Michele LeTourneau
Northern News Services

NNSL (July 09/99) - Some kids are just not sports-minded. To those who believe sports is one of the mainstays of life on earth, this may seem like blasphemy, but it's a fact of life.

"Some of these kids feel isolated because they aren't jocks," says Donna Nash, whose daughter is the perfect example of such a child.

So what do young people, whose interests lie elsewhere -- say the arts -- do in the summer while all the others run around developing physical prowess?

Drama camp. That's what the Yellowknife mother came up with. Though Yk once boasted such a camp, the NWT Summer School for the Performing Arts, organizers had gone on to dedicate their time to other endeavours.

Nash put out the word and news travelled fast. It just so happened that there was a bank account left behind by the school, which, by the time it fizzled out, hosted drama students from across the North.

This year, the camp, partially sponsored by School District No. 1, Northbest Distributors and Co-op, is starting off small -- with five days a week, six hours a day, devoted to teaching 16 kids acting and rehearsal techniques. "We'll have evaluations from families and we'll have it for two weeks next year if there's an interest," explains Nash.

Nash eventually hired Sheryl Salen, an arts educator from Saskatoon, because she couldn't find anyone with both the specific experience necessary and the time to dedicate to the class.

Salen, at one time a professional dancer and actor, is also the director of the Persephone Theatre School in her hometown.

"The main goal is to get them excited about theatre so they'll do it again," says Salen, who gets a helping hand from her assistant Paul MacDonald.

Salen adds that it also helps build self-confidence in the participants, as well as changing their perception of what theatre is.

"This generation is exposed to movies above anything else," she says.

Some of Salen's students have been seen on Yellowknife stages before, others have never stepped foot on a stage.

Mornings are spent on technique and skill development, with an hour dedicated to movement and physical expression, an hour to voice work, projection, articulation and vocal colour. Improvisational technique, which develops quick thinking and character development, takes up the last hour.

"In the afternoon we're working on a script to apply the technique," explains Salen.

The script, Macbeth for Kids by Lois Burdett, an abridged and simplified version of this well-known play, serves a three-fold goal -- to introduce the kids to a classic, get them excited about Shakespeare at an early age and to take them through the rehearsal process.

Finally, there will be an informal presentation Friday night at 7:30 (Mildred Hall, lower gym), which is open to the public.

"Theatre is a performing art -- it's important for them to do it," Salen says.

Of course, it's all very well and good for the adults to list off the benefits of the camp, but what do the kids themselves think?

"I took it because I'd like to continue with my acting skills," says Breanne Grayston, who has had parts in Carousel, Christmas Adventure, Fiddler on the Roof and The Coming of the Three.

"It's really fun and I've learned lots."

Tiffany Ayalik has similarly performed in Yellowknife with roles in Fiddler on the Roof and Christmas Adventure.

"I've always been pretty good at acting, singing and dance," she says. "I took it for the experience, for auditions and stuff."

Ayalik cites stretching and getting ready, voice exercises, movement and relaxation (for head-clearing) improvisation, and the Macbeth rehearsal as the high points of the class.

Micheal Bennington, on the other hand, hasn't been on stage yet.

"I'm really interested in drama," he says. "I think I have a lot of the skill that it needs."

And there you are... art-smart kids.