The St. Regis Dance Club presents "Country Style"

Everyone loves a country song and the St. Regis Dance Club presented their fall "Country Style" recital to a packed house with a foot stomping, toe tapping and finger snapping performances with a wagon load of country songs. From the tiny three year old tots to the nine year old group, proud parents, grandparents and aunts and uncles crowded in the gym/stage room to view their little ones dance on stage to a country song.

The St. Regis Dance Club was started several years ago by Laura Thompson but with the demand of a newborn, Thompson put the St. Regis Dance Club on hold for a few years. Three years ago, with renewed energy and a ton of ideas she restarted the St. Regis Dance Club. The SRDC presently have ten energetic and talented dance instructors who volunteer their time each week to teach over 100 children, age three to ten years old, how to dance. Just like hockey isn't just for boys, dancing isn't just for girls, the St. Regis Dance Club hold a class for young boys as well.

The evening started with the NAMMY winner Bear Fox performing several songs including her famous "Rich Girl". Then it was time for the Three Year Old Group to take the stage with dance instructors Wrani Sunday and Justine Mitchell to dance to the song, "Little Bitty", by Alan Jackson. They totally charmed the audience with their bouncy moves and sheer cuteness.

Next onstage was the Five and Six Year Old Group, which had the largest group of thirty dance students, and who are taught by Tsionatiio Laughing and her helper, Krista Loran. They danced to "All I Wanna Do", by Sugarland. The Four Year Old Group took to the stage giving a lively performance to the song "Country Girl" by Luke Bryan. A second Three Year old group danced next to the song "Butterfly Fly Away" by Miley Cyrus. In a very moving and expressive performance, Kenzie Sunday lead the performance, along with her sisters Kierstyn and Kelsee Sunday with sign language as the Five Year Old Group danced and signed along.

The SRDC guest dancer was Feryn King, performing an impressive and insightful dance to "Arms of an Angel", by Sara McLachlan. The young dancers surely hold King as a role model, inspiring the young dancers to learn more. After, another Five and Six Year Old Group performed a rousing "All I Wanna Do" by Sugarland and taught by Tsionatiio Laughing with helper Krista Loran. When the Nine Year Old Group took to the stage, taught by Laura Thompson, everyone was tapping their toes and clapping along to their dance, which was performed to the song "Cotton Eyed Joe" by Rednex.

The All Boys Group showed everyone how it's done by dancing to the iconic "Footloose" by Blake Shelton. With rhythm and a feel for the song, the All Boys Group performed a refreshing and exciting rendition that was enjoyed by all.

For the last performance and special performance, the teachers and helpers showed their moves dancing to "Stomp", by Bomshel. It was clear where the young dancers learned their moves from with their exhilarating and exciting performance.

The SRDC dance for ten weeks then put on a dance recital each spring and fall. All dance classes are free for each student and all teachers and helpers volunteer all of their time. Laura Thompson stated this is her love, I love to dance and if this can take a young person to something much bigger then every moment spent dancing is worth it. I have so many people to thank; the CAA Management for 16 tickets to a dance performance in Ottawa, Dr. Daniel who donates every season, all of my dance teachers, Tania Mitchell, Justine Mitchell, Wrani Sunday, Waverly Thompson, Jonel Beauvais, Tsionatiio Laughing, Kelsey Sunday, Krista Loran, Kierstyn Sunday. I want to express my gratitude for all the parents of my 122 students, Bear Fox, Feryn King for performing, the St. Regis Recreation Committee, Lori Gardner, Terry Cree, Indian Time, Cook's Greenery, Darlene Cooke, Tray Benedict, AERC, and Wendy O'Brien.

Many of the dance teachers arrive at class every week with just the desire to dance and to share this desire to dance with little people eager to learn. This is a pure, unadulterated gift that each teacher gives to their dance students. It gives the dance students an outlet to express themselves. It gives the dance students healthy and inspiring role models to look up too. It teaches the dance students discipline and commitment and a life-long love to the art of dancing.