Independent & Free Press, Wednesday, May 16, 2007 3 Local dancer to get her kicks this summer with Radio City Rockettes LISA TALLYN Staff Writer A young local dancer will be kicking up her heels with the famous Radio City Rockettes in New York City this summer. Genevieve Hooker, 18, of Georgetown has been accepted into the Rockette Summer Intensive program. The program, now in its sixth year, offers aspiring professional dancers the opportunity to train with the Rockettes and their director/choreographer, and learn the troupe's precision dance technique. Young dancers will spend a week at Radio City Music Hall in the studios where the Rockettes have rehearsed since 1933. Classes on such topics as theatre dance, jazz, tap, kick line, formations, performance and audition technique will be offered daily from 9:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Group education seminars will be held in the evening. Some former Rockette Summer Intensive students have gone on to become Radio City Rockettes. "I am really excited," said Hooker. "I'm looking forward to it. They're going to give us the opportunity to learn some of their routines." She said the Rockettes are well known for their precision technique and the participants will be learning how to work as a team and dance in unison. Hooker will be attending the program for a week in July. She said she had never really thought much about the Rockettes until she took in their Christmas show-- Radio City Christmas Spectacular-- in Toronto last winter. Her mother spotted information contained in the show's program about the summer opportunity with the dance troupe. Hooker had to try out in Toronto for a spot in the program during her Christmas break from Sainte-Famille Secondary School in Mississauga where she is in Grade 12. She performed a jazz routine, and one of the Rockette's famous kick line and tap routines. She learned in March she was one of 200 young dancers from across North America accepted into the program. The cost for her is approximately $900 U.S. Hooker has been dancing since she was four years old, and currently dances at Centre Stage School of the Arts in Georgetown. "I'm there four nights a week," said Hooker who over the years has studied ballet, tap, jazz, acrobatics, lyrical and modern dance. Tap is her favourite. She hopes to be a professional dancer and has applied to Ryerson University's dance program. Home and Leisure Show 2007 Local artist Bob Law spent time at the 2007 Halton Hills Home & Leisure Show producing one of his pen and ink drawings at the Art Effects booth. The show, held at the Mold-Masters SportsPlex Friday and Saturday showcased more than 80 local businesses and was headlined by HGTV's master contractor Jim Caruk. Photo by Ted Brown Danna Barak, Patrice Pollack, Martin Dillon, Morgan Evans and Kevin Wise were on hand from Bell Canada Saturday to man their booth. Bell and Johnson Associates Halton Ltd. were the main sponsors of the Home & Leisure show. Photo by Sabrina Byrnes Hee Haws members Nicole Gosse (left) and Nettie Field belted out oldies at the show entertaining the crowd with songs from the 50s and 60s. The Hee Haws are an Acton-based group. Photo by Ted Brown Genevieve Hooker, 18, of Georgetown has been accepted into the Rockette Summer Intensive program. She learned in March she was one of 200 young dancers from across North America accepted into the program. Photo by Ted Brown ASK ABOUT OUR SUMMER PROGRAMS For every age, for every need, Oxford Learning has a program to help your child succeed! Pre-K to Grade 12 Better Grades Confidence & Motivation Enrichment Programs Diagnostic Assessments Individualized Programs Regular Parent Reports Homework Support Reader's Choice WINNER for 5 Years! Thank you for voting Oxford Learning as your favourite Learning Centre in Georgetown and Acton. We are pleased to see you enjoy our work as much as we do! Georgetown 905-877-3163 Halton Gate Plaza 324 Guelph St. Unit 11 www.oxfordlearning.com