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Dance brings festival back to Aud stage

Adjudicator Ashley Wolfe of Garson, Man. commends the talent she saw at Virden Music and Arts Festival.

After being cancelled in 2020 and run virtually last year, Virden’s long-standing Music and Arts Festival has resumed as an in-person showcase of talent. Dance solos and ensembles were presented over two days last week at the Virden Aud Theatre. 

Adjudicator Ashley Wolfe of Garson, Man. (40 minutes northeast of Winnipeg) began dancing at the age of two, for a rather unique reason. 

“It started off as a medical requirement, actually,” she said. “I was born knock-kneed, bow-legged, pigeon-toed and hyper-extended…basically all the bad things for dancers. To be able to work with the hips, knees and legs the way that I had to, ballet was able to fix a lot of problems that started when I was young. To be able to get the proper training was definitely helpful.”

With the medical issues on the back burner, she progressed into Irish dance, and enjoyed it immensely. 

“I started Irish dance when I was about nine…that’s when Riverdance actually came out. I was able to get into Irish dancing through the Brady Academy, and did Folklorama (in Winnipeg) for years and years…a lot of fun.”

An instructor since 2007, Wolfe brought a wealth of experience to her adjudicating stint in Virden, as well as an appreciation for the talent that’s nurtured in rural locales.   

“This will probably be my fifth year of adjudicating. I was able to get my training through the studio that I was with, so it was really nice to be able to connect that way and actually come out to the community and see so much that is offered, not just in the city.

“I see a bigger connection when it is a smaller studio and a smaller atmosphere…the dancers can connect a lot better when they’re on stage and through classes as well. It’s lovely to see and I’ve seen a lot of extraordinary work.” 

Wolfe is appreciative not only of the dancers’ efforts, but also the historic venue which has been home to the festival for many years.    

“I have been all over. I’ve been to community clubs, schools, wherever there is dance. Virden is probably one of my favourite places. It’s the same builders that built Pantages Playhouse (Theatre, in Winnipeg), so this feels like home for me. Growing up dancing at Pantages, that was home stage. That’s where all those memories come from, so when I’m here it feels like we’re home again, and it’s just so nice.” 

2022 has been challenging as the dance community, like other aspects of the performing arts, slowly rebounds after being silenced by COVID-19.

“Virden is my only festival this year, because festivals are still opening up again. This is, probably, a first opportunity for a lot of our young dancers now…getting back on the stage and just getting that feeling back again. It’s (the impact of COVID-19) been heartfelt throughout the dance community. Six studios closed in Winnipeg alone, just through the pandemic. That’s a huge loss for the arts community. Being able to come back now and have a festival, this is huge.  This is a really big deal for them.” 

Wolfe sees it as important for the young dancers to enjoy themselves, along with putting their best foot forward on stage.      

“The biggest thing I want is to make sure the kids are having fun,” she said. “That’s what festivals are about. Being able to see kids thrive in that, that’s what really drives me to do my job and do what I love to do. And when I’m looking at certain dancers it’s not necessarily perfect technique, it’s not necessarily perfect steps, if you can show me that you love what you do, that’s what I want to see and it’s been prevalent all day today and yesterday.”

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