Along with music, dancing, and acrobatics, some Foothills area youths with The Young Canadians will literally leave attendees of the annual TransAlta Grandstand Show with fireworks. For 11 nights, 120 enthusiastic youth ages 7-18 will dazzle an audience of over 20,000 people with a special performance to honour the 50th year of the organization and the show at the Calgary Stampede. There are eight Young Canadians who call Okotoks home. Among this local talent is 11-year-old Evangeline Frostad, who is currently enjoying her first year in the program as a junior dancer. “I’m a bit nervous but mostly excited,” said Frostad. “I’ve never been in front of a super, super big crowd like this one, so it will be a new fun experience for me.” Frostad grew up watching her older sister dance as a Young Canadian, which caused her to develop her own passion for dance. “It’s a lot of fun, you’re always performing in a group with a lot of your friends,” she said. “We’ve had a lot of rehearsals…but I’m okay with it because I’m used to training like that.” Also familiar with a rigorous training schedule is Shelly Murray, a 14-year-old Intermediate dancer. This is Murray’s fifth year performing at the Stampede, an opportunity that she had to work for. Murray danced recreationally and competitively at two studios prior to joining the Young Canadians. “When I was younger, my mom always told me about the program, and we went to audition just to see what it was like… I was really nervous…I got cut after the flexibility portion,” she said. “But I worked so hard for my flexibility and I went back the next year.” After she was admitted, she didn’t want to leave because of the family she had made there, Murray said. “When I’m not at home, I’m usually at Young Canadians,” she said. “It’s not like your typical dance studio…you really bond with the people there and become unified as a company. So I think the reason I keep going back is because of the bonds I’ve made with everybody.” Murray is not the only Young Canadian who can’t seem to stop coming back. For the 50th show, the Young Canadians have enlisted the participation of several of their alumni to choreograph, host, perform, and participate in a virtual choir. The choir was created from videos of alumni singing portions of the song. “I didn’t know there were that many Young Canadians, you wouldn’t think there would have been so many people that have been through the program. It’s really cool to hear everyone’s different voices,” said Murray. Georgia Pugh, a 13-year-old Young Canadian singer, said many of the alumni came to watch the opening show. “I saw some I recognized, and they were cheering loudly,” she said. “It felt really great because the Young Canadians are so old and I get to be a part of the 50th anniversary.” The show began on July 6 and will occur every night until July 15 at around 10 p.m. Pugh said their first performances have gone very well, aside from a few minor blips. “I have this big costume, it’s a carousel. I had to go onstage, but I didn’t have enough time to actually tie it around my waist, so I never had it on. I was holding it up the whole time and I lifted my arms, because it’s part of the choreography, and it just fell to the ground,” she said. However, Pugh managed to not let that affect her performance. “If something bad happens, you just have to focus on your next number and stay positive,” she said. Pugh cannot wait for her remaining performances. “The last show is very exciting, but also very sad,” she said. “Last year I remember doing our finale and waving goodbye, and a whole bunch of people were crying because it was their last time as a Young Canadian.” Eighteen-year-old Okotokian Brooke Ashbaugh will be facing this difficult goodbye soon. Other locals involved in the performance are Jack Leathwaite, Hailey Murray, Isis MacDonald, and Sydney LeMaistre. To purchase tickets to this year’s iconic TransAlta Grandstand Show go to calgarystampede.com.
