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By Daron Letts
Northern News Services
Published Tuesday, January 20, 2009

SOMBA K'E/YELLOWKNIFE - The Northern Divas take the stage at Northern Arts and Cultural Centre Jan.23 for the second performance in this year's Northern Performer Festival.

The local singers are reclaiming the title of diva, alternately used as an honour and an epithet in the showbiz community to highlight the beauty, range and confidence of the female voice.

The Northern Divas are, clockwise from top, Shelly Gislason, Amy Hendricks, Theresa Pamplin and Susan Shantora. They take the stage at NACC Jan.23 at 7:30 p.m. - photo courtesy of Paul Davie

"We make fun of the negative connotation of the word," said Theresa Pamplin, who joins divas Shelly Gislason and Susan Shantora on stage on Friday.

"It means goddess – that's the literal translation."

Their repertoire spans opera to musical theatre. The women will express their divinity with plenty of costume changes accented with feather boas and Sorel boots.

The three sopranos are accompanied by pianist Amy Hendricks and visiting Toronto pianist John Hess, who last performed at NACC with world renowned tenor Ben Heppner.

"We're very lucky to have the opportunity to play with him," Shantora said.

The divas share the spotlight at 7:30 p.m.