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Professional drama instructor Kim Cheel teaches kids to be themselves, along with theatre skills. She will once again be teaching youth performance classes at the Bert Church Theatre.

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Performing arts classes offer theatre experience

Performing Arts classes for kids are set to start up at the Bert Church Theatre on Sept. 7.

The classes, which are open to kids ages seven to 16, will teach voice projection, stage blocking, improvisation and self-confidence.

“We have a professional stage, we have professional instruction,” said Jennifer Cormier, publicist for the Bert Church Theatre. “(Participants) get to have the fun of performing the final show.”

Classes, which will run every Monday for kids ages seven to 10 and every Tuesday for kids ages 11 to 16 until Nov. 27, will be taught be Kim Cheel.

Cheel, who taught last year and is also the artistic director for the Nose Creek Players, is originally from Ontario. She moved to Calgary in 2007 to study drama at Rocky Mountain College after touring in a play across Ontario.

Cheel recently completed her bachelor of arts in drama and said she has been focusing on writing and drama for the past three years.

Cheel’s love of the theatre came early. She grew up in small town in Ontario, which she describes as not having a lot to do.

When asked about when she knew she was an actor, Cheel said, “I feel like I was doing it in the womb. I grew up in a small town and let my imagination be my friend.”

Cheel is also a writer, and has a short story published on Amazon called “Marked.” She has also written 12 five-minute plays loosely based on her life.

Cheel also loves teaching and was amazed at how well her Airdrie students did last year.

“Their possibilities are endless,” she said of her students. “They have stamina and they have more discipline than a lot of adult actors sometimes. They blew me away.”

Cheel is once again planning on writing plays for participants of the performing arts classes customized to their level and interests.

She said that although the scripts are not yet complete, the group will explore the idea of pageantry this fall.

Cheel encourages interested youth to come out and try their hand at acting.

“Everyone is in the same boat and there is a point where you do have to take that leap, but we have a really soft mat,” she said. “I would like to encourage kids that they can do whatever they want.”

Cheel also encourages residents interested in theatre to come out to several shows, performed by the Nose Creek Players, in September.

The first show, “Queen of Bingo”, will be performed at the Goldenrod Community Hall on Sept. 22. On Sept. 29, the group will perform three original works, including one written by Cheel, at the Bert Church Live Theatre.

As part of ARTember, the Nose Creek Players will also be giving a free theatre workshop at the Rotary Room at Genesis Place from 1 to 4 p.m., Sept. 15. The kids, ages seven to 12, will write and perform a short play that evening at the Cooper’s Twilight Carnival later that evening. To register, visit kcheel@gmail.com

For more information about the Bert Church Theatre’s performing arts classes, which cost $190 per person, visit thebertchurchtheatre.com

To register, email Eric Temple at eric.temple@airdrie.ca or by phone at 403-948-8824.