Local dancer joins Joffrey Ballet
We can't resist. We simply love these "locals make good" stories. In this week's edition: 16-year-old Shay Saver has been accepted to join the highly prestigious Joffrey Ballet in New York. She will move to the Big Apple by herself (at 16!) in July to take part in a summer training session, then begin the year-round training program as part of the jazz and contemporary division.
It's kind of a big deal.
"This is a really big stepping stone in my career," Saver says. "I'm going to meet so many people and I'm traIning with, like, the best so it's good. It's going to be a whole new experience."
Joffrey auditioned thousands of dancers from around the world. Saver was one of about 20 chosen.
"I was so surprised! I had planned only to audition for the summer program but then I read the bottom (of the letter) and it said, 'You have been accepted year-round.' I didn't think I'd actually take it but I thought, 'Wouldn't it be cool to leave at 16 by myself to New York and train with this big prestigious company?'"
The answer is, yes, it would be cool. Very cool. Like, what I wish I could have been doing at 16, instead of watching Home Improvement re-runs before dinner and rollerblading three times around the block afterward.
The down side? This is a professional program, so she'll have to complete high school in her spare time online. But whatever. She'll be living in New York! From Whistler! At 16!
Pique will follow up with Saver in September, when she's in the throes of training.
Good luck to you, Shay! Give Donald Trump a kiss for us, if you see him.
Your favourite bar could be a movie star
Whistler, you always knew the GLC and the Longhorn Saloon had movie star potential. So glamorous, so seductive.
Well, now you have the chance to vote either one to be featured in a new film, The Movie Out Here, a new feature-length buddy film celebrating all that is great and wonderful about the Canadian west. It will be produced by Kokanee, will star Kokanee and will feature assorted Kokanee-inspired happenings.
Every part of the film's production includes fan participation, where people can vote to have their favourite bar and favourite prop in the film. Both the Longhorn and the GLC are in the running, which means either one could be used as a setting in the film, if either one receives enough votes.
Do you care? Prove it by voting here: http://www.themovieouthere.ca.
Kokanee also made a casting call for regular folks to star in the film. Auditions are closed. Sorry all, but there's good news to be heard. Whistler's own Angie Nolan is one of two Vancouver-area finalists in the running for a part in the film.
She was selected from a live casting event that was held in Vancouver earlier this month. The winner of the contest will be announced in early July, so we'll keep you posted on that. Good luck Angie, and give Kokanee a kiss for us.
Maxx Fish takes over jam nights
Maxx Fish will begin hosting local musician Kostaman's jam nights next Thursday.
The weekly jam night was cancelled at Black's Pub, where it had been held for 10 years.
