WHS dancers invite area children to workshop

Wheeling High School's Orchesis, in conjunction with its Winter Showcase, invites area children 3-13 to participate in an afternoon dance workshop and evening performance with Orchesis members on Saturday, Dec. 5.

Workshops will be held at the school from 3:30-6 p.m. and the performance will take place in Wheeling's Sang Theater at 7 p.m. The school is at Hintz and Elmhurst roads in Wheeling.

Workshops will be limited in size and include the following: Preschool "Tell a Story;" ballet; dance with props; boys' dance; drama workshop; jazz and hip hop; musical theater; cultural dance and lyrical jazz.

Admission is $25 and includes one ticket for the evening performance, a certificate and a souvenir T-shirt. Parents may elect to have their children stay between the workshop and performance for an additional $5, which includes pizza and a beverage.

This performance workshop is a way for dancers to reach the community on a broader level. Proceeds from this project help fund Wheeling's guest choreographer series and its participation in the National High School Dance Festival. This year WHS dancers will work with Scott Bartell (Spectrum Dance Theater of Seattle), Jen Foss (Columbia College graduate), Dionna PridGeon (staff member at the Lou Conte Studio), Wilfredo Rivera (artistic director at Cerqua Rivera Art Experience), Keith Elliott (founder of Dance for Life) and Richard Smith (artistic director of Inaside Dance Company).

By working with professional guest choreographers, the high school dancers are able to challenge themselves, while making the work of these artists available to the community.

"We are also hosting a performance of Dance Chicago's Dance Slam West on Saturday, Nov. 28," said Diane Rawlinson, Wheeling's Orchesis director. Visit dancechicago.com for details.

Registration for the Dec. 5 workshop and performance is first-come, first-served until all classes are filled. To get a registration form, contact Rawlinson at (847) 718-7121.