by Lara Gladych, photo by Amanda Cribdon –
Seaside Magazine wants to live up to our slogan of being “the voice of the Saanich Peninsula,” so in every issue we’ll be asking people to answer one simple question. We’re looking for responses from all ages and across the diverse neighbourhoods that form our community.
Speaking specifically of visual art, Georgia O’Keeffe said: “I found I could say things with colour and shapes that I couldn’t say any other way – things I had no words for.”
“Painting is self-discovery. Every good artist paints what he is,” according to Jackson Pollock. And similarly, Thomas Merton said: “Art enables us to find ourselves and lose ourselves at the same time.”
These very themes were echoed by high school performing arts students I spoke with back in September. The concepts of self-expression and self-discovery were prominent in what they shared, as was the notion of pushing oneself beyond the bounds of comfort. The kids I spoke with were all quick to express the way in which performing arts in particular have changed them and helped them grow as unique individuals.
Though I had hoped to speak with artists of all kinds that day, the sentiments expressed by these students about their own crafts – namely acting and singing – in my mind are applicable across all genres of artistic creativity.
Mylana had this to say: “Singing is my passion. The story that a song can tell is really interesting and unique.” When she’s on stage performing, she says she feels “honestly, on top of the world. It’s the greatest feeling, being on stage with all the lights, making other people smile.” Her favourite characters to play are those that are least like her: “It’s fun to be somebody else, even if it’s just for five minutes.”
I spoke with Hanne. For her, the arts are “stress-relieving. Just going into that room is a weight off my shoulders because I can get away from everything else I’m doing at school: from homework, from math … just getting into my own world.”
“ has really brought me out of my shell. I remember last semester at the beginning, it was my first class and I was shy and I wouldn’t participate, and was just kind of ‘there.’ In this class I am participating, I am comfortable, I am willing to talk. It’s social for me. They are all musical theatre kids, we all know each other and have common interests,” said Rowan.
Kylie is a successful and awarded dancer. When she performs she feels confident and sees herself exceeding her own expectations, reaching new levels and consistently moving up in the rankings. “Every dancer is different, and I’ve learned so much from watching others.” She stresses the connection you have with others through dance; the trust and the team effort. “Dancing together we grow together.” I ask about her solo endeavours. “Dancing as a soloist was terrifying at first, but eventually I came to see it as my time to shine, to be unique. It’s for you. If I didn’t have dance I would be different than I am today.”
It strikes me how the same reflections continue to come up for students.
Emily has been taking drama for two years. “When I first joined drama I was kind of nervous, thinking ‘I don’t know if I’m going to like this,’ knowing it was out of my comfort zone. By the middle of the year I had met a lot of new people and we were doing so many fun and cool projects. By the end of the year I had learned so many new things, but not only with acting … just, speaking up. It brought me out of my shell. If at the beginning of the year I could have seen myself at the end of the year, I never would have believed it was the same person.” I asked Emily to comment on the opportunity to take drama classes at school. “Take art, take drama, take something that will take you out of your comfort zone, because it’s good experience for life.”
The last students I interview are accomplished actors and singers from the drama and music programs. “The performing arts make you more prepared for life situations because you have to be prepared for anything. You never know what’s going to be thrown at you. You have to be able to mould and adapt. There’s a certain respect and responsibility, and it makes you accountable. And there’s room for doing it your own way. For example, in chemistry we’re all doing the same thing and there’s no room for perception. Perception is everything.” This is wisdom from Abby.
Access to the arts is extremely important, according to Isabella. “You build a bond and find a family because you go in and let loose. You don’t have to be yourself for a moment because you’re stepping into someone else’s shoes.” Abby agrees. ” You can leave it all at the door and just go for it.”
