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Transformation through dance

Metamorphosis Dance Troupe tackles environmental, social issues in upcoming performance
1521dance

What: A Better Tomorrow

When: Sunday, June 1, 7:30 p.m.

Where: Kay Meek Theatre, West Vancouver

Tickets: Adults $25, Seniors $15, Students $15

Clad in black tights and leotards, members of Metamorphosis Dance Troupe take their positions on the floor, giggling and playfully bumping hips before their instructor starts the music.

They are rehearsing “Trees,” an afro, jazz, contemporary dance, which is just one of many pieces the troupe will feature during their upcoming performance, A Better Tomorrow.

Soul Funktion Dance Studio’s competitive dance troupe is made up of 35 dancers, aged 11 to 18, who are trained in a wide range of styles of dance, including lyrical, jazz, hip-hop, musical theatre, and tap. Over the past four years, the studio’s team has competed in local and national competitions, bringing home awards and accolades.

But the girls and the director of the troupe, Heather Stremlaw, recently decided they were ready for a new challenge, inviting the dancers to help plan their first big show.

Stremlaw held a creation meeting with the girls, brainstorming issues and topics they wanted to explore through dance. She was a bit surprised by what they came up with.

“Pressures as teenagers, pressures of feeling not good enough and things like that,” Stremlaw said. “Negativity spreading within themselves and then to others, and it got bigger from there.”

Stremlaw and the dancers ultimately decided they wanted to convey their concerns about local and global social issues through a variety of topical dances, set against the backdrop of video displays.

“The girls really wanted to do something different with their dance and they wanted to be able to use their art as a vehicle to get across these issues that are important to them,” explained Nancy Saver, a spokesperson for the studio.

The dancers are able to offer a wealth of enthusiasm and a refreshing perspective on some very serious issues,

“It’s kind of refreshing to see, especially younger adults and teenagers in this town, wanting to be able to do something like this,” said Saver.

Growing up in Whistler, the dancers also decided that environmental issues were a topic they wanted to tackle through their performance.

“What makes it so unique is these girls grew up in a town where recycling and sustainability was just a way of life,” Saver said, adding that they are intentionally taking this youth-driven performance out of Whistler and into another community, with the dancers acting as ambassadors for Whistler, in hopes that they can spread this information by combining education with entertainment.

They are also hoping that people will make the trip down to West Vancouver to support the dancers who have worked so hard to create this show.

“We felt that the community here is so environmentally aware in regards to the 2020 vision and sustainability that we wanted to be able to take that to a different community and say, ‘this is who we are in Whistler, and this is what we are doing,’” said Saver.

The educational component of the upcoming show will also extend outside of the theatre, with youth-driven foundations and organizations set up in the lobby to provide additional information and answer questions.

“We feel that if you’re seeing this type of performance and saying to yourself, ‘what can I do to make a difference?’ we have facilitated that by having several youth-driven organizations available to hand out information,” Saver explained.

The girls laugh when asked about their hectic practice schedule, which includes about four hours of rehearsal each day. And while being involved in the planning process has definitely added to their workload, they all seem happy to be putting in the extra effort.

“It brings it up to a whole other level of dance,” said Stephanie Moody, one of the dancers.

Their passion for the subject matter really comes across in their performance.

“They finally have a meaning behind what they’re doing, so it’s not just dancing anymore for them,” Stremlaw added.

While it was challenging to choreograph dances to convey the messages that were important to the girls, Stremlaw said it was an exciting process, adding that it was the first time they had had an opportunity to include the dancers in the planning and conceptual stages.

“I think a big reason that they’re so driven to do it is that we want people to understand that every little thing does make a difference,” said Stremlaw.

Organizers and dancers have some big dreams for the show, and are hoping it will catch on and they can eventually tour with it.

“We’re looking forward to being able to take this on the road, to expand on it, and be able to share it with a lot of audiences throughout the Lower Mainland and other places in Canada,” said Stremlaw.

Members of the troupe are also busy preparing for Soul Funktion Dance Studio’s year-end show, entitled “Love is All You Need," which features 250 dancers of all ages. The performance dates for the year-end show are from June 13 to 15. To purchase tickets, visit www.myplacewhistler.org .