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Crazy Legs co-director Karen Wasicuna leads a summer school class on stage at the Northern Arts and Cultural Centre in 2006. - NNSL file photo

SOMBA K'E/YELLOWKNIFE - Life in this town offers residents rare opportunities for artistic development and self-exploration that would be inaccessible or unheard of in most major urban centres.

This month's summer school presented by Crazy Legs Contemporary Dance Company is an example of such opportunity.

The fourth Crazy Legs summer school offers two technical and creative performance development programs designed for ages seven to 11 and ages 15 and up. The children's program is full, but there is still space left in the adolescent and adult program. The company invites participation from all skill levels, so no previous dance experience is necessary.

"We always have people who are new to dance and they find it a wonderfully supportive way to be exposed to dance," said co-director Dhara Philpot.

As in other years, the company encourages students to participate in their own creative process alongside the dance instruction.

This year students from both programs will use the skills they learn to choreograph two low-pressure public performances to be staged at the Northern Arts and Cultural Centre (NACC) on separate dates.

"We're going to make people comfortable and have fun," said co-director Karen Wasicuna. "We play on people's strong points and they are part of the collaborative process with the creation of the end piece."

The students will prepare choreography for a classical suite titled The Carnival of Animals by 19th century romantic composer Camille Saint-Saens. The student performances will be set to live accompaniment from Classics on Stage Yellowknife (COSY).

Saint-Saen's composition is arranged for two grand pianos and a chamber orchestra, but COSY clarinetist Jo Russell found an arrangement for a wind quintet.

"It's a piece I've been trying to do for a couple of years now, but we haven't had the right instrumentalists in town," Russell said.

The suite is divided into 14 short pieces, each reflecting some aspect of a different animal. With titles like Elephant, Kangaroos, Aquarium, Aviary, The Swan, Tortoises and Pianists, the pieces lend themselves to creative interpretive movement. (For some reason, pianists are counted as animals in Saint-Saens' composition).

Russell, who plays bass clarinet in the suite, will be joined by flautist Maureen Crotty, pianist Amy Hendricks and clarinetist Adrian Wright.

Former Edmonton Symphony Orchestra conductor David Hoyte and the symphony's principle oboist Lea Connor are travelling up to join the ensemble, as well.

"All of us who are playing are really excited," Russell said.

Physical theatre instructor and story teller Murray Utas from Edmonton will provide acting instruction using masks and dramatic movement to prepare the students to express Saint-Saens' musical themes through modern dance.

"I love that we jam and organically create a show," Utas said. "Teaching theatre to non-theatre people is really refreshing because they're so eager to learn that they're wide open."

The students will have access to transformative costumes designed by Keri-lyn McLeod to augment their self-directed choreography.

Students aged 15 and up can still register for the adolescent and adult program, which runs from Aug. 25-29. The children's performance will be staged at NACC at 7 p.m. on Aug. 22. The adolescent and adult performance will be staged at NACC at 2 p.m. on Aug. 30.

Admission to these public performances is by donation.