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stouffviue suntribune thursday oct 9 2003 11 student dancers learn from pros in new initiative byhannelqrevou i staff writer r fy more than 20 young people perforrnirig alongside profes sional dancers and actors in motus os production of a midsutnmer nights dream the dance drama and musi cal theatre students will be part of the magic woven on stage through sometimes extreme movements outrageous cos tumes overthetop acting and avante garde props and light ing mortis o has become world- renowned touring throughout north america and the south seas the show runs rat the markham theatre oct 22 and 23 both performances are at 10 ajn most of die youngsters who are between 13 and 21 years old come from the newmarket aurora whitchurchstoufimlle and markham areas hi auditions held last june age wasnt an issue motus o artistic director james croker said we were looking for talent the amount of talent in this area is he and fellow artistic direc tors jack langenhuizen and cindy croker analyzed the play to see what can be interpreted through movement they also enlisted the help of a teacher and shakespearean actor who has performed at stratford to jhelp develop the script to tell the complete story mr croker said j most of me young perform ers such as stpuffvilles kate knox portray the fairies promi nent inthe shakespearean play the 17yearold is in grade 12 at uriiqriville high schools arts york program in dance workmgon a midsummer nights dream put her 14 years of ballet classes to good use parts of the performance require dancers to be on pointe and she has to portray a lot of dramatic expression ms knox said some of the choreography was difficult at first she found but after you get it it really sticks with you she has watched in awe as the seasoned performers play on props and do acrobatics on the ropes during free times it seems like nothing but play i- didnt expect them to be so light- hearted and relaxed about it msknoxsaid when it comes to rehearsals however the students have the same constraints as the profes sionals attending the eighthour rehearsals is mandatory in order to be part of the production they the rehearsals are few she said but they are long after graduation ms knox plans to attend torontos jryersbn university majoring in dance sarah mcqiieston from the newmarket area became inter ested in dance when she started high school and took lessons at a r dance studio it is an excellent experience yithout it i wouldnt have insight into what it is like to do a professional show the 17ryearold is in grade 12 at huron heights secondary school where she- studies jazz dance and ballet during auditions held in newmarket she recalls only about one third of the hopefuls were chosen to work with motus o it is an excellent experience msmcquestbri said without it i wouldnt have insight into what it is like to do a professional show ms mcquestbri finds the unusual use of the props such as the acrobatic twists and climbs on the ropes by puck portrayed bymr croker fascinating another eyeopener was the amount of preparation time needed for this type of produc- staff photosssjoerd witteveen stouffville motus os james croker helps dancers go through their steps for the performance of a midsummer nights dream at the markham theatres rehearsal hau from left carryrin reed melanie mendes and jack langenhuizen tion ms mcqueston hopes to eventually become a teacher after graduation i want to show people this one art form i love she said jf v the stouffvillebased compa nys aim is to give young amateur performers a chance to work with the professionals since formed in 1990 mptiis o has put on seven fulllength productions of classics from alice in wonderland to petrouchka r collectively the artistic directors have backgrounds in ballet jazz musical theatre voice flute and mime they originally put on plays with stu dents in elementary schools performances of a midsummer nights dream which will be seen by more than 3000 young people are partly sponsored by a trillium foundation grant a midsummer nights dream is part of the markham theatre prpfes sional theatre series in april 2004 i information on the company and performances is available by calling 9056408647 v motus os cristina mandni goes through her motions for the performance of a midsummer nights dream behind her are from left jennifer dzialoszynski christine karczmar and melanie mendes