Students from Mamquam, Garibaldi Highlands and Brackendale elementary schools will get a taste of the stage at the Eagle Eye Theatre Wednesday (Nov.19) while performing alongside children's singer, Norman Foote. The children will be performing songs created in collaboration with Foote all about what the Olympic Games mean to them."I went around to each school a couple of weeks ago and we had time to write a song and the theme was to be inspired by the Olympics and whether it was about the Squamish Valley and what it has to offer," said Foote.At each school, Foote taught a song-writing workshop for the choirs and motivated the kids to come up with ideas while he facilitated and edited their material. He said the children were encouraged to be creative and proud of their history and culture."We only had a short time to write a song so it is amazing what you can come up with under pressure," said Foote. Brackendale students wrote a song about what the children will see and do when the Olympics begin, titled We're the Kids from Brackendale. Garibaldi students came up with the three Cs when describing the Olympics: commitment, courage and confidence. And Mamquam decided to sing about Highway 99 construction. "I thought that was really clever because it had sort of two meanings for people living in Squamish," said Foote. "Building a road of course [alludes to] building your own road to success, right? A lot of the kids just thought it was building a road on the mountain. We are talking about tearing down mountains and moving mountains to build a road, so I love these things that have two meanings."He said the students from each school have amalgamated into one choir and are rehearsing the songs they helped write as well as some songs from his new album, Love My New Shirt. Foote said the kids are also used as props for the concert."It becomes kind of like theatre-in-the-round at one point and there are surprises in the show which they don't know about and they haven't rehearsed so suddenly these kids are laughing on stage and I do a bit of improv with the choir," said Foote.Foote will hold a CD release party and a similar concert with elementary school students in Whistler Friday (Nov. 21)."My album is dedicated to both of my parents because they owned a menswear store in Squamish for 35 years. My dad recently passed away so it was totally fitting - no pun intended - to dedicate it to them," said Foote.Foote said he and his family moved to Squamish in 1964 and his parents set up two menswear stores called Merv Foote's Menswear. "I am part of Old Guard Squamish," joked Foote, and said even though he now lives in Vancouver, he still feels a connection with the old logging town and loves to visit and see friends.Foote said that if the concerts in Squamish and Whistler do well, and if the possibility of a Stanley Park concert with Vancouver elementary kids is confirmed, he may create an album of all the songs he collaborated with students for the Olympics. "Down the road I might re-visit this program and get other schools involved," said Foote.The show begins at 7 p.m. at the Eagle Eye Theatre Wednesday (Nov.19). Tickets are $10 per person and are available at the Mamquam, Garibaldi Highlands and Brackendale Elementary schools.
