The Young Canadians

While people have gotten markedly excited about young talent and entertainment over the past decade, engaging with shows like Canadian and American Idol, Calgary Alberta has showcased young talent annually since 1964.

The difference: Calgary's Exhibition and Stampede displays the talents of very young people - and ONLY the very young!

22 and up - go back home, you cannot be a performing Young Canadian in T-H-E--Young Canadians group!

The Young Canadians began as an official organization in 1964, and went to the Calgary Exhibition and Stampede stage as a long-term effect by 1968.

Talent wasn't always brought forth on the nice grandstand stage that you see now in Calgary. The earliest Young Canadians performed inside the Agricultural display building. As you might imagine, the air indoors (including a stables area with livestock) way back when probably wasn't as fresh as on the outdoor stage today!

Calgary Stampede has come a long way in allowing International visitors to view Canadian young talent, and The Young Canadians organization has grown to be one of the greatest highlights of The Calgary Stampede experience.

The first to perform in the first-night opening grandstand show in 1968 were billed as:

"Young Canadians of the Calgary Stampede"

Now, the agricultural building houses the studio for The Young Canadians, where youth practice and polish their skills. Line-dancing, tap dancing, acrobatics, singing, and other performance art are honed and perfected with the assistance of choral, dance and other instructors, and the finished products are nothing less than amazing every year.

With stars as young as 7, there are different categories of young performers:

Juniors: ages 7-11

Apprentices: ages 11-14

Young Canadians (snr) 14-20

In 2008, there are over 150 Young Canadians

Whether 'kids' or 'youth', these performers work, practice and play hard. Maintaining rehearsals three times per week, in four-to-five hour blocks, as Stampede season (summer) nears, these young performers show a degree of committment that most people can aspire to.

The Young Canadians group ends up with a lot of quality talent because becoming one of The Young Canadians involves auditions.

Those interested will need to show up prepared to perform.

This means:

* Prepare a song to sing

* Bring along your tracks - that is - your CDs, background tracks, etc

* Bring your sheet music that goes along with your music

* Though previous dance training is recommended, it is not necessary for all applicants, however, dance will be a part of overall performances, and all of The Young Canadians will engage in dance training if the auditions go well

* Singers who audition are required to learn dance, but those who audition as 'dancers' do need to have some experience first.

There are Scholarship programs for those interested and of high talent levels. These training programs run from September to July

Having completed a Sept-July training program does not absolutely ensure that a student will perform in the Calgary Stampede Grandstand Shows, but many of the students do participate in Calgary Stampede and Exhibition entertainment events.

The Young Canadians have a website:

www.theyoungcanadians.com

More pertinent audition details are on-site about becoming a Young Canadian performer with this particular organization.

For the rest of us, who aren't spry and young and dynamically talented in the arts, we can catch The Young Canadians every summer, either on the Stampede Grounds and Midway, The Grandstand Shows, or in highlighted performances on television.

This year, 2008, The Young Canadians are celebrating their 40th year of talent and operation!