This year marked not only a big move for Footworks Dance Academy, but also a big milestone.
Celebrating 20 years, the students of Footworks brought their dance season to a close with their 2015 Showcase.
The event ran from May 8 to 10 at the Westlock Cultural Arts Theatre.
Irene Widdup, owner of Footworks Dance Academy, said it’s exciting to see the studio reach 20 years.
“It’s a big deal, and we are very excited,” Widdup said.
Being a community supporter works both ways, Widdup explained.
“We are big community supporters, so we’ve always made sure we are involved in many community events,” she said. “Barrhead has been really good to us, so we are pleased and proud to be a part of the community.
Through events like the Co-op Pumpkin Walk, the Barrhead Street Festival, and the Santa Claus Parade, Footworks has managed to show their support for their community.
Since opening its doors in 1995, the school has seen some growth.
“We started with 69 kids way back when, and this year we have grown to over 300,” Widdup said, adding at that time the school provided the basic forms of dance.
“Ballet, tap, jazz, and lyrical,” she added.
Since then, Footworks has added skipping, acrobatics, hip-hop, and musical theatre.
“So we’ve added on and made the program much more expansive, and brought in more teachers so they can cover everything,” Widdup said.
Students can choose whether they practice professionally or recreationally.
“So if they don’t want to have that experience they are more than welcome not to take the exams,” Widdup said.
Over the past year, the studio moved from its old location in The Mall to Main Street.
“We’ve had a great year in our new facility, and having the three studios to accommodate all of the students has been wonderful and we definitely call it home now,” Widdup said.
Supporting the community may be important, but the school’s support goes beyond the borders of Barrhead.
For the past five years, the students have performed as part of Stars of Hope, a fundraiser for kids with cancer.
“Unfortunately it stopped, but I am actually trying to get it going again, because I am a part of the Alberta Dance Educators Association. I am the president, so I’m trying to get something like that going again,” Widdup said.
Having her students perform at community events is just one way they can give back.
“I think it’s important for the kids to give back to their own community and share their talents, I think that’s first and foremost. And Barrhead has been good to me, people support me, so I always want to support their events as well, I think it’s a win-win situation, and it’s the saying, it takes a village to raise a child, all of us are here to help these kids grow into awesome citizens, and I think dance provides that opportunity,” Widdup said. “They are not only learning to dance, they are learning to be a team, how to be responsible, mature, work together, and be tolerant and patient with one another, and all of those facets are going to help them grow into good citizens for the community of Barrhead.”
The jazz students recently took home the top prize in a festival that saw over a thousand entries.
“We were very fortunate that our school won first place this year, and we were able to get a $500 scholarship along with their trophy win,” Widdup said. “They all have practiced really hard, and to be the group to win, it’s a very exciting time for them, it’s something that means a lot to them.”
Footworks will be hosting summer programs in August, anyone interested in finding out more can call Irene at 780-674-4886.
