Dance Images welcomes dancers for summer intensive camps

Sunny South News Photo by Kristine Jean. REGISTRATIONS OPEN: Dance Images recently held their annual summer intensive dance camps Aug. 17-20 and are holding fall registration for the upcoming dance season Aug. 24 and 25 in Coaldale from 3:30-8:30 p.m. and on Aug. 26 in Taber from 3:30-8:30 p.m.

By Kristine Jean
Sunny South News

Dance Images is gearing up for another dance season as registration gets underway this week in Coaldale and Taber. 

Owner and artistic director, Gerry Unger, said they are looking forward to the new season and recently welcomed dancers for their annual summer intensive camps. 

The summer camps took place Aug. 17-19 in the afternoon and early evenings, for intermediate and advance dancers ages eight and up, while the mini camp for dancers ages three to seven ran every morning from Aug. 17-20.

“It’s just to help expand their knowledge of dance and styles and working on some different styles,” said Unger.

This year, Dance Images is celebrating its 35th anniversary, and during that time the local dance studio has provided dance lessons to the community in a variety of genres, including classic, ballet, tap, jazz, lyrical, hip-hop, musical theatre and acro. 

Three guest dance instructors from Vancouver were in Coaldale recently to teach classes as part of the intensive camps, in a variety of dance genres that are offered at Dance Images. 

This year’s guest dance instructors were Ferdinand Tocol, Nicholas Unger and Jayla Osorio. Tocol has been teaching at Dance Images as part of the annual summer intensive camps every August for about 17 years. 

The regular dance season runs from September to May each year, with early  registration held in June for the upcoming dance season. Fall registration is taking place over two days – Aug. 24 and 25 in Coaldale from 3:30-8:30 p.m. and one day in Taber on Aug. 26 from 3:30-8:30 p.m. 

“Every child performs in our year-end performances, which is at the end of May,” said Unger, pointing out non-competitive and competitive classes are offered at Dance Images. “We do have a large group of competitive (dance) kids and we travel and compete with a group of students as well,” she added, noting the role Dance Images plays in the lives of its dancers. 

  “Our motto is ‘we create good people, not just great dancers’,” said Unger.   

Every year, Dance Images welcomes more than 100 students with about 180  registering last season, between the Coaldale and Taber studios. Unger said they are hoping to see that number or more this year, to help them celebrate their milestone anniversary.  

“It really will be (a special year). Thirty-five years is a long time,” said Unger. “I’m looking forward to celebrating this year.”  

For more information or to register for dance classes this season, email danceimages.contactus@gmail.com