On a gorgeous summer’s day, in the streets of Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island, you hear the voices of the 2018 Young Company singing outside, from the steps of the Confederation Centre of the Arts.
Aqsarniit, meaning Northern Lights in Inuktituk, was the name of the 2018 Young Company show. Through speech, song and dance, this widely diverse Canadian cast of 12 told tales of Canada’s history; the history of Canada’s First Nations peoples.They joined voices and sang of stories they’d hope to be told in the future.
The show included a traditional hoop dance, moving musical pieces from Canadian artists, and even personal stories from the cast about their individual lives and family history related to the show. With their powerful voices, the 2018 Young Company educated audiences in hopes that crucial parts of Canada’s history will never be forgotten.
Introduced in 1993 by the Confederation Centre of the Arts, the Young Company Program has become one of the most popular musical theatre training programs in Canada. From the hundreds that audition, a lucky few Canadian artists between the ages of 16 and 30 are selected to take on this incredible opportunity.
Not only do these remarkable students get to deliver a memorable show daily, they also receive intensive training, brought to them by renowned professionals from all across the country. This training enables each individual in the cast to develop themselves in the three main disciplines of musical theatre: voice, dance and performance.
With each new year comes another cast of growing Canadian artists. They each have their own tales to tell and their own distinct talents to bring to the table. This makes every Young Company show and cast unique and even more sensational than the years before.
Applications for the 2019 Young Company will open in the spring of 2019! Check out the Confederation Centre’s website for more information.