News
Student Leadership in Action
Grade 12 Shawnigan students Cailin M. and Tina X. have had a wonderful opportunity to put their leadership skills to the test this year – to great result. When faced with the prospect of not having dance available as an after-school sport program at the start of the year, they decided to take matters into their own hands. “We thought, if you can have student-led fine arts, why can’t you have student-led sports?” explains Tina, referring to the fact that Shawnigan has been fortunate to have outstanding students lead a few co-curricular activities of late, including, most recently, astrophotography and fly tying. “There was no way we weren’t going to make it happen,” emphasizes Cailin.
And so they worked to put together a proposal that would see them taking on the leadership of dance as a sport, which they then pitched to the program directors, Tim Murdy, Director of Sport, and Nigel Mayes, Assistant Head – Co-curricular. They were given the green light to trial it for the first term, and so Cailin and Tina gathered a group of 12 passionate dancers of varying stylistic backgrounds and levels of experience and immediately got to work, determined to create an effective program.
While both girls have extensive dance experience – Tina has been dancing since middle school and Cailin from childhood – leading and choreographing was definitely new territory for both of them, with the exception of some basic choreography for young beginner dancers on Cailin’s part. This lack of experience, however, didn’t faze them in the slightest.
They took their new roles very seriously, growing quickly into their leadership positions while stretching their creative wings. They were also determined to create an equal-opportunity program, and both share how meaningful it has been to learn from the other dancers in the group. “What’s so great about student-led programs is that we each get to put in something,” explains Tina. They both reference learning a high-energy K-pop routine as being particularly memorable and enlightening.
In addition to Cailin and Tina’s leadership, the group has had part-time instruction since early December from curricular dance instructor and assistant musical theatre choreographer Shania Schmidt, who has been more than impressed with their efforts. “When I first came to see this group I was amazed by the collaborative and open space they had created for each other,” she shares. “This group of dancers are so passionate and driven that I didn’t want to come in and mess with what they had built. So I took on the role of a facilitator, helping the vision these dancers create come to life. I try to keep the ball rolling while allowing the group to cooperate together and create beautiful dances!”
These beautiful dances were put on display for the first time when the group participated in the recent Cowichan Music Festival, an event that brings together amateur dancers, vocalists and instrumentalists from the Cowichan Valley Regional District and Gulf Islands. This was a landmark event not only for this particular group of dancers – some of whom had never performed before – but for all performers at the festival after the two-year pandemic-induced hiatus.
The group had worked to prepare two dance routines, which they entered into the contemporary and jazz categories (with three dancers, including both Cailin and Tina, also entering solos). “A lot of these girls hadn’t ever stepped on stage, and it was just so heart-warming to see them get out there and to see us getting ready together as a team,” says Cailin. “It was something that warmed all our hearts.”
Cailin and Tina were thrilled to share that the group dances each placed second in their respective categories – incredible validation for all of their hard work this year. “It definitely made us relieved and we felt very happy afterwards!” says Tina.
Up next for this driven group of dancers is the Shawnigan Night of Dance, the School’s annual in-house showcase, which takes place next month. The program includes dances from both the sport group as well as the curricular group that is taught by Mrs. Schmidt.
Shawnigan students and staff are sure to be impressed.
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While both girls have extensive dance experience – Tina has been dancing since middle school and Cailin from childhood – leading and choreographing was definitely new territory for both of them, with the exception of some basic choreography for young beginner dancers on Cailin’s part. This lack of experience, however, didn’t faze them in the slightest.
They took their new roles very seriously, growing quickly into their leadership positions while stretching their creative wings. They were also determined to create an equal-opportunity program, and both share how meaningful it has been to learn from the other dancers in the group. “What’s so great about student-led programs is that we each get to put in something,” explains Tina. They both reference learning a high-energy K-pop routine as being particularly memorable and enlightening.
In addition to Cailin and Tina’s leadership, the group has had part-time instruction since early December from curricular dance instructor and assistant musical theatre choreographer Shania Schmidt, who has been more than impressed with their efforts. “When I first came to see this group I was amazed by the collaborative and open space they had created for each other,” she shares. “This group of dancers are so passionate and driven that I didn’t want to come in and mess with what they had built. So I took on the role of a facilitator, helping the vision these dancers create come to life. I try to keep the ball rolling while allowing the group to cooperate together and create beautiful dances!”
These beautiful dances were put on display for the first time when the group participated in the recent Cowichan Music Festival, an event that brings together amateur dancers, vocalists and instrumentalists from the Cowichan Valley Regional District and Gulf Islands. This was a landmark event not only for this particular group of dancers – some of whom had never performed before – but for all performers at the festival after the two-year pandemic-induced hiatus.
The group had worked to prepare two dance routines, which they entered into the contemporary and jazz categories (with three dancers, including both Cailin and Tina, also entering solos). “A lot of these girls hadn’t ever stepped on stage, and it was just so heart-warming to see them get out there and to see us getting ready together as a team,” says Cailin. “It was something that warmed all our hearts.”
Cailin and Tina were thrilled to share that the group dances each placed second in their respective categories – incredible validation for all of their hard work this year. “It definitely made us relieved and we felt very happy afterwards!” says Tina.
Up next for this driven group of dancers is the Shawnigan Night of Dance, the School’s annual in-house showcase, which takes place next month. The program includes dances from both the sport group as well as the curricular group that is taught by Mrs. Schmidt.
Shawnigan students and staff are sure to be impressed.
We acknowledge with respect the Coast Salish Peoples on whose traditional lands and waterways we live, learn and play. We are grateful for the opportunity to share in this beautiful region, and we aspire to healthy and respectful relationships with those who have lived on and cared for these lands for millennia.
Shawnigan Lake School is an independent co-educational boarding school for ages 13 –18 on Canada’s beautiful West Coast. Our diverse, interdisciplinary and innovative programming helps shape the next generation of global leaders.
