Daron Letts
Northern News Services

Yellowknife (July 08/05) - Darha Philpot and Karen Johnson are picking up the tempo.

Last year the professional dancers founded the territory's first modern dance company, Crazy Legs Contemporary Dance.

Crazy Legs Contemporary Dance Company artistic directors Darha Philpot and Karen Johnson are signing up students for a week-long series of summer dance and theatre workshops at NACC. The summer students will open the main stage at Folk on the Rocks next week.

Fast on the heels of the company's successful stage debut in May, they now want to bring more feet into the spotlight.

The Crazy Legs summer school offers an intensive week-long introduction to contemporary dance from July 11-15. Anyone aged 15 and up is welcome to participate.

"Both Karen and I share the perspective that everyone can dance," Philpot said.

During the week, Philpot and Johnson will instruct technique and improv classes.

Ben Nind, artistic director with Stuck in a Snowbank Theatre, will lead theatre classes.

"It will be a challenging, intensive week that will push people's limits," says Johnson. "People will be in better shape by the last class. Performance and technical skills will be developed, as well."

In addition to building their skills, the students will choreograph a dance piece to open the main stage at Folk on the Rocks.

The Folk on the Rocks performance will take place on the main stage on Sunday, July 17, at 4 p.m. It will be followed by dances from the company's 2005 repertoire.

The summer school is supported by the NWT Arts Council and the Northern Arts and Cultural Centre.

Philpot and Johnson are talking with organizers of the Open Sky Festival about expanding the workshops into Fort Simpson next year.