Four talented Airdrie youths have been rehearsing for months in preparation for the Greatest Outdoor Show on Earth. And now, it's their time to shine.
The group of local dancers and singers are part of the famous troupe known as The Young Canadians – a school of performing arts that features in the Calgary Stampede's nightly Grandstand Show.
One of the Airdrie residents performing in The Young Canadians this summer is 18-year-old Eden Regier, a recent graduate of George McDougall High School. Having joined the school in 2020, Regier said she's excited for the return of the Stampede's Grandstand Show, which operated in a modified format in 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic and was cancelled altogether in 2020.
“I am looking forward to just being on-stage with everything happening at once,” she said. “It’s been a long time since we’ve gotten to sing, dance, be with a live band, and be with the fireworks. It’s been forever due to COVID, so I’m excited to experience that.”
According to the school's website, The Young Canadians comprise approximately 100 dedicated youth from the Calgary area, ranging in age from eight to 21 years old. The school provides performance training, vocal instruction, ballet, jazz, tap, and acrobatics.
Throughout the year, members take to the stage in dance and vocal showcases, and participate in workshops with internationally-known performers, choreographers, and educators.
The Young Canadians have been a mainstay of the Calgary Stampede's Grandstand Show since 1968. Apart from Regier, the other Airdronians in the school this year include Alessandra Bellotto, Edith Kaiden, and Shalene Smith.
“All of us from Airdrie are really excited to perform in this spectacular show and represent Airdrie when we perform,” Regier said.
To make sure their performance is on point, Regier said The Young Canadians rehearse for approximately 30 hours a week in the two months leading up to the Stampede. Even away from that, she noted they train and develop their performance skills together throughout the year.
With the Stampede kicking off on July 8, The Young Canadians have already performed in the $10-million spectacle in front of a live audience six times already, as of press time.
The headlining music act of the 2022 show is Dean Brody, while other Grandstand Show acts include Canadian Indigenous singer/songwriter Shawnee Kish, Montreal acrobats Circus Concepts, and DJ Wayne Biffna.
A few performances left to go, Regier and her talented colleagues will be busy for the next few nights, as the show takes place every evening of the 10-day festival in front of a combined 150,000 spectators.
“It’s an amazing performance that not everyone gets to do everyday,” she said. “It’s a really cool experience.”
Regier added she enjoys how multi-faceted The Young Canadians' act is, as it's accompanied by live musicians, pyrotechnics, special effects, acrobatics, and more.
“This is a place where you can put it all together,” she said. “You can take your singing, dancing, and your love of being on-stage and put it all together – and do it for 10 days. You’re basically doing what professionals get to experience, which is cool.”
To learn more about The Young Canadians, visit bit.ly/3nMRKEP. For more information on this year's Bell Grandstand Show, visit bit.ly/3amZyKn
