NICH summer programmes show accomplishments

We were there when all those annual summer camps started … and now, as some of them wind down, we are invited back to see what the little angels have accomplished. If this morning’s show at the Bliss is any indication, the time was well spent.

Jacqueline Godwin, Reporting
Looking at these children, you would never know that most of them have not received any formal training in dance. Their natural talent was showcased during a special performance that officially closed five, two-week summer programmes offered by NICH through the Institute of Creative Arts.

Jacqueline Godwin
“What did the teacher tell you that you must do when you go on the stage to perform in front of people?”

Chloe Auil, Six years old
“Have attitude.”

Jamie Thompson, Dance Instructor
“Everyday I have to let them scream at me that they are supposed to dance with attitude, everyday they are supposed to scream the numbers out when they forget and that’s how I get them to dance with attitude and I encourage them, even when they make mistakes that it’s okay to make mistakes; the bottom line is that we have fun and that it’s the expressive arts. If you don’t have fun, it is not expressive arts anymore.”

Sonia Belisle, Acting Director, ICA
“They are exposed to the abilities that they may not have known they had and that is all about the camp because when they come out to the camp and when they interact with other children, it makes a big difference in their lives.”

Like six year old Chloe Auil who does not remember when she started dancing, but does know that during the past two weeks she and her friends have been doing what they love best.

Jacqueline Godwin
“Who loves to dance in your family?”

Chloe Auil, Six years old
“Ahm, ahm … me.”

Alissa Foster, Eight years old
“I like dancing because it is fun. My mom used to tell me how my sister was in dancing, so I said I want to be in dancing.

Zakiya Young, Eight years old
“Because when I was two, I saw my sister Tashia, she was dancing and so I followed her and got into it from I was like small, small.”

Aaliyah Sutherland, Ten years old
“Well this is the first time I am attending summer classes, but I do a lot of dancing in the Bliss Dance company.”

Jamie Thompson
“The passion that comes behind it, we can’t teach passion, it has to come from the heart and they, as you have seen on the stage today, they have a whole lot of passion.”

In front of a packed audience comprising mostly parents, the children did presentations based on what they have learned at the camp.

Over two hundred children attended the summer classes that included dancing, drumming, art and craft.

Tania Alamilla, Coordinator, Eder Alamilla Camp
“The kids had a lot of fun, they can’t believe that their parents used to do that when they were growing up.”

The biggest group of children were enrolled in the art and craft class that is held every year in honour of the late Eder Alamilla. Eder was an accomplished artist, whose life was tragically cut short.

Tania Alamilla
“We always try to do at least one project with recycling; anything that we find in our houses, or out on the streets, whatever we find, we try to recycle. So this year we did mats, doormats, I don’t know if you recalled making it as a child, it’s with the crocus bag and old clothes, you cut it up and you string it through. We also did dream catchers, the kids loved the dream catchers. A lot of them came up to me and said, “Miss I have nightmares, what can I do?” I said, “Put your dream catchers over your bed and they will catch all of your bad dreams.”

Sonia Belisle
“And I am sure that they have enjoyed it because we have children coming back year after year.”

At the end of the performance the children were awarded with certificates of participation.

The camps were hosted at the Bliss Centre for the Performing Arts and the House of Culture.