IGLULIK
Iglulik youth stayed active during the Winter Break thanks to hip-hop instruction and an art workshop organized by the hamlet's recreation department.

Numa Malikki looks plased with her face paint during the final day of a Winter Break hip-hop and art workship in Iglulik last month. - photo courtesy of Nadine Kadlutsiak

"It was much better to have the kids active and involved and having some structured things to do rather than just have a week off and be bored," said recreation co-ordinator Victoria Perron.

As word spread, more and more youth came out throughout the week, which was a great result for Perron.

The mornings were dedicated to kids aged eight to 13 years old, while youth up to 20 years old participated in the afternoon, lured in part by the opportunity to learn break-dancing skills.

"Only one (teenager) showed up on the first day but by the last day we had a solid crew of about 10 people," she said. "They were teens I didn't necessarily expect to see there.

"It was really nice to see."

Iqaluit-based hip-hop instructor Christine Lamothe, who is also preparing to open Saimavik Studio early in March, led the movement-based activities.

"The teenagers were really a lot of fun. It was so laid back – it was like a little family," said Lamothe.

Pascale Arpin balanced the workouts with hands-on art projects, including a stop-motion plasticine animation workshop, and print making.

"The kids were super excited and really keen and happy to try out new techniques," she told Nunavut News/North. "That goes for dance and art. They jumped on it and had a blast."

Thanks to the budget provided by Perron, Arpin was able to bring up a variety of art materials for the youth to work with.

"You could see their eyes light up. They're used to their standard craft stuff," said Arpin. "You could really see the excitement, which was great for me because it's sometimes harder to get excited about art than about hip hop. Hip hop is just so cool."

This was not the first time Arpin and Lamothe have paired up to hold this type of workshop.

In the summer of 2012, they travelled to Cape Dorset to instruct youth there, where they piloted the idea of balancing dance with less energy intensive creative projects.

"That was a first for us and kind of a pilot, you could say," said Arpin.

"You can't really dance for four hours straight, but you can dance and then do something else that's creative. Also, that way you can reach different age groups."

That balance seemed to work well again in Iglulik, where Perron said kids are still buzzing about their experience.

"It's been really positive," she said "Now, when I walk down the street they keep asking me, 'Is there hip-hop after school today?'"

Unfortunately, with no hip-hop instructor in the community, the answer for now is no.

"But they had a great time and hopefully it inspired some kids to YouTube and practice at home," she said.

The successful Winter Break activities were a community effort, said Perron, adding the hamlet's economic development officer was instrumental in finding the funding to bring the instructors west.

"I'm really fortunate," she said. "I'm new in the community but there's a great network of people in town and everybody talks to each other."