Dance recital to go out in style

The “Fairy Tales and Folklores” theme will include dances based on the classic tales of Dance recitals to go out in style“Mary Had A Little Lamb,” “Alice In Wonderland,” “Mulan,” “Babes In Toyland,” “Peter Pan,” “Anastasia” and “Cinderella,” — all to classical ballet, jazz, tap, modern and even hip hop dance.

The show begins at 7 p.m. in the Backus Auditorium. Admission is $7, and children age 3 and under, get in free.

Each fall the girls begin a new year of classes and play a large role in creating the spring concert theme and choreography. Girls as young as age 4 take part and the graduating seniors choreograph their own solo, duet and ensemble dances.

The senior dancers have a solo performance and a tradition of a dance with their fathers. There are 12 graduating girls in the show, and Wagner said she regrets that the other girls will not have their solo dance.

After the 32 dances are performed Friday, Wagner will ask all of her current and former students up on stage to take a curtain call together.

It will be a “tear jerker,” as Wagner put it, to see her school come full circle. She is now teaching the children of her original students from a quarter century ago.

“This is a tribute to them — not only to me,” said Wagner. “It has been a good part of my life.”

“Probably the most rewarding thing for me is to see so much respect and love for dance, and for the parents to have their children dance for me — that in itself is really special,” she added.

Wagner survived breast cancer, but it was almost four years to the day last November that she was diagnosed with incurable bone cancer. She turned 55 on March 24, and reports that her chemotherapy and bone strengthening therapy are going very well. Her goal right now is to remain strong and continue to live and enjoy her six grandchildren.

“Bone cancer is not curable but it is treatable,” she said. “With a good mind, support and love and prayers, I hope to be around a little longer.”

Through it all, Wagner remains a role model. She practices good nutrition, exercises regularly, and doesn’t smoke or drink. She said that her dancing and yoga keep her calm, and that her family, friends and students make all the difference.

“It is a scary situation,” said Wagner. “That is a lot to throw on someone’s plate.”

The disease has forced Wagner to resign herself to administrative work at this point and she has delegated dance instruction to assistants.

Janie Wright, who teaches modern, hip hop and jazz classes, took over Wagner’s ballet classes when she became ill. A former student, Amber Black, took over with two other groups.

It was a difficult separation after working closely with the girls for over 12 formative years. She said this has created a bond that is as close to her as her own children.

Dorothy Johnson and Amanda Keeney, two high school seniors, have grown up together in the dance class since age 4. They credit the school and recitals with instilling responsibility, and they appreciate Wagner’s willingness to let them do their own choreography.

Although the last show is sure to be an emotional experience for the dancers and the audience, the two said it will be a celebration and not a sad farewell. They said that even when Wagner was ill she put her students first and is an inspiration.

“Janet is like a second mom to me,” said Johnson. “She takes care of us and would do anything for us. She loves us all so much.”

To show their love, the students are opening the show with a modern ensemble piece to an uplifting song. Wagner ordered the costumes and has a support staff that includes D.J. Dan Olson on sound and music. She also enlisted Johnny Sloan to create the backdrop complete with a castle and dancer.

“He’s a very good artist,” said Wagner.

She was born and raised in the Falls. Wagner started dance lessons at age 7 with Mr. Wally Pratt, in the basement of the old Frederic Hotel. She recalls its rickety stairs, and a nice wooden floor with a dancers barre on the wall.

Pratt moved on when Wagner was about 10, and she continued lessons with Miss Kingsbury in Fort Frances. Wagner would earn a scholarship to train with the prestigious Royal Winnipeg School of Ballet for two weeks when she was 12.

When Kingsbury left, Wagner said she stopped taking lessons. She completed high school and worked for many years as an assistant for Falls dentist, Steven Takaichi. She married Darrell “Boxer” Wagner and they raised two daughters together, Dana and Shawna.

Wagner never lost her love for dance and she took classes to begin teaching lessons for Marcel Schaefer. She would also teach aerobics and yoga but considers dance her passion.

“My focus is the ballet,” said Wagner. “I love the dance and I love the art. I love what it does for poise and confidence.”

Wagner started teaching on her own in 1983 in the Len Shannon building. She moved to the Falls Public Library community room, and then to the Backus Community Center.

She put together the spring program for her very first class. Recitals were held at the Rainy River Community College Theater until class sizes grew and then moved to the Backus Auditorium.

Wagner said some girls have gone on to study dance professionally. She is most proud that many of the girls continue to dance even if it is not their profession.

Dancing helps keep them centered, according to Wagner. It is a combination of relaxation and confidence that helps develop a sense of self worth. The joy comes from expressing themselves with a love of dance that is not always about performing — but of portraying an inner self through dance and music.

She said that some girls have a natural ability or instinct for communicating dance. Other students display excellent coordination and balance and approach dance as an athlete, with an intense focus on perfecting the execution of movement.

Wagner recalls that over the years there have been a handful of dancers who command both the technical and artistic ability, captivating the audience with every moment of their performance.

“The youngest kids can just stand there and can capture hearts immediately,” she added.

Her daughter Dana studied dance with nutrition in college and went on to earn a doctorate in education, and teaches at Augsburg College. Her daughter Shawna became a registered nurse but continued dancing in college in an annual program.

Wagner emphasized that young dancers should first practice ballet as a foundation for self-expression and conditioning that will help them in whatever style they want to do later.

She said that dance helps her students grow and that it is important for schools to support arts, music and dance programs. She has had coaches refer athletes to learn ballet fundamentals to improve their performance in a sport. There are some high school boys taking part in a modern dance during the show opener.