A magical night

A magical night

Melissa Manaig plays Pocahontas at JDL School of Performing Arts’s Disney showcase.

The Josie de Leon School of Performing Arts goes Disney

“JDL Goes Disney,” a showcase presented by the students of the  Josie de Leon School of  Performing Arts Scarborough was such a magical night to remember.

Though it was a snowy Saturday (Feb. 7), eager family and friends flocked to and packed Fairview theatre to its full capacity.

The student showcase was not I have expected it to be, being sort of a ‘recital,’  I was actually in awe for every number these students presented. Let me tell you why.

Each segment was presented with its own set, amazing and artistic backdrops, special effects plus the students were all dressed up with complete costumes and props, the acting, the singing and the dancing were just spectacular.

The Disney numbers were Lion King, Tangled, Cinderella, Mulan, Princess and the Frog, Snow White, Pocahontas,  Frozen and many, many more.

Each character portrayal fit each student, its like they were trained to act and sing like the characters they were playing.

I had some personal favourites, like Aladdin, to which the magic carpet flew right before my eyes.  It was amazingly done.

Ms. Josie de Leon, the founder and overall director of the showcase, happily recognized how the JDL students performed with confidence and how each of them worked hard to attend their classes and practices to get to the performance level that night.

I also saw how pleased the parents were too, seeing all their children on stage, some were even teary eyed and could not believe how their kids were that night.

“Josie and Mark’s dedication to the school and the kids  is   truly inspiring! I am so glad that I enrolled my daughter, and she even said thank you mom for bringing me to JDL” says Imelda Manaig, one of the JDL moms.
It was truly a magical and enjoyable  night, overall,  I would say  everything was  beautifully and creatively presented.

I honestly can’t wait for the next one!

(A.R.)