Times Advocate, 1997-01-08, Page 8Page 8 .
Times -Advocate, January 8,1997
CnMNr!.TNITv
Sharing the `Love for Dance' for three generations
By Chris- Mentes
T -A Reporter .
EXETER - Jo -Read loves to dance. So does her'
daughter Sheree Tiottier and her -granddaughter Sarah.
Together they are sharing their love for dancing with
• the young people of Exeter and its surrounding
commgnity. •
. That's why the three of them volunteer their•tiine
to•work with dancers in the Exeter Dance Club. a
non-profit organizanen which branched off from the
Jo -Read School of Drance two years ago. -
Dancers. Jo -Read,
local children;"
back," Sheree Trotirer' and Sarah rrottier. 9 shave their love
for dance with
•
Jo -Read, who is the launder of the Jo -Read School
of Dance. has been teaching the an of dance in Exeter
"foreight years. She said dancing has changed since
,1930 icons suoh as Fred Astaire and Shirley Temple
charmed audiences: The number of people taking dance
.has declined since hig screen Hollywood movies •
overcame Broadway productions in the 60's and an
established dance . '
school in a small town
was hard to tinct. But
with about 180 local
students, involved in
dancing, its popularity
is making a came -
back in rural •
communities.
Throughout Jo--Rcad's.52
.year teaching career she has
shared the stage with many legendary dancers, some
have gone on to•he successful in big-ticket theatre
productions. From entertaining the troops at army bases
overseas during the second World War to holding the .
role of "the exercise. lady on channel 10" through the
Iate.50's .rod into the 60's: she has gained much •
experience neer die years and continues to share those
experiences today.. • • • .
Tee,tatight well over 2001) children and some have
gorge on to teach also." said Jo -Read who continues 10
teach despite suffering a serious hip injury three years
_ago.
" After starting a main Studio in London affiliated
with the Bntish Association of Teachers of the Dance.
her schnnt expanded to Lucan 16 years ago and after
fielding numerous retjuests from Iianents she began •
leaching in Exeer, in 1988. ,
• Limited to teaching, Jo -Read and Tm_ttier noticed
therewas a need thr'competition among their students.
. however. most couldn't afford the cost of -competition -
fees on top. of their lessons. Realizing "the benefits _
dancing •enntpetuivcly would have•on her students:
Tinnier branched off -to form a separate non-profit club
Iwo years ago ttiat Could provide ambitious dancers the
opportunity to .:nutpete..•. • -
:'We've had a great response so tar," Said Tinnier • _
who has seen the numher of interested.stude nos double
-in the club over the last year,-
The dluh. whit% relies on fundraisers and sponsors
to .pay iior its mets ;rod expenses. has also seen some .
pimr
success recently as 30 dancers won 62 medal at the •
third annual British Association of Thachers of Dance
Festival at Althouse College in London.
Tinnier said competing at such.festivals,exposes the
students to different forms df dance and provides
positive feedback from experienced judges.
"It opens doors for them because they get to see • -
what other dancers are dbing...it's a learning experience
for them," she said.
With the popularity of modern productions such as
Cats, Ragtime. and Showboat, dance.is making a come -
hack among young people, hut Jo -Read said that is •
-
partly due to the changing perceptions about dame. In
the past it was'a serious discipline .
entailing extreme physical
demands and houts of
tiard training in the
'studio. It wasn't something
you did tar fun. • .
But things have changed. .
"Gone are -the days where the instructor walked -
around with a cane," said Jo -Read adding dancers were
disciplined for doing something improperly. "It was•
hard to have fun when you were scared silly of the
teacher."
Today, students learn in a non -pressure environment
where youngsterstake dance for fun •and exercise, .
It keeps you physically•lit and•helps develop a
sense of coordination," said Trottier adding the social
aspect is also important.
With the Huron Country Playhouse casting local
entertainers periodically for in-house productions and
the introduction of locally organized shows. such as the
Lion King musical which will feature local talent in . -
Fehruary, area youngsters are putting their dance steps
IQ use. •
'Today there is more opportunity to show offtheir
sluff." -said Trottier adding you don't have to live in a
city to, participate.in live theatre. . -
However;both Jo-Rcadand Trottier agree children in
rural areas seem 10 have'a slight advantageover city-
.dwellers as they.notice mere parental involvement in
the Exeter dub.
- 'In the city itseerns more rushed, parents tend to -
dmp off their kids." said Trettie "In rural areas parents
spend more time and want to he involved...they want to
see then -Children dance."
Centralia and. Zion West church members organize annual meetings
Reports are, to, be
submitted by' January."
13.
•
By Mary Petersgrt
Centralia correspondent
CEN'rRALIA - Epiphany was
celebrated on January 5 at Centralia -
r .
(-felted Church. ' -
Carrie Powe, lit t-hc Chrttit c^an=
-die. Scripvtures, werc_ by June
E sexy.
Pastor Heathen'6>u recently re-
turned fro 'a 4'hrtsttiles v•teat on.
cieliyhred the Message 'Three 'Men
and a Babv ' .
She- thanked everyone for step-
•
ping in` to ;help while .;he -.vas on
- yaurlion. .
�ennui'meetiegs will"be.held at •
C. ntratia i unted. Church , 'n Jana-
- �-
ary 2.3 a 7:a) p.m. and ,.it• Zion •
West oe January 14 ;u 8 p:m:.
All reports -are retlaested by ' •"i --
nary 1 I.
Bible ;oily will resume in Jams,:
•
Scout Leader Laurie Kraftcheck gets a little help from Bradley Keys and Stephen Darbishire.
far right. as they unload a pile of discarded Christmas trees at,the Ptyblic Works grounds on
Friday night.. The Exeter Scouts. Cubs and Ventures and the town of Exeter teamed up to re-
cycle the trees this year. The, Scouts and volunteers collected them from curb sides and.
transport them to the Public Works gniunds where- they will eventually be turned into mulch.
It took them two hours to collect approximately 150 trees. Afterwards they escaped the cold
and wet weather by using a few trees to' fuel a bonfire while sipping hot chocolate. From
back left, Scott Keys, Bradley Keys. ,Nathan Kraftcheck. 'Front row, Zachary Dougall, Steve
Oarbisf)ire and Jamie .Keys.
:uv on, Wednesday: evenings begin-
ning January 14 and:on Fridays at
noon.` Soup 'n'• Sandwich Bihie
Study will begin January 17.
-lite Centralia Nominating Com'
mince will- meet January- 8 at, 8
tiara. The Zion 'Nominating Coimnit-
iee will meet January 16 at 3 p.m,
Regular U _C.W-. meetings will be
held on January:9 at Centralia and.
Zion West. The meeting at Central-
. is will begin at 8 p.m. -
. On January 14. there will be a
joint session meeting -at 8:15 p.m.
at Centralia United Church.
Congratulations to winners in the
Monday afternoon euchre games in
Crediton recently:
Nola Lewis- and Howard Dolan
. were Lone Hand winners, while Ol-
lie Essery and Jim Davis were High.
Hand winners. Low Hand. winners -
were Esther Hodgins and Charlie.
-Rollings. .
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