The Peterborough Examiner

Ballerina offering summer dance camp

- MARISSA LENTZ

A new summer dance camp will be offered in Peterborou­gh this August.

Creative Movement and Drama summer camp is for children between ages seven and 12 and will take place Aug. 20 to 24, from 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.

After a 15-year dancing career, Peterborou­gh native Dreda Blow will be returning to the area to teach the camp.

“This workshop will be an exploratio­n of dance, rhythm and storytelli­ng in a fun, collaborat­ive environmen­t,” Blow said.

“No choreograp­hy or text will be given to memorize — instead the children will be the creative generators, finding their own stories and means of expression.”

From New Zealand, singer, songwriter and composer Bruno Merz will also be a part of the camp.

The fee is $175 per student — availabili­ty is limited to 16 places.

It will be offered at Studio 505 in downtown Peterborou­gh.

Blow graduated from the National Ballet School of Canada in 2003.

She then left Peterborou­gh to pursue a dance career in Europe and to continue her training.

With a growing interestin­g in physical theatre and storytelli­ng, she has recently studied with D’ellArte Internatio­nal in California, Young People’s Theatre in Toronto, SITI Company in New York and Punchdrunk — a British theatre company.

For 11 years, she has been working as a principal dancer with Northern Ballet in the United Kingdom dancing roles like Juliet and Cinderella and Jane Eyre.

“I’m currently finishing up my final tour playing Jane Eyre in theatres across Britain,” she said.

Blow has choreograp­hed and directed two ballets for children which toured the United Kingdom and were televised by the BBC.

In addition, she teaches dance-drama to ballet students in Leeds, United Kingdom.

Blow says she is delighted to be returning to continue her work in narrative dance and theatre.

“I’m excited to reintegrat­e into the thriving arts scene in Peterborou­gh,” she said.

Blow also hopes to start Movement workshops for adult actors and performers, or anyone wishing to connect with their own, physical expression.

“I hope to start new initiative­s, run workshops and collaborat­e with the artists and performers of Peterborou­gh on projects that engage the community with dance, movement and theatre,” she said.

“I have a wealth of experience from my time abroad and look forward to my new chapter in Peterborou­gh, a city I truly love.”

NOTE: To register call 705876-9505 or email beveryley@studio505.ca.

 ?? MARTIN BELL PHOTO ?? Dreda Blow.
MARTIN BELL PHOTO Dreda Blow.

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