Peavine dancer sets sights on a promising career

Chris Clegg
South Peace News

Ever since she was a little girl, Janis Cunningham loved to perform. She would dress in costumes and dance all around the home, shortly after she was able to walk. It appears all that practice and natural ability is paying off as she continues to pursue a career in dance. Recent medals she has won and the accompanying scholarships are giving her the chance to pursue her dream. “This summer I’m going to Toronto,” says Cunningham, 16. The George Brown University has an excellent dance program she hopes to enrol in. It’s all part of a larger plan while pursuing her dance career. “So once I’m 18 I’d like to go to the States. . .I want to perform.” Janis, 16, is the daughter of Don and Susan Cunningham of Peavine. She graduated from Grade 12 at E.W. Pratt High School this year. Cunningham has danced off and on with the High Prairie Repertoire Dance Society since she was nine years old. One of those years was last year when she danced with the Edmonton School of Ballet. Cunningham recently competed at Dance Power in Edmonton March 16-18. The event featured all the top dancers in Alberta where they compete for honour, prestige and scholarships. Cunningham competed in Division 3 - the highest level - in which each dancer has six years or more of training. Cunningham placed third overall and has now qualified for the Western Canadian finals July 2-6 in Kelowna, B.C. Cunningham knows the competition will be tough as aspiring dancers from North Vancouver, Edmonton, Surrey, Lethbridge, Maple Ridge, Saskatoon, Burnaby, Calgary and Abbotsford will be attending - all with the same goal in mind. Cunningham has three dances she specializes in including a lyrical solo called ‘Loving You’, a jazz solo called ‘She Wants to Move’ and a modern solo called ‘Rain’. Cunningham’s favourite is her lyrical solo, which she won a gold medal at the Festival of Stars in Westlock. She also danced with Repertoire’s ballet group and won Most Outstanding. Cunningham continued to excel after the Festival of Stars as she attended the Evergreen Dance Festival in Sherwood Park May 2-6. She won both High Gold and Most Outstanding in her jazz and lyrical solos. Any gold medal won earned her the right to attend the Kelowna Festival July 12-15. The scholarship she won at Evergreen earned her the right to attend the Rocky Mountain Dance Project in Jasper where she will continue to receive extra training. What perhaps makes Cunningham’s feats even more special is she choreographs all her own dances. “Most (dancers) get teachers to do their choreographing,” says Cunningham. She also choreographs dances for Repertoire. Cunningham’s ability does come naturally. Her parents are both musically inclined and their home is always filled with the sounds of music. “It’s around home all the time,” says Don. “You live with it and all the kids pick up on it.” But he adds it’s always been up to each child where they want to take their music or dance careers. “You can’t force a child to learn,” he says. “She has to show interest.” At first, Janis performed purely for enjoyment. However, as Janis’s talent began to show so did her commitment. “I just started to get serious with it the last three years,” she says. The realization that she could possibly pursue a career in dance and singing came from watching other dancers and singers perform. “. . .seeing the older dancers and kind of wanting to do just as well,” says Cunningham. “You want to go and have fun but you want to win.” Currently, Janis still has the burning desire to perform rather than teach. “I love to teach but performing is what I love to do,” she says. “I don’t want to do anything else.” A Grande Prairie Regional College teacher - the same one who trained Emerson Drive - wants to train Janis for singing. “He says she had a good future in singing,” says Don. Last year, Janis placed third in the Peace Country Idol contest. With a busy summer fast approaching, it’s time to raise money for the trips and continue to practice. The trips to Jasper, Kelowna and Toronto don’t come cheap as she continues to pursue her dream. If anyone wants to help, they can contact Don Cunningham at 523-2799.

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