The Crowsnest Pass “has talent”

Crowsnest Has Talent took over the Bellevue Legion with amateur performers on April 22.

The first performance of the night was a comedy act and then dancers, singers and musicians of varying ages.

“It’s really a very entertaining event,” said Wendy Harrington, the organizer of Crowsnest Has Talent.

Harrington first started the talent show in 2017 after moving to the Pass in 2015.  For 2020, they had sold more than half the tickets before the pandemic hit and they had to return the money after it was cancelled. Now they are back and running the event after a few years and she said they are excited for people to celebrate and be together. She is not only an organizer but a performer as well.

“I have two ladies dancing with me as a troupe and I do multicultural dancing,” said Harrington.

Harrington said that hosting events like this are even more important after the closure of the dance hall at Crowsnest Lake, adding that people have “lost the art of dancing.” She said one of the performers composes their own music as well as performing, though Harrington stresses they are not professionals.

“[These are] people that are not professionals. I’m not and I’ve been dancing for many, many years, but I’ve never gone to be judged as a professional dancer. But I guess 20 years of practice does help,” added Harrington.

When she moved here, she started helping with the senior dance class, even trying belly dancing. Harrington said she enjoys dances from a variety of cultures. She recalled learning a Bollywood dance with a man in one of her classes. 

“You want to dance? You tell me what you want, and I’ll see you in two weeks,” said Harrington.

The event started at 6:30 and featured an electric fiddle, piano, bass and guitar performances, among others. Proceeds from the event were donated to the Bellecrest Seniors.