Oscar-award winning film “Happy Feet” was shown at the Buskirk-Chumley Theater on Friday, June 22, as part of the BCT’s “Dance Moves & Movies” summer film series. Emphasizing movement and dance, the BCT invites local dance organizations and instructors to come and teach a brief lesson to attendees about the type of moves they’ll see in each film.
Mary Sue Hosey, tap dance instructor from the Dance Center in Bloomington, taught a group of young movie-goers the shuffles and steps to “Happy Feet’s Boogie Wonderland,” a song and dance number sung by one of “Happy Feet’s” main female characters, Gloria.
Hosey, who has owned her dance studio since 1970, said she has been having recitals at the BCT for over 15 years, and the theater asked her to do a small lesson before the showing of “Happy Feet.”
Many children danced at the front of the stage with Hosey, who taught them moves like the shuffle ball change or, as Hosey called it as she was instructing, “the rocking horse shuffle.” The dance move brushes one foot forward and back, and then switches sides to the other leg, to repeat the same steps.
At the conclusion of Hosey’s instructions, several of her students came out onto the stage and performed a practiced choreographed version of “Boogie Wonderland,” a dance number Hosey said they learned in just three lessons.
“It was so much fun," Hosey said. "I teach children starting at age four, and go four through high school, so I work with little guys all the time."
"Happy Feet" was named one of the top 10 films of 2006 by the American Film Institute Awards, according to their website, and was voiced by Elijah Wood, Hugh Jackman, Nicole Kidman, Robin Williams and Brittany Murphy.
According to visitbloomington.com, lessons for the subsequent dance themed films are being taught by Arthur Murray Dance Studios, Ritmos Latinos instructors and the 40vers Hip Hop Group. Participants will have the chance to learn many different types of dances, including the fox-trot, mambo and the Cuban salsa, as well as some hip-hop demos.
“Its a chance to have a free low-barrier, low-pressure dance class, and kind of connect with some people who could help and who are actually teaching those type of classes,” Anne Stichter, the events manager at the BCT, said. “People get to see how those type of classes work.”
After this evening’s showing of “Happy Feet,” the BCT will be showing “Dirty Dancing” on June 29, “Step-up” on July 30 and conclude with a showing of “Top Hat” on August 3.
Tickets are $5 and can be purchased online or in the BCT’s box office.
