An estimated 1,200 visitors from around the province are expected to arrive in Powell River during the last week of May for the 2015 Performing Arts BC Provincial Festival.
Planning for the provincial festival, that takes place May 26 to 30, has been underway for many months and is accelerating at this time, said Rotarian Joyce Carlson, chair of the Powell River host committee.
Carlson said organizers are currently looking for about 200 community volunteers to help with the four-day festival.
About 450 delegates and observers will attend and compete in various disciplines including speech arts, musical performance and dance.
“Of those participants, about half are in dance,” Carlson said, noting that around the province’s 34 performing arts festivals dance is one of the larger disciplines. Powell River Festival of Performing Arts began including dance three years ago, she said.
Six venues are needed alone just to accommodate the dance competitions.
Max Cameron Theatre and its studio, both Sheridan Dance Academy studios, downstairs at Dwight Hall and inside the aerobics studio at Powell River Recreation Complex are going to be buzzing with all the dance being performed during the festival, Carlson added.
Adjudicators at Powell River Festival of Performing Arts recommended the following performers to the provincial festival:
• Classical voice: Jan Swanson, Hannah Schweitzer, Ciara Maguire and Clancy Sindlinger.
• Musical theatre: Effa Owton, Anna Owton, Jeremy Hopper and Tyanna Sacree.
• Junior piano: Hannah Schweitzer, Annika Harry, Shae Young, Lauren Huguet and Aaron Schweitzer.
• Strings: Hannah Schweitzer, Ying Li Zhong, Maya Laramee and Alexander MacDonald.
• Speech arts: Marieve LaFrance, Mitchell Clements, David Nadalini and Ally Boyd.
• Instrumental: Steve Carson.
• Dance: Eden Head and Abby Head.
For more information about how volunteers can assist the festival, readers can contact Gerry Wray at 604.223.1079.
