AMPUS NEWS _ wroensussanvoy

THE DAILY VOICE, FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 29, 2018 3

alive

Despite a low likelihood of
lucrative future, Langara
thespians still love to act

By TAMMY ENGLISH

rash of media reports suggest
Passer are dropping the ball on
their financial futures.

Near the bottom of the list of lucra-
tive degrees are drama, theatre and
performing arts. So who, in the face of
all this, studies theatre?

The practical optimist: Sean Sonier,
a second year Studio 58 acting student,
came to Langara to add intensive pro-
fessional training to his theatre degree
from the University of Ottawa, where
his interest became a passion.

He says actors — particularly stu-
dents - often hear it’s a lot of work
without any payoff.

“But in the end, it doesn’t matter be-
cause it all comes down to doing what
we love,” he said.

“T could have gone into accounting
or business... but for me, anyway, that
isn’t as fulfilling as if I was on stage.”
And at this point, he’s comfortable that
“the money will come.”

The pragmatist: Stephanie Elgers-
ma, who graduated Studiod 8 in 2011,
believes “theatre finds you.” As a kid
she did it for fun, then tried out for
shows in high school.

The next thing she knew, her expect-
ed run-of-the-mill English degree had
morphed into a BA in theatre and she
was deep in the midst of conservatory
training at Studio 58.

These days, Elgersma makes a con-
sistent income working a day job at a
chocolate boutique, with supportive
bosses who allow her to take auditions
and fit rehearsals into the job.

Creatively, she’s making her own
work, adding stage manager, set paint-
er and, come spring, producer to her
resume.

While her career is starting out
somewhat differently than expected, “I
still feel [’'d rather] spend my days
penniless and happy than not doing
what I love.”

The realist: Raised by parents in the
arts, Kazz Leskard’s eyes were wide
open from the start. “It was always a
given... that I would probably go into
theatre or acting.”

But he still took five years after high
school to work and travel to see if there
was anything else in the world he felt
like doing.

The answer was no, “The only thing
I would do differently is maybe go [to
theatre school] a year sooner.”

Nearly two years after graduating
Studio 58, Leskard supplements acting
with work as a professional cook but
has no plans to shift careers.

“People work in the industry for
years and then one amazing part
comes along and they start getting all
this exposure they never had before,”
he said.

“It’s definitely the long game. And
right now I don’t really have any
qualms about playing it.”

ELISHEBA HAQQ-STEVENS photo

The combination of Latin-inspired music and dancing has made Zumba dancing a hit around the world

Zumba class comes to campus

Langara offers students a new way to get in shape

By JENNY PENG

the work part of your fitness rou-

tine, but Zumba classes are spin-
ning onto campus for two more classes
on Nov. 30 and Dec.14.

Zumba is a dance-based exercise
program where an instructor leads the
class with high-energy Latin and inter-
national beats. Two classes held by in-
structor Hercy Castillo will be held on
campus for $12 each session.

“You don’t realize that you’re exer-
cising. You get a lot of stress release
from that because you’re dancing and
you're smiling and you’re sweating,”
said Castillo.

“You can be depressed and you can

N: many workouts let you forget

be moody and when you’re finished
dancing, you’re like ‘oh my god, I hada
great time.”

Langara criminal justice student
Roby Panghulan has heard about Zum-
ba from her friends, but prefers the
alone time she gets in a conventional
workout. But she and other students
agree that Zumba’s fun-appeal is entic-
ing.

Kinesiology student Denise Busay-
ong said if she had a choice between
yoga or Zumba she would pick Zumba
after her primary sports of basketball
and running.

Nevertheless, she said Zumba gives
the perception that it’s for people, “that
don’t exercise too much.”

The Zumba fitness empire is touted

as the “largest branded fitness pro-
gram in the world,” according to an
online article published by Reuters in
2012.

Zumba was born in Miami in 1999 by
a Colombian-born street performer
named Alberto Perez who used to
teach the wives of businessmen how to
groove to nightclub tunes.

Since 2012, nearly 12 million people
take classes every week in at least 125
countries,according to a Reuters arti-
cle.

The CEO of Zumba, Alberto Perl-
man recalls how joyful his mother ap-
peared after taking one of Perez’s class
that had over 100 students. After meet-
ing Perez, he “felt a lot of heart, and a
lot of passion,” from the instructor.

You get

a lot of
stress re-
lease from
[Zumba]
because
you’re
dancing
and smil-
ing and

sweating
Hercy Castillo

Santa Claus brings festive spirit to Langara

By KRISTEN HARPULA

GPAs, or groceries, but college stu-
dents lined up in droves Thursday
afternoon to sit on Santa’s lap.

The United Way wrapped up its
week-long craft fair on campus Thurs-
day and for the first time ever, they
brought Santa in to take photos with
students, with all donations going to
charity.

“Tt was our student volunteers that
actually came up with the idea,” said

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Joanne Rajotte, co-chair of United Way.

Santa, who was also a volunteer, had
a busy start with nearly 50 photos tak-
en with individuals and groups within
the first two hours.

The general consensus from stu-
dents was that you’re never too old to
take pictures with jolly ol St. Nick.

Recreation leadership students
Brynna Symons and Tessa Conanan
were all smiles as they got ready to
take their photo.

“T didn’t realize he was going to be
here, so when I saw him, I was so excit-

KRISTEN HARPULA photo
Recreational students Brynna Symons, left, and Tessa Conanan, right, pose for a picture with Kris Kringle

Appearance of the bearded gift-giver is part of the United Way’s week of charity work

ed,” said Symons. “We both have an in-
ner child, so we’ll never be too old for
Santa.”

Students excitedly waited their turn
to tell Santa their Christmas wish.
However, student Angel Benitez didn’t
think Santa could fulfill hers.

“Tf Il could, I would wish for a ticket to
the Philippines. I miss the kids from the
centre I volunteered at,” said Benitez.

While Santa may not be able to
grant every Christmas wish, he did
provide a lot of cheer on campus and
helped support a good cause.

66

We both
have an in-
ner child,
so we'll
never be
too old for
Santa

Brynna Symons
and Tessa
Conanan