Spotlight School of Arts opens permanent Charlottetown location

A performing arts schoolwill be helping students learnacting and dancing and more on stagewith its expansion to Charlottetown.

TheSpotlight School of Arts, now based in Summerside,has set up in a new permanent space to offer classes to more students.

We're hoping to add more [students] and keep adding.- Raesha Walsh

"We've got some classes starting now in Charlottetown and we'll keep adding moreas we go, so there should be lots happening," said Reasha Walsh, the school's executive director.

Spotlight opened in Summerside a little over seven years ago, the school's home base, Walsh said, but the new studioin downtown Charlottetown is a big expansion.

"[It's] very exciting," saidWalsh.

In addition to acting and various styles of dance, the school offers classes in improv, musical theatre, and working behind the scenes of a production.

More programs

Walsh said the expansion means they can do more classes and offer more programs in the city.

Spotlight's creative directorMonicaKani said they held a few satellite classes in Charlottetown in the past two years that were well received, leading to the decision for a permanent expansion.

Kani, who was once a student at the school, said she built a lot of self-confidence from taking the classes, eventuallybecomingan employee.

"I was very afraid to perform, so I said I'll do tech stuff, I'll be a theatre guy, I'll just sit off stage and then she [Walsh] convinced me to join classes," Kani said.

"It was one of the best things that could have happened ... learning that I actually had that passion. I didn't realize that I had it."

Kani said getting people to try something outside their comfort zone, and making them realize they're capable of performing, is what the school is all about.

Spotlightcan accommodate up to 200 students and for now has about 120 andhas classes for as young as three, and as old as 100.

"We're hoping to add more and keep adding," said Walsh.

An open class day is being held Sept. 30.More information about the school and classes can be found on their website.

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