By Lizabeth Jenkins-Dale
Love, commitment, and appreciation. These three things feed each other in a never-ending cycle of artistic goodness. First, love of the arts is at the center of The Soo Theatre Project. It’s what motivates the commitment to offer stimulating classes with high quality instructors all year long. Then, Soo Theatre Project’s commitment is appreciated by parents and students year after year. This appreciation feeds the love of the arts, which feeds the commitment to bring more learning opportunities with nurturing teachers, which brings on more appreciation! So, love, commitment, and appreciation are permanently interlinked in a wonderful and eternal artistic vortex.
So, come join this delightful vortex! Here are some “dosages” of appreciation for you to enjoy:
“From our eight-year-old daughter and six-year-old son in piano lessons to our two-year-old in toddler dance class, our children have enjoyed and been enriched by the opportunity available to them at the Soo Theater Project. What a joy it is as parents to watch our children develop a love for the arts through the talented and caring instructors at Soo Theater Project.”
Thomas and Sarah Link
“My daughter Alyssa has been in STARS [The Soo Theatre Project’s education program] since it first started. To my family, STARS is Alyssa’s musical home. Everyone who we encounter at STARS, whether it is an instructor or worker, make us feel like a part of a family. Her instructors have facilitated and fostered not only her love for music, but also her talent in both playing and singing of music. She is always invited to participate in the many community events that STARS is involved with, and she is proud to be part of such an inspiring group.”
Symantha Morley
“The life lessons our children have learned from Soo Theatre Project are immeasurable. From music lessons and learning focus to theatre camp and learning public speaking with confidence and poise, I cannot think of the city of Sault Sainte Marie without thinking of Soo Theatre Project.”
Betsy and Shane Woolever
“Soo Theatre Project is what I like to call a triple threat organization. [Triple threat in theatre is considered a high praise!] It’s where you can learn to dance, sing, and act all in one place. For me and my family, it’s meant community. It’s a great way to bring together families of this small town in such a way where they can have fun, get exercise, and be entertained. I know my kids have very much enjoyed their classes, and I like that they can stretch their legs and get exercise for both body and mind.”
Kishe Wallace
And,
“Soo Theatre Project is a place where my kids get to experience music and dance. Being a Coast Guard family, we love the home-like feel of STP. They all remember me bringing my daughter in the baby carrier to my son’s piano lessons, and now she is taking classes there. My son’s piano teacher is so loving and kind. It will be really hard for us to leave her. As a mom, I love that STP is always looking for new ways to enrich my kids’ lives.
Chrissy Thompson
Got goose bumps yet?
Nothing could be more clear than what love, commitment, and appreciation can do for families, parents, students, and the Upper Eastern Peninsula community. The Soo Theatre Project provides not only art education, but “warm fuzzies” to families everywhere.
The Soo Theatre Project is filled each day with many loving families who bring their children for weekly lessons. And, at every moment there are lots of smiling faces, excited kids, and beaming parents, thus proving that appreciation comes in many forms.
A version of this article was originally published in the Soo Evening News on Sunday, Nov. 17, 2013.
