VATS camp teaches youth about performing

During the week of June 10-14 over 50 local youth participated in a music camp by Victoria Arriero Thomas Studio (VATS) in Weiser.
 The camp taught about every aspect of performing a musical and ended with a one-act show for parents at the Snake River Heritage Center on June 14.
 The group met for three hours each morning when Thomas not only helped them learn their lines and the music, but also taught them about set design and costume design. Teaching them that a musical has many important parts with the goal being that they explore every part in a fun, no pressure setting so that everyone has a positive experience.  
 The play for this year’s music camp was called “Circus Circus” by  John Higgins and John Jacobson. The story tells about the excitement when the circus is in town.
 The ringmaster has come down with a case of laryngitis and they need to find a substitute, fast. Everyone wants the job, and after discovering they can take turns, clowns, jugglers, dancing mice, and lions all put on a great show.  
 When the clowns come out to perform, however, two of the clowns were too sad to make anyone laugh. It is only through the encouragement of the whole circus that they get the courage to try their turn at ringmaster duties, and realize that they have the ability to learn anything and learn to smile again in the process.
 The week of learning from creating costumes they picked out themselves from WICAP, to the performance on Friday was a smashing success and it was clear that everyone had a wonderful time exploring the world of performance and musicals.
 This year’s performers included: Adalyn Sorensen, Adri Folke, Alex Robertson, Aliana Sorensen, Anya Boles, Brooklyn Dille, Eberlee Green, Elinor Shaber, Emma Terry, Genesis Aburto, Greer Green, Josh Cathey, Justin Ragan, Keith Boles, Libertee Green, Lylah Dille, Lena Lee Gustin Heller, Maddy Ragan, Max Lattin, Michael Shaber, Naomi Ruth, Shayd Crossley, Taylee Mink, and Peter Shaber.
 Also, helping with the show were the youth counselors: Emily Abramson, Branson Ward, Natalee Mink, Kayli Sorensen, Ella Terry, Cayman Campbell, and Hali Blanchard, and honorary adult sounselor: Chara Morey.
 While this is the second music camp in this format, Thomas was also able to put on summer performances in previous years. Some of the camp counselors were able to participate in the camp in previous years and then come back as helpers ready to share everything they had learned from their experiences with the VATS studio.
 “The camp just keeps getting better and better every year because these kids are all just awesome,” Thomas said.
 The music camp is just one activity for youth put on by the VATS with the mission to provide education in the performing arts at a price that everyone can afford. Through the experiences of singing, acting, and dancing, in an uplifting environment, the studio helps students not only gain performance skills but also helps them build confidence from within.
 The motto at the studio is to not be the best but to “be your best.”
 Everyone has a place within the arts and the spotlight, and the VATS studio is ready to help each student find what makes them shine.