Performing arts students from CedarBridge Academy will be taking centre stage this weekend for a series of entertainment showcases.

Tomorrow night, students in the school’s GCSE Dance programme are looking to showcase their moves at an exciting live event called ‘To Live is to Dance’ at Ruth Seaton James Auditorium.

As part of their grade, dance students have been tasked with creating their own choreography and must participate in both solo and group performances.

They will be dancing to a modern piece by Rosas Danst Rosas and a work by Belgium choreographer Anne Teresa De Keersmaeker.

According to a spokeswoman for the school, students began with the same three movements motifs and then had to develop them to create their own movement phrases.

They worked under the direction and facilitation of the school’s dance instructor Wanda Maxwell.

Ms Maxwell said: “The students choose the title ‘To Live is to Dance’ because to them, dancing is stress release and dancing provides therapeutic escape into movement allowing them to freely create an expression.”

She said students prepared by looking at a professional dance company’s piece.

From there they were asked to create a dance while keeping some aspect of the professional troupe’s original work.

The young people were also allowed to use props, a motif and things of their own creation.

Tickets for the dance concert are $15 for general admission and $30 for patrons.

People can get tickets by calling the ticket office at 704-5959 or CedarBridge Academy at 296-5665 ext 2112. The show starts at 7pm.

People are also encouraged to come out on Saturday night to see students perform their take on the first black Broadway play: A Raisin in The Sun (an abridged version).

Those in attendance can also enjoy the school’s first galleried show in the lobby of Ruth Seaton — including the photographic and media works created by students of excellence in Media Arts.

The performance will feature instrumental music selections by students of excellence in Music; while dance presentations will be performed by students of excellence in GCSE Dance.

Saturday’s event is an adjudicated showcase, where students will receive feedback on their work.

It’s free for the public, but those who wish to attend should e-mail patricia.nesbitt@gmail.com to reserve their space.