By Aaron Mahoney (@Mahones93 on Twitter) with files from Lara Fominoff (@LaraFominoff on Twitter)

Dance students at LCI get experience of a lifetime with world–renowned dance instructor

Feb 19, 2018 | 9:35 AM

LETHBRIDGE – The Arts Academy dance program at Lethbridge Collegiate Institute has commissioned Allen Kaeja, from Kaeja d’Dance, to help choreograph a piece with students for their upcoming dance show in May.

Students in the program had a chance to learn from the world-renowned dance instructor on Friday, Feb. 1, thanks to program instructor Geordan Olson bringing Kaeja in.

Olson was a student of Kaeja’s at Ryerson University in 2002 when Kaeja was an instructor and helped commission him to work with a youth company she had.

He also choreographed a dance for the company Olson danced for in Toronto.

After Olson began teaching the dance program at LCI, she reached out to Kaeja about coming to Lethbridge to teach a class.

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She says it was incredible to have him in town and working with the students.

“I know him from my time in Toronto, and he’s one of my greatest dance mentors. To have him working with my students is an absolute joy because I know what a special and talented man he is,” Olson said.

For Kaeja’s part, he says he was honoured to have the opportunity to work with the students at LCI.

“It’s really beautiful working with these kids as they have such a beautiful range of how much experience they have,” Kaeja continued. “And yet, as an ensemble, they have come together and have found their flight and their breath together.”

Kaeja d’Dance is a Toronto-based dance company founded in 1991 by Kaeja, and his wife Karen, who serve as co-artistic directors.

The company produces contemporary dance for stage and film while operating one of the most successful dance education programs in the city, reaching more than 4000 students a year.

Olson called the opportunity for students to learn from Kaeja in Lethbridge unique.

“Allen brings 30 years of dance expertise, and he’s bringing incredible choreography and skills that the kids have learned,”Olson said, adding Kaeja is so positive and kind that the kids have really had a wonderful time.

LCI’s dance show is set for May 15-16 at CASA in the community room.

This is the inaugural year of the LCI dance academy program, and the LCI Arts Academy in general, and the show will help culminate this first year.

A release from the school states the show will include an incredible line-up of guest choreographers, the most well-known being Kaeja, as well as an incredible cast of dancers.