The Borden Dance Club held their 10th club recital in the Borden Community Centre May 3, with Lynette Schmidt as MC. Lynette welcomed dancers, parents and grandparents from Borden, Radisson, Langham and Hafford, along with other guests filling the hall to capacity. She told of some of the medals and awards the teachers and dancers had received at the Biggar and Aberdeen competitions held in April.
Performing solos were: Nikita Pascoe, musical theatre, winning gold at both competitions and first place in the Aberdeen Dance-off; Savannah Sutherland, jazz, silver at both; Kyra Brown, character ballet, silver at both; Sydney Schmidt, jazz, bronze at both; and Asia Schmolke, tap, bronze at both. Julia Siebert danced a demi-character ballet, winning two silver medals and most promising ballet at Biggar. Guest artist Jasmine Bezugly had a jazz and a lyrical solo and the instructor, Miss Amy Briggs, had a jazz and a tap solo.
Dancing duets were Emma and Sarah Prescesky, a demi-character ballet, and Savannah Sutherland and Ovidio O'Toole, hip hop, winning silver at Biggar and bronze at Aberdeen.
The tiny tots, dancing to Octopus Garden, were Alexis Derbowka, Abigail Braun, Alia Dogniez, Jasmine Fortier, Kailee Rowatt, Kenzie Bornhuse, Kyler Parker, Kyra Cheney, Lyla Rempel, Piper Hawrysh and Zoe Walker.
In beginner ballet, winning a bronze and dancing to The Gingerbread Man, were Jade Murray, Taya Chappell, Talon Cheney, Jasmine Elgersma, Brielle Giesbrecht, Julia Hebig, Alexandra Orchard, Grace Siebert and Darbi Werezak. The same dancers were in beginner tap, also winning a bronze.
Ballet 1, Music Box dancers, were Kyra Brown, Julia Siebert and Asia Schmolke, winning two bronze medals. Ballet 2 won two bronze and danced to The Cottage - Rachel Sutherland, Leanne Quiring, Savannah Sutherland, Natalie Anderson and Danika Pidwerbesky. In Ballet 3, with one bronze, were Emma Pidwerbesky and Emma and Sara Prescesky.
Tap 1 dancers, with two silver, dancing to Ain't She Sweet, were Sydney Schmidt, Cheyanne Roth, Hannah Eckert, Kyra Brown, Ava Giesbrecht, Nicole Nemanishen, Asia Schmolke, Julia Siebert and Katelyn Worona. In Tap 2/3, winning one silver and one bronze, dancing to I Wish, were Abigail Roth, Danika and Emma Pidwerbesky, Savannah and Rachel Sutherland, Natalie Anderson, Emma and Sara Prescesky and Nikita Pascoe.
Jazz 1, with two silver and dancing to Boot Scootn' Baby, were Hanna Eckert, Ava Giesbrecht, Chyanne Roth, Sydney Schmidt and Asia Schmolke. Jazz 2 won two silver and most promising jazz group award at Biggar. Dancing to River Deep were Natalie Anderson, Breanna Gryzbbowski, Abigail Roth, Danika Pidweresky, Leanne Quiring, Rachel and Savannah Sutherland and Kirsten Szwydky.
Jazz 3 won one silver and a most promising jazz group award. The group consisted of Emma Pidwerbesky, Emma and Sara Prescesky and Nikita Pascoe.
Doing musical theatre to The Gospel Truth, with one silver, were Sara, Rachel, Savannah, Nikita and Emma Pidwerbesky. This is Me, a lyrical piece winning a silver and a bronze, was performed by Danika and Emma P., Sara and Emma P., Natalie, Leanne and Rachel.
Hip Hop 1, with two bronze and dancing to Graffiti, were Amber Kasahoff, Matthais Boucher, Katelyn Worona, Savannah Sutherland, Brooke Faith, Nicole Nemanishen and Ovidio O'Toole. Hip Hop 2 won two silver; dancing to Stepz were Natalie, Breanne , Danika, Leanne, Rachel and Kirsten. The Hip Hop 3 dancers, with two silver, were Emma and Sara P., Emma Pidweresky, Jahnessa Basaraba, Mackenzie Piprell and Nikita and Kristie Hembery.
Everyone then came on the stage for the finale and presentations of bouquets of flowers and gifts to guest dancer Jasmine Bezugly and instructors Amy Briggs and Kaylea Lynd. All of the dancers received a red rose.
Lynette thanked the many volunteers; the community, village and seniors' club for their support of rentals, fundraisers and the recitals; those who did costume alterations, decorating and lunch; and the Borden Co-op and Affinity Credit Union for donations. Everyone went over to the Friendship Club room for lunch and refreshments.
The Borden Friendship Club held their monthly potluck supper and birthdays April 30 with 35 members and six guests present to enjoy a bountiful meal together. Blowing out the candles on the decorated cakes, baked by Dianne Rawlyk, were Ann Brand, Anna Elliot, Ed Neufeld, Mary Thiessen and guest Carol Deagnon. Lorraine Olinyk brought the ice cream.
Entertainment for the evening was Mel and his Friends. The group included Mel Deagnon of Maymont playing guitar and doing vocals, Tom Caldwell of Maymont playing harmonica, Ray Sieb on drums and Warren Wakelin playing mandolin. Ray and Warren came from North Battleford. The group played a variety of music for over an hour, with quite a number of instrumentals that had some up dancing. Eileen Petrun joined with Mel for one vocal selection.
Condolences to Aaron, Vanessa and Casey Wensley of Borden on the death of Aaron's Mom, Barb Levesque, and to Barb's sister Carol Crabb and her boys. Barb passed away at the age of 58 years April 29. Her memorial service was May 6 in the Borden United Church with Gayle Wensley officiating, and lunch at the seniors' centre, served by the United Church.
Riverbend Fellowship Church hosted a potluck supper and concert May 4 in the Borden Community Centre. Feature artist was gospel singer and songwriter Aven Grace, who lives in Nipawin and is doing a short tour at the present time. Her mom, Pat Whitbread, and brother Martin (Janice) Whitbread are residents of Borden and operate Living Books.
Aven was born and grew up in Taloyoak, Nunuvut, where her mom and dad were missionaries. She can speak and sing in three other languages besides English - Inukitut, Cree and Spanish. She plays both guitar and mandolin, has a beautiful singing voice and is a champion whistler.
She entertained for an hour and a half with songs she has written, with a story behind every piece. She sang Jesus Loves Me in the four languages, a tribute to her dad called Love Still Stands, and many others such as Granny's Garden, We Do Not Lose Heart, I Met Jesus in a Paperback and God Amazes Me. Playing the mandolin she strolled among the audience, singing and whistling In the Garden, then closed with everyone joining in for Great is Thy Faithfulness.
The potted violets on each table were given to the youngest at each table and to Aven. She has won at the Country Gospel Music Association Awards, been Bilingual Singer of the Year and won for her whistling and songwriting. She has toured Canada and the United States and has eight CD albums and cassettes for sale. You can learn more about her on her website, avengrace.com, or visit her on Facebook.(photo)