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The local group, which also included Jill Iutzi, Megan Emery, Natalie Pema, Angela McIntosh, Megan Sanderson and Amber Charles, combined to bring home a number of prizes, including a gold medal for a tap- dancing team, and Shaw travelled over- seas as one of eight dancers from the Davenport Dance Studio in Waterloo. who made up part of the 48-member Canadian national dance team. Waterloo tap dancer brings home the gold "I don't think my smile has ever been as big as it was when I found out I'd won," she said. A nne Shaw has never been ne to sit still. No matter when: she is - at home, at school, or on stage -- she is often tapping her toes or dancing from one room to the next. "lt's my passion," said the Ifi- year-old tap dance sensation from Waterloo. "l really find my heart when I'm on stage." And it was that passion. Shaw believes, that helped her earn the gold medal for solo tap dancing at the International Dance Organization's world championships in tap, jazz and showdance, held recently in Germany. 1 6-year-old Anne Shaw takes top honours at international competition in Germany BY ANDREA Bum Chronicle Stuff Recent medal winners in international dance competition are Anne Shaw (top right), Angela McIntosh, Megan Sanderson, Amber Charles, Shaw (bot- tom right). and Jill Jutzi, Megan Emery and Natalie Perna (left), At that time Shaw's parents immersed her in different styles of dance, including ballet, jazz and tap. "One of the things I love most about tap is that you don't need music to do it," she said. "All you have to do is dance, and you can make up your own (music)." Soon after, Shaw narrowed her pursuit down to only tap; a choice which has since put her in the spotlight of competition. three silver medals in tap and Shaw said her world title was the result of years of hard work and practice H a dedication she started developing at the age of Continued on page 16 ARTS FOCUS A talented crew of veteran actors will take part in Touchmark Theatre's play reading at the River Run Centre, Jan. 11-12. Wingfield star Rod Beattie, Stratford Festival favourite Stephen Russell, Dora Award-winning actress Liza Balkan, and local favourite Patricia Yeatman (Myrtle in Touchmark's 1999 "Kingdom of Earth"), will join newcomer Kimwun Perehine1: to perform a new script. "Blessings in Disguise", written and directed by Touchmark's Artistic Director. Douglas Beattie. - 'it should hit lots of fun to watch," said iieattie, "and we plan to have talk-back sessions with the auditnce after each reading." _ Tickets are $15. Call the River Run box office at 1- 877-520-2408 for further information. Blessings is an exotic comedy, set in an imaginary French town in the 1850s, about an embittered and alcoholic former art student. and an eccentric woman, dressed as a nun and claiming to be the Virgin Mary, who undertakes his rehabilitation. Performances begin at 8 pm. in the Co-operators Originally from North-East England, now living in Waterloo. Lewis sings mainly British Traditional songs. He has performed at several local folk clubs, festivals and events including Mill Race. the Medieval Faire, UK Club and Schneider Hans. From Waterloo, Kerth is a singer-songwriter whose influences range from Jim Reeves and Ernest Tubb to Steve Earle and Dan Bern. He appears frequently at folk clubs in Kitchener. Cambridge, Brantford and Oakville, and is currently recording his first CD at Stream Of Sound Studio. Tickets are SIO. For further information. call 886- 4577. The rwe actors will rehearse the risading for a week. plenty of time to dig into the play. get the story off the page; agd eyp? plan soT? rudimentary staging. The Watedoo Community Arts Centre will host a concert featuring Geoff Lewis, Terry Golletz and Andrew Kenh. Jan. 11 at 8 pan, Born and raised in Cambridge (Preston), Golletz is a singer-songwriter who brings to his work a varied education and background in art, religious studies and teaching with a touch of humour. He can be seen performing at folk clubs and festivals around Southern Ontario. as well as other venues tha/feature acoustic music. Three area artists to perform at Button Factory Seasoned cast set of Touchmark reading 234 King St. s., Waterloo lcnma of King St & Umun Sll inmgolnvdphmcom 741-0770