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B8 THE OAKVILLE BEAVER Wednesday, October 18, 2000 Arts & Entertainment | Editor Carol Baldwin 845-3824 (Extension 254); Fax: 337-5567baldwin@haltonsearch.com Bring Back Your CrackPot "CLAY COINS" /or $ 2 o jj your pun^iase. 31 /0 0 1 295 Robinson S t, Oatarite 338-1358 Kickin' up their heels A bout250 Highland dancers strutted their stu ff in the Halton D istrict Competitions held in Oakville By M ary-L o u ise Langlois SPECIAL TO THE BEAVER I t appears that Highland dancing is an increasingly popular form of dance, as evi denced by the number of registrants at the Western Ontario Highland Dancing Associ ation's Halton District Competition. Approximately 250 dancers participated in the annual event held at White Oaks Secondary School last Saturday. According to the young people who compet ed, it takes a lot of time, hard work and dedica tion to become a Highland dancer. So for them, the district competition offered a wonderful opportunity to showcase their talents. Oakville resident Rosemary Morrison, moth er of dancers Lyndsay, 13, and Nicole, 10, said her girls have gained a lot from dancing. "Highland dancing is a demanding discipline which requires commitment," she said. "It has brought out the best in the girls and has been good for their self-esteem." Lyndsay and Nicole, now in their seventh year of Highland dance, began taking lessons when they lived on Vancouver Island. Then when the family moved to Oakville the girls wanted to continue and are now with Eleanor Belton's studio, Aspects of Dance, in Burlington. "I started off doing tap and jazz and then I moved onto Highland," said Lyndsay, a student at St. Ignatius of Loyola Secondary School. "With Highland you have to be a lot more focused and it takes a lot of strength. I prefer Highland and ballet. I would like to keep danc ing until I'm older, and if one day I'm good enough, I would like to go to the National Ballet School" Nicole, a Grade 5 student at St. Bernadette School, said Highland dance here in Ontario is different than she remembers it in British Columbia. "It is a lot more competitive here, and we do more stage competitions, which makes it fun," she said. Lyndsay placed second in one of her dances and Nicole had two third place finishes. Sarah DeWolfe, 17, also a Loyola student, placed first overall in her age group at the Oakville competition. This is the first year that she has danced in the Premiere 17 & over level, which is the most advanced category. DeWolfe has been dancing for the last 10 years. She performs in competitions almost every other weekend and as a result has traveled across Canada and the United States. Last August, the Oakville dancer competed at the World Championship in Dunoon, Scotland. She placed 10th in the world in her category. Her love of Highland dancing is apparent, and she plans not only to continue dancing but to obtain her certificate to teach Highland dance. Highland dances, which are connected with ancient Scottish folk customs, have evolved and been refined through the centuries. But the origi nal basic steps and themes have remained the same. Each dancer is judged as an individual, although a number of dancers may perform at the same time. Highland dances were originally performed by men only, but now more females than males take part. Each dancer performs precise, difficult movements that require much stamina and co ordination. These steps are standardized by the Scottish Official Board of Highland Dancing (SOBHD) and competitions are held world-wide. Belton, a studio owner, teacher, and one of the event organizers for the Halton competition explained that, to compete in Canada, dancers must be registered with Scotdance Canada. Each participant must perform four different types of dance in each competition. The most commonly known type of Highland dance is, of course, the Highland Fling. Howev er, this is only one of many, some of which are required in competition depending upon the level of dance being performed. Judges evaluate a dancer on three major crite ria: timing, technique and deportment. Balance and general appearance are also important. Highland dancing competitions are ongoing throughout the year. The next inter-provincial competition takes place in June in Montreal. C heaters Has potential, as long as the glitches are gone By C arol Baldw in ENTERTAINMENT EDITOR It's a tie. In trying to decide whether the story and its characters or the set changes and their crew evoke more She seems to be able to pick the laughs in Burl-Oak Theatre's pro pace up a bit and inject reality into duction of Cheaters, I concluded each situation in which she is that it's a tie. And it's a shame. involved. When she's on stage, Cheaters, written by Michael especially when she's interacting Jacobs, has the storyline, the dia with Chris Worsnop, the story and logue and the characters to be a the characters start to take shape and quick-paced, hilarious comedy the plot begins to unfold with about three couples in the throes of humour and even depth. love, misadventure and discovery. Two scenes in particular, one But the production currently with Luxford and one without, lend playing at the Oakville Centre for humour and realism to the produc the Performing Arts sells it short tion. In the first scene, which sets and I'm not sure why. the tone for entire play, Luxford and Perhaps the comedic antics of the Worsnop prove that quick-paced four-member set-changing crew dialogue with enhancing gestures detract from the actual scenes or are can turn a ordinary encounter into a so entertaining that the audience funny yet believable situation. does not want to be drawn back into Then in a subsequent scene, the plot once the actors return. Michelle (Jennifer Worsnop) and Or maybe they don't want to be Allen (Matthew Timperley) add drawn back in because the dialogue their own brand of wit to the mixture isn't delivered at a quick enough in a candid scene between two mod pace or with enough accompanying em lovers who are grappling with antics and gestures to hold their some serious relationship questions. attention. If the relaxed rapport, genuine In any case, the dialogue definite gestures and effortless execution of ly isn't delivered directly to the audi these two scenes were present ence, and many of the lines are lost throughout, Cheaters would be the in stage space somewhere. Also, on "lighthearted look at relationships" opening night, the cast failed to wait its program professes it to be. Add a for the audience's laughter to subside quicker pace and a less theatrical before delivering the next line, which scene-changing crew and the Burlwould then get masked in the mirth. Oak Theatre Group would have a Rumour has it that some of these winning production, since it already small glitches have been ironed out, has a great script and capable actors, allowing future audiences to enjoy and I might add, it got many a laugh the full benefit of the dialogue, ani on opening night. mated with emotive expressions and But, as I said, rumour has it that delivered at a timely tempo. some of these changes have already In most plays, there are stars and been implemented. If so, this roman supporting actors, but with Cheaters, tic comedy, which continues tonight, the six characters - three couples - tomorrow, Friday and Saturday at 8 hold relatively equal parts and are p.m., is well worth the $16 admission. equally important to the plot. How Tickets are available by visiting ever, Maggie Luxford, who plays or calling the Oakville Centre box Monica, is the pivotal force on stage. office at 130 Navy St., 815-2021. Theatre Review Photos by Riziero Vertolli Oakville Highland dancers Brittany Owen-Turner, top (and her feet at right), and Nicole Morrison (bowing) were two of about 250 dancers who competed in the Western Ontario Highland Dancing Association's Halton District Competition at White Oaks Secondary School last Saturday. Nicole went home with two third place finishes, while her sister, Lyndsay, placed second in one of her dances. Another Oakville dancer, Sarah DeWolfe, 17, placed first overall in her age group. please mum + lo v e o u r q u a lity , lo v e o u r p ric e PRE-CHRISTM AS GIFTS c r e a t io n s Wreaths, Santas, Angels, Porcelain Dolls and much more. S] e ; 19.99 event g ir ls v e lo u r ju m p e r w ith s a tin p ip in g regular price 29.99 2 D AYS O N L Y Saturday, O c to b e r 21, 10 - 6 Sunday, O c to b e r 22, 1 0 - 6 Carousel o f N ations arrives this weekend. 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