AREA SHOWCHOIRS GET READY TO SHINE IN SPECIAL PROGRAMS
HOSTED BY DAVENPORT COMMUNITY SCHOOLS

There will be singing and dancing in the streets, on stage and in local auditoriums as the Davenport Community Schools gears up for not one, but TWO outstanding show choir events.

The Great River Show Choir Invitational – hosted by Davenport Central and West High School – is set for February 20 and 21 at the River Center and Adler Theatre, and “The Big Dance” – Davenport North Show Choir Invitational will follow-up the next weekend on Feb. 27 and 28 at the North High Auditorium.

Between the two events, hundreds of talented students from throughout the region will entertain with music, dance and colorful costumes.  That’s a lot of talent packed into two weekends.  The Great River Show Choir Invitational starts off with performing arts workshops from 2 to 7 p.m. on Feb. 20^th.  Workshops will be offered in everything from dance styles to Broadway techniques and successful auditioning.   Professional performers from around the country will be part of this event.  Participants can choose up to six sessions of 50 minutes each.  Fees for the workshop package are $25 per person for individuals who register by Friday, Feb. 13.  After that date, the fee is $30.  Walk-ins are welcome.  To register or obtain more information about these workshops, please contact Deb Irey at 359-8887 or wirey@mchsi.com.

The event then switches gears to the show choir invitational on Feb. 21.  This year’s show will feature 24 high school show choirs from across the Midwest. , beginning at 8 a.m.  The six finalist choirs will perform in the evening session which begins at 8 p.m.  Concert choirs will also compete in the Gold Room at the Black Hawk Hotel from 8 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. 

Great River Tickets are $10 for the entire day and are available at the door.  Cost for children under 6 and adults over 60 is $5.  Last year’s evening performance was “sold out”, notes Sharon Tahere, Great River event coordinator.  “The community has been very supportive.”  She also adds that although show choirs from West and Central will not be competing directly in the event, that they will be involved in all aspects. 

The Great River Show Choir Invitational is sponsored by grants from the Riverboat Development Authority, Bechtel Series and the Adler Foundation.  Vocal music directors are Trent Patterson and Mary Beth Riewerts at Central and Rosalie Dunnegan and Bryce Weber at West.

THE BIG DANCE Davenport North Show Choir Invitational will then sweep into town for their event on Feb. 27 and 28.  Concert choirs and show choirs from 15 separate high schools in 6 states will vie for pride, honors and trophies in this event at the North High Auditorium.  The concert choir competition will begin at 6 p.m. on Feb. 27.  Tickets for this session are just $2 per person.

High-energy Broadway style shows will take the state on Feb. 28 – using both the North auditorium and the gymnasium beginning at 8 a.m.  A total of 24 show choirs will compete.  At the end of preliminary performances, the top 7 scoring show choirs will square off in the evening finals which begin at 7 p.m. in the North auditorium.  Admission is $10 for all preliminary and finals performances – seniors and children 5 to 12 are $5 and children under four are free.  Wrist bands will allow spectators to move between venues and to come and go throughout the day.

For more information on The Big Dance, contact Ryan Riewerts or Colleen Mckee-Schloemer at North High School, 388-9880.