Burlington Footnotes
– Senior Performing Troupe Inc.
MISSION STATEMENT
Our mission is to dispel the stereotypical myths associated with senior citizens by demonstrating through live dance performance the stamina, vitality and talent of the post-50 generation. We are dedicated to having fun, on and off stage, while being committed to providing a comfortable, professional and inspirational atmosphere for older adults to reach their creative potential. To achieve these goals we value and respect the different levels of ability, commitment and needs of our members.
Rosemarie Maurice
Artistic Director/Choreographer
History of the Senior Dance Troupe
In 1995, a small tap group, working out of the Burlington Seniors' Centre, came together. Five years later, Artistic Director, Rosemarie Maurice, founded the Burlington Footnotes, and since then the senior dance troupe has blossomed from the original six seniors to over 60 senior dancers, and over 40 behind-the-scenes senior volunteers.
The Burlington Footnotes, besides many small performances, stage an annual full Company show: Gotta Sing Gotta Dance as well as a summer cabaret series Come to the Cabaret. The full company (not-for-profit) includes vocalists and musicians.
The Company members rank dance performance level, energy, dazzling costumes and fun as priorities. Dance standards are set high.
Dance performance and non-performance classes allow members to freely explore their dance potential, in a fun, friendly and comfortable environment. Artistic growth is fostered to meet the individual personal needs and abilities. The group has an informal but a strong physical and emotional support network.
TopCivic Awards
K.W. Irmisch Award
The City of Burlington's Civic Award
for
Arts Person of the Year
Three members of the Burlington Footnotes Senior Performance Troupe have won this annual award: Rosemarie Maurice in 2000, Denise McKay in 2005 and Ruth Urbasik in 2007.
From left to right: Rosemarie, Maurice, Denise McKay and Ruth Urbasik.
Rosemarie Maurice
On September 2000, Rosemarie Maurice became the Footnotes’ first recipient. She introduced dance programs for older adults (55+) at the Burlington Seniors Centre in 1991. Classes have since grown from two per week to 10. For more than nineteen years, Rosemarie has taught and continues to teach in Hamilton, Ancaster and Oakville.
From 1995-2000, she was Director/Choreographer for the Footnotes, a seniors’ song and dance troupe and also provided choreographed routines for RBC Seniors Jubilee at Roy Thomson Hall, The Oakville Seniors Variety show, The Oakville Spectacular and the Hamilton Geritol Follies.
As part of the Burlington Mundialization Programme, both in 1999 and 2004, she undertook the responsibility of preparing members of the Footnotes to entertain citizens of Burlington's twin city Itabashi, in Japan.
From September 2001 until today, she remains as Founder/Artistic Director and President of the Board of Directors for Burlington Footnotes Senior Performing Troupe Inc., which now consists of more than 80 members.
Denise McKay
On May 5th, 2005 Denise McKay became the Company’s second recipient. Before joining Rosemarie’s dance classes at the Senior Centre, Denise had had a 25-year career as a professional artist, creating artworks in porcelain and on canvas.
In 1968 she was a founding member of The Burlington Potters Guild, becoming its President in 1971-73, a founding member of Arts Burlington, becoming its President in 1979-80 and Chairman and President of the Board of The Burlington Art Centre in1982. She was Chairman of the BAC’s Aquisition Committee for six years, then a member of the BAC Foundation for four years.
Denise had eight solo shows and numerous group shows though out the Golden Horseshoe, and as of 1997, has had works in “Fire & Earth” which toured Canada, then traveled to Japan and are now permanently on display in the Virtual Museum of Canada.
When Rosemarie formed the Footnotes Company in 2000, Denise became a dancer and set designer. In 2004, under Rosemarie’s guidance, she developed the Footnotes Dancing Clown Troupe- “A Touch of Whimsey”. She is currently a member of the BFSPT Board.
Ruth Urbasik
In 2007, Ruth Urbasik became the Footnotes third recipient of the award. Ruth had started performing, singing and dancing at the age of four. She has entertained in hospitals, nursing and senior residences, for service groups and in various theatres in southern Ontario for over 60 years.
She was one of the founding members of the earliest version of the Burlington Footnotes Company. Ruth is currently Chairman of Community Service Shows for the Burlington Footnotes and organizes on average 10 shows a year.
In 2007 alone, she has performed at various venues in over 30 shows with three different groups: Side By Side (a 4 piece band), The Singing Strummers (guitar, banjo and vocalists) and the Burlington Footnotes Senior Performing Troupe (where she also teaches two classes).
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