Powell River Festival of the Performing Arts returns for its 74th edition this week. The community’s longest-running festival helped lay the foundation for the town’s artistic and cultural reputation, according to festival chair Joyce Carlson.
“Our town has always been known for its culture,” said Carlson. “In the early years, in order to make Powell River a great place to live and work, Powell River Company really promoted the arts and brought people into the community who could help enhance its cultural spectrum.”
The festival has also been a springboard for budding artists and musicians, many of whom have pursued artistic careers.
“We have quite a few alumni in the festival who have gone on to make their living in music or the performing arts,” said Carlson.
One such success story will return to adjudicate this year’s dance competitions.
Adjudicator Geraldine Potter, then known as Geraldine Furrer, began dancing with Powell River School of Dance and went on to graduate from the Professional Division School of the Royal Winnipeg Ballet in 1991. She has performed with various prestigious companies internationally, including the Royal Winnipeg Ballet, Ballet Classique and Hanover Ballet.
Potter is also an award-winning choreographer and has taught dance for many years. Although the festival did not have dance competitions during her time, she said she recalls that she competed and excelled musically.
“I attended the festival for music and represented intermediate woodwinds at the provincials,” she said.
Today the festival has six disciplines: piano, band and instrumental, vocal and choral, strings, speech arts and dance.
Potter’s appearance at the event will mark a personal milestone, she said, as she will end her dance career to pursue other interests.
“I’m currently in school full time working on my masters of psychology,” said Potter. “This will be my final year of involvement in the dance community.”
Adjudicating the Powell River festival will be her final contract.
“I leave the community of dance with a full heart, made fuller by completing the circle here in Powell River, where it all began for me,” she said.
The festival runs from February 24 to March 9 with competitions being held at James Hall at Powell River Academy of Music, Max Cameron Theatre at Brooks Secondary School and Evergreen Theatre at Powell River Recreation Complex.
A full schedule of times and venues can be found at events.solarislive.com/PRFestival.
