Local dancer Macy Obara will join some of the best dancers in the world, representing Canada and Lethbridge, while competing in World Dance Championships in Reisa, Germany Nov. 20-25.
“It’s something I have always wanted to do,” said Obara, 14, who has been flying to Langley, B.C. to practice with some of the best dancers in Canada for the competition.

She has been working with head choreographer Danielle Gardner and Charlene Hart  who is choreographing  her duo routine. She  is also part of a large group performance. She practices her solo routine at her hometown Studio Exisdance with teacher and owner Janielle Scott, one of several local instructors she works with.

 Obara is a versatile dancer who  does ballet, hip hop, jazz, modern and novelty dancing.

She has been dancing since she was four years old.
“I started at the University of Lethbridge, but that was for preschool, so I stopped for a few years and started again when I was nine or 10,” she said.
“Then she took up gymnastics and went back into dancing,” added proud dad Jeff Obara.
“She’s a very well rounded dancer,” said one of Obara’s instructors Taylor Rypien, who has been teaching Obara hip hop dancing for the past five years.

Rypien noted they informed her of the opportunity to compete in the worlds and let Obara take it from there. The International Dance Organization has over 250,000 member dancers from six continents.

The World Championship format is Olympic-style with only one Gold, Silver and Bronze medal presented on the podium while the World Champion’s National Anthem is played as the top three medalists’ flags are raised.

 The competition includes children, junior and adult categories. Obara will be competing in several events in the junior (age 12-15) category for both east and west teams.

Word on the Street was a lot of fun on a brisk, Saturday afternoon, Sept. 23 outside the downtown Lethbridge Public Library.

 Local Jazz/ rock/ Celtic band The Junkman’s Quire, clad in toques and jackets played their usual upbeat set of Cello tinged folk and Celtic  music.

Megan Brown  strummed guitar and sang as frontman George Fowler sat and played cello.

As expected, Word on the Street is all about books and reading.

I took in parts of several panels on Blackfoot storytelling and learned a little about the meaning behind pow wow drumming.

Other tents featured an assortment of authors reading from their works, while a panel of mystery writers answered questions  from a curious crowd about where their ideas come from.

— By Richard Amery, L.a. Beat Editor

Get a taste of German culture, not to mention German beer with the sixth annual Oktoberfest which returns to Galt Gardens, Sept. 29-30.
“Oktoberfest is celebrated all over the world, like St. Patrick’s Day,” said Roy Pogorzelski, who is organizing the event with his brother John.

“ This year there are twice as many Pogo Brothers, we’re both MCing this year,” added John Pogorzelski, noting he has usually taken care of the logistical side of organizing this massive event while his brother has handled organizing the entertainment.

 In addition to special German style beer brewed by local brewery Theoretical Brewing, there will be live German music from Alpen Schatz, who have performed every year since the event began, but also new band the Polkaholics who are performing for the first year as well as Note-Able.

 The event  has been very popular since it’s beginning.
“Last year we had 4 or 5,000 people filtering in and out of here last year. They drank us out of beer last time, but that’s not going to happen this year, we bought a lot more beer this year,” Roy Pogorzelski said.

 Oktoberfest continues to expand.
“This year we‘re hoping for 6 or 8,000 people. We’re hopeful mother Bavaria looks favourably upon us and gives us good weather,” he said.

“We started in Festival square, but moved it to Galt Gardens so more people could come,” Roy Pogorzelski said, adding improvements this year include ATMs and more bathroom access on site this year as well.

“We also have a family area this year, because we had people asking for one, so there will be face painting and games until a reasonable hour like 8 p.m.,” he continued.

Oktoberfest runs from 11 a.m.-11 p.m. on Sept. 29 and 30.