By Amy Salvagno
C & G Staff Writer

GROSSE POINTE WOODS — In one of the last weeks of summer, you’ll find them encouraging each other and pushing themselves through box steps and swaying arms, harmonies and twirling feet. From the early hours of practice that stretch almost to sunset, they sweat, spin, sing and smile through aching muscles and tired toes.

And because they give it their all, they create a performance that wows an audience from their seats.

Each August, more than 150 middle and high school students from schools throughout the community — and even those nearby — gather at Grosse Pointe Community Performing Arts Center for a six-day show choir workshop that culminates in a finale concert. Sponsored by the Grosse Pointe South Choir Boosters, the weeklong workshop,  “That’s Entertainment,” aims at providing the young singers and performers with lessons in hard work, personal and artistic growth, camaraderie and focus.

The opportunity — held Aug. 18-23 — was started some 16 years ago by South High School choir teacher Ellen Bowen, who says there are four main advantages to attending: South’s top group, Pointe Singers, practices together a few hours each day, getting the chance to bond and work as a group; freshmen become acclimated to the high school, so they don’t feel uncomfortable their first day; specifically, South students come into Bowen’s classroom Sept. 3 “ready to sing”; and many of the songs appear again at South’s first concert, Fall Follies.

“We’re training kids to not only entertain, but be able to speak publicly, to have good posture, and we’re building their self-esteem,” Bowen said last Friday, in between breaks as students rehearsed for Saturday’s two performances. “There are some that didn’t think they had a lot of talent who ended up with solos.”

There were 10 solos featured, including those sprinkled among the group numbers.

Bowen selects the 15 songs, while choreographers Andy Haines — he’s worked with the district since 1988 — and Annette Layman, a Durham, N.C., resident, prepare the fun, fast movements. The workshop also featured two vocal clinicians: Duane Davis, director of vocal music at Grand Rapids Community College, and April Tini, vocal music director at Orchard Lake Middle School in West Bloomfield.

“It’s a wonderful opportunity to perform in a fun atmosphere at a very high level and with high expectations,” Tini said. “It helps in their overall education.”

“It’s kind of exciting to see how much will be accomplished in one week. It’s great preparation for the coming school year,” added Davis. “You’re seeing skills they achieve that they didn’t start with at the beginning.”

The high school group together learned five songs and accompanying choreography, including “Transylvania Mania,” “Unwritten” and “Great God A’Mighty,” while the high school men, high school women and the Pointe Singers each performed a piece. Vocal jazz students sang three times; middle schoolers performed six pieces, including “Pure Imagination” and “Born to Hand Jive.”

Maggie Bickerstaff, an eighth-grader at St. Paul School in Grosse Pointe Farms and self-proclaimed performer, says she enjoys learning new songs and dances.

“It really expands your knowledge of music,” she said. “It’s amazing how they teach you so much and you learn it all.”

“It prepares you during the week. You don’t do much during the summer. It’s such an important experience,” said Emily Satterfield, an eighth-grader at Pierce Middle School.

Added fellow classmate Juliet Harvey, who will attend South next year, “It prepares you, especially for South with Andy and Ellen. They are definitely more strict than our other teachers.”   

Bowen says the week is enjoyable for her, as well, as she can get to know the students and teach in a more casual atmosphere.

“It’s worth it to the students because they accomplish something in a week that they didn’t think they could,” she said. “It’s interesting to see who develops leadership skills.”

The workshop not only attracts students from schools within the Pointes, but even those from far away. Ross Dixon, a sophomore from Chicago, stayed with his cousin and fellow workshop attendee, Harvey.

“She thought it would be a good experience. She knew I could sing and dance,” said Dixon, who is not involved in a choir at his school in the Windy City. “It’s definitely hard at first. Everyone else has been doing this a long time. But, it’s still fun.”

South senior Lisa Martin, a member of Pointe Singers, has watched old videos from when she was in middle school choir and remembers admiring the then-high school performers.

Now, she says, “It’s crazy to be in the position that you’re looked up to.”

She’s says the workshop is a way to “get into the swing of things.”

“You’ll have that dedication and focus back.”

You can reach Staff Writer Amy Salvagno at asalvagno@candgnews.com or at  (586) 498-1037.