Student musicians at Royal Bay Secondary school are looking to get toes tapping and feet moving during the annual dinner and dance this week.
As part of the third annual event, the school’s three R&B bands – Soul 62, R&B Too! and the house band – will be hitting the stage to perform a number of hits from the ’60s, ’70s and into the ’80s.
“The bands are really top notch. It’s not like you’re coming to listen to a school band. They’re entertainment and good dance music,” music teacher Glenn Whitney said. “The young talent we have here is exceptional and these bands certainly won’t disappoint.”
The evening will begin with a dinner catered by the school’s culinary arts program (there will be vegetarian options), followed by performances by the bands, consisting of roughly 25 grade 9 to 12 students, both during and after dinner.
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Audience members will get to hear the smooth sounds of Stevie Wonder, Chicago, Aretha Franklin, The Commitments, James Brown and Joe Cocker.
Leading up to the event, Soul 62 performed at the Mother’s Day Paint-In at Royal Roads University and at the national cribbage championships at the Langford Legion last month. Now musicians are excited to show off the culmination of a year’s worth of work.
“I don’t think there’s anything else in the community that offers an evening of dance with this style of music,” Whitney said. “I’m really proud of what they [students] do and the quality of the music that they put out. You’ll be blown away by their musicality and groove. Our goal is to spread good groove.”
The R&B dinner and dance takes place Friday, June 15 at the atrium at Royal Bay Secondary (3500 Ryder Hesjedal Way). Doors open at 6 p.m., dinner begins at 6:30 and bands will play from 7 to 9:30.
Tickets are $20 for adults, students in grades 9 to 12 are $15, students in grades 1 to 8 are $10 and a family of four is $50.
Tickets are available through the R&B music department or at the main office, and need to be pre-booked by Monday, June 11 by emailing gwhitney@sd62.bc.ca or calling 250-474-2377.
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kendra.wong@goldstream