express their lines. They did a fabulous job.”
Up next, the students of Applewood will sign the Canadian and American national anthems at the April 22 Toronto Blue Jays baseball game at the Rogers Centre in Toronto.
Filed under: Stories I've Covered
