Today I am beyond excited!
Today we announce that our Junior Musical Theatre Company will run for the first time since the studio opened in January 2013. Now, why is this such a big deal you ask?
When I first started teaching it was a program like this that allowed me to discover my passion for teaching drama and directing children in theatre. It completely altered the path of my career in the best possible way. For 9 years I built a program from 6 students to 14 students, with annual waiting lists from it’s 5th year onward. It was a program that students returned to year after year, giving me the opportunity to really connect not only with these students, but with their families.
It was a true community building program. The amount of work it takes is unimaginable, but the way the families rallied around myself and my team, a group of volunteers (some theatre professionals, others enthusiastic theatre supporters) was truly a wonder to behold.
When I left my previous position to branch out on my own I worried so much that I wouldn’t be able to find that sense of community again, that for some reason it would be harder to find in a more densely populated area where more established businesses like this one already exist. As time has passed I have become deeply humbled, and so incredibly honoured, that I have been given the opportunity to work with families (over 80 this year!) on a weekly basis, and work with families that have chosen The Stage and it’s staff to be a part of their child’s educational community.
The Junior Musical Theatre Company has attempted to run many times in the past, but it simply has not had the registration to be able to afford to run it. Arts programming, to the standards at which The Stage holds it, is not cheap. But I’d like the excitement of our inaugural year to speak to other business owners. It will happen. Patience is a virtue, and a hard one to come by at that. But combined with hard work, attention to detail and adaptability, patience will pay off.
I am so grateful that I have had the opportunity these past two and a half years to grow in my early childhood music programming classes; the babies, toddlers, preschoolers and early elementary students I work with every week have sparked in me an even more intense desire to provide the best quality programming I can, and to continue to strive to grow in my understanding of children and how studies in music, theatre, and dance can truly enhance their development as they grow into the future leaders of our communities.
To the students and their families in this year’s program; you are going to be a part of something wonderful. Myself and my team are looking so forward to working with you. I cannot wait to see how you grow this year and look forward to you reaping all the benefits performing arts can offer you.
Here’s to a fantastic 2015/2016 season!
Stefanie
