The Citizen, 2009-11-26, Page 27Blyth Centre for the Arts (Blyth
Festival) has partnered with St.
Anne’s Catholic Secondary School
to deliver arts workshops as part of
its Arts & Culture Specialist High
Skills Major (SHSM). This week,
students gathered for two days at the
Blyth Festival to learn stage combat
under the direction of fight director,
Dorian Foley.
“The aim of this course is to
expose the students to a basic
understanding and practical
knowledge of stage combat,” says
Foley. “The importance of safety in
stage combat cannot be over
emphasized, however the safe
execution of techniques is closely
followed by the actor’s performance
of those techniques, as well as clear
acting choices made in the moments
leading up to the fight.”
Specialist High Skills Majors let
students focus on a career path that
matches their skills and interests.
Each major is a bundle of eight-10
courses in the student's selected
field.
Students who complete their major
receive a special designation on their
secondary school diploma providing
a jump start whether they’re heading
for an apprenticeship, college,
university or the workplace.
Through the SHSM, students gain
important skills on the job with
actual employers, at skills training
centres or at school and earn
valuable industry certifications,
including first aid and CPR
qualifications.
The Arts and Culture SHSM
includes a bundle of eight Grade 11
and Grade 12 credits in which
students earn: four arts and culture
major credits, one English credit and
one credit in either business studies
or Canadian and world studies
tailored to include units focused on
arts and culture.
Next semester, Blyth Festival will
host training sessions in lighting and
sound design and improvisation.
In what she hopes will become anannual tradition, a North Huronnative is bringing her gift of music toBlyth Memorial Hall in an intimate
and interactive concert, Friday, Dec.
4 at 7:30 p.m.
Lesley Pike was born and raised in
Wingham and graduated from F.E.
Madill Secondary School before
attending Wilfrid Laurier University
where she obtained an Honours
Degree in Classical Music.
Now 30, Pike, who had been
working a 9-5 job as an assistant to
the vice-president of a large Toronto
corporation had an “epiphany” about
three years ago.
“Having continued to write and
perform music as a sideline, I felt
that if I didn’t throw myself into my
music full-time it wouldn't work.”
Pike said she asked herself what
the worst thing that could happen
would be and laughs when she
recalls it came to her that she was
already there.
“I mean the worst thing would be
that I’d fail and find myself doing a
9-5 corporate job. It’s what I was
doing now, and that wasn’t what I
was passionate about.”
She kept her toe in the business
world for a bit as she embarked onthe production of her first record,Blink, which was released lastNovember. Her first single,Memorize was released to CanadianRadio in September and has beengetting nation-wide play including
substantial support from the CBC.
Pike has spent the the past 16
months touring North America, and
has opened for several popular
musicians including Hootie and the
Blowfish frontman Darius Rucker,
the Cowboy Junkies and Jeremy
Fisher. This past summer she was
invited to duet with pop singer Jason
Mraz at the Molson Amphitheatre in
Toronto.
Now the singer/songwriter is ready
to come back to Memorial Hall
where she performed last year.
“It is such a great gem of a place,”
said Pike. “This is a chance to come
home, to see familiar faces and I love
putting on a show.”
Pike said it would be nice to make
the Blyth show an annual event and
is pleased that the timing this years
allows for some Christmas touches.
“I have written two holiday songs,
and will also do some traditional
ones. The show will be some of my
material that’s on the CD, some I’m
getting ready for a new CD and some
covers as well. So it’s not exactly a
holiday show, but it will have
holiday flair.”
Also appearing with Pike will be
acclaimed cellist and frequent
collaborator Kevin Fox from
Toronto.
Tickets are available at the Blyth
Festival website or by calling the
Box Office.
Pike’s music can be heard at
www.myspace.com/lesleypike or
check out her website at
www.lesleypike.com
THE CITIZEN, THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 26, 2009. PAGE 27.
Combat
The Blyth Festival partnered with St. Anne’s to deliver arts
workshops as part of its Arts & Culture Specialist High
Skills Major. On Monday students gathered to learn stage
combat under the direction of fight director, Dorian Foley,
not pictured. Here, Aerica Martin, right, gives Donna Kirk a
shove. (Shawn Loughlin photo)
Pike performs at Memorial Hall
LESLEY PIKE
Brings her music to Blyth
This year give a gift
that will last all year long
Send a one year subscription for
The Citizen to:
Name . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Address. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
City . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Prov.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Postal Code. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Date to start subscription . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Return with payment to:
The Citizen
Box 429, Blyth, ON N0M 1H0 or
Box 152, Brussels, ON N0G 1H0
For U.S. and foreign
subscription rates
call our office
at 519-523-4792
❑❑ Payment Enclosed
Please send a gift card
from
1 YEAR SUBSCRIPTION TO THE CITIZEN
FOR ONLY
$34.00
By Bonnie GroppThe Citizen
Awwww...
It’s very nice to share, and 17-month-old Amy-Lee Battye of
Wingham offered a generous bite of the tasty eggs to the
photographer at the breakfast held on Sunday morning at
Memorial Hall. The event was hosted by the Blyth Legion
and its Auxiliary. (Vicky Bremner photo)
Students in combat at Festival
BUY? SELL?
TRY CLASSIFIED