Skip to content
Join our Newsletter

The Vibe Tribe won't stop its vibing and dancing

Those loveable rapscallions of the Vibe Tribe Dance Team must have some sort of bug in their spandex because they can't stop dancing.
arts_arts3

Those loveable rapscallions of the Vibe Tribe Dance Team must have some sort of bug in their spandex because they can't stop dancing. As if occasional flash mobs in the village weren't enough to expel their gamboling impulses until next June's annual dance show, the Vibe Dance Centre has announced a second show this year.

A Wacky Winter Tale will start this Friday and run through until Sunday as part of the holiday events at the Whistler Conference Centre organized by Watermark Communications.

This is the first Vibe Tribe dance show to be produced by the non-profit Dance Whistler and, as always, has been choreographed by Vibe Dance studio head, and Whistler's resident creative dance genius, Heather Thom.

Like all of Vibe's past shows, Thom conceived the project herself and, as always, the plot lines are being kept under wraps until show time. All we know at this point is that it's a Christmas story with a moral lesson to be learned. All 50 of the Vibe Tribe members, ranging from ages 6 to 18, will perform.

But this isn't just a dance show — it's a full theatre production with acting and, if the title is of any indication, some serious wackiness. Unlike past Vibe shows, A Wacky Winter Tale was conceived on short notice. The dancers have only been working on the show for a few weeks but given the level of professionalism Thom inspires in those dancers, there's little question that they'll pull it off.

Doors open at 6:00 p.m. Tickets are $10 for adults and $5 for kids available at Fruv and the Visitor Info Centre.

Beware the festival of Lights

A prominent member of the Whistler arts community told me recently that my coverage is often so aggressive that I should be out covering the war in Afghanistan rather than painters at Millennium Place. This I find preposterous.

On a completely unrelated note, have you heard about the Festival of Light Exhibit? You better watch out for it. It is coming! It will descend upon this town like a blitzkrieg upon Paris. A great explosion of fire, light and home-made lanterns are heading this way! It's coming! Watch out!!

Starting this Monday and running through until Thursday, Jan. 19, Millennium Place will be awash in the ambient glow of over 100 lanterns and light sculptures that were created by children, their parents and local artists during last year's exhibit.

The Whistler Arts Council and the RMOW have revived it for a second year and will be adding more lanterns to its collection through lantern decorating workshops at the Whistler Conference Centre on Wednesday, Dec. 21, and Thursday, Dec. 22 and again the following Wednesday and Thursday.

Of course, it's never enough to simply decorate a lantern. Sometimes we need to create our own, from scratch. It's a compulsion that the WAC understands and so they've organized two workshops this Saturday: the My Little Lantern Workshop for kids 6 and under, for $11.50 per lantern; and the All a Glow Lantern Workshop for kids 7 and older, for $16.50 per lantern. Each workshop will include guided instruction and materials.

This town will be a-glowin' in no time. You best be watchin' for it.

Fire and Ice show returns

Speaking of fire, Whistler Blackcomb will begin its weekly Fire and Ice show at Skier's Plaza this Sunday. It will run every Sunday until April 12. It's a huge draw for tourists and locals, families and heavy party types alike.

For those of you who don't know, skiers and snowboarders jump through a flaming ring of fire while fire dancers, you know, dance with fire. And of course there's music and lots of people standing around, ooooing and aaaaahing and so on. Bring the kids. Bring a flask. Wear waterproof shoes.

RMOW to produce First Night

The RMOW has taken over operations for the beloved First Night this New Year's Eve. Watermark Communications had handled operations for the previous nine years. For more info, visit www.whistlerfirstnight.com.

Art Night cancelled

Nita Lake Lodge's Art Night, slated for this Saturday, has been cancelled. Sorry to disappoint but, uh, why not go make some lanterns instead.