_ James Hibbard, 43, first danced his way into the spotlight when he performed on stage with the popu- lar Lennon Sisters on The Jack Benny Shower of Stars. “That was my first professional performance,’’ remembers the 15 — Friday, May 1 15, 1987 - North Shore News Battle the bugs PAGE 19 cy wu sts otf A WEST Vancouver man, who has danced with the likes of Gene Kelly and Eivis, has turned his tap shoes to teaching at a new school devoted 10 musical comedy. By STEPHEN BARRINGTO News Reporter Idaho native who moved to West Vancouver 16 years ago with a host of screen dancing credits. Moving to Los Angeles when he was 14, Hibbard lived with his ballet master for a spell before odd job earnings gave him enough money to make it on his own. On the city’s restaurant row of La Cienega Boulevard, the 16- year-old dancer got a taste of the posh life when his valet parking Job allowed him to slip behind the wheels of some of the town’s most pricey and prestigious autos. NEWS photo Terry Peters EX-IIOLLYWOOD hoofer James Hibbard pulls out a pair of tap shoes in preparation of his new role as dance instructor at a new dance school. The West Vancouver resident is famous, among other things, for choreographing a number of Elvis Presley movies. works exhibited THIRTEEN NORTH Vancouver elementary and high school stu- dents’ art was accepted recently for exhibition or cited for honorable mention in a B.C.-wide show. Sponsored by the Emily Carr College of Art and Design, the British Columbia Young Artists ‘87 Exhibition attracted 2,600 en- tries from across the province. The North Vancouver students chosen are Tara May, 17; Rommell Cruz, 16; Coby Germyn, 6; Michael Loewen, 6; Tawnya Bagnall, 6; and Matthew Robin eer MEL . GIBSON UTS | TRIPLE FEATURE! (1) HAD MAX at 1:30 & 6:50 (2) ROAD WARRIOR at 3:10 & 8:25 (3) MAD MAX BEYOND THE THUNDERDOME at 4:55 & 10:00 : RR FRI SAT « SUN * MON ‘TUESDAY.$3:00.ALL.SEATS/ALL DAY’ son, 6. North Vancouver students given honorable mention in the recent biennial show are Brett Maurer, 6; Tawnya Bagnall, 6; Alexander Montoya, 17; Tara May, 17; Cesare Battista, 16; Linda Passmore, 16; and Helen Willoughby-Price, 75. British Columbia Young Artists "87 is to be exhibited at the Van- couver Art Gallery Sept. 13 to Nov. | before beginning a tour to 21 B.C. communities. Earning the princely sum of $1.80 an hour for his speedy park- ing, Hibbard’s ‘‘really good’’ tips helped the dancer to complement his small earnings. A circuit of auditions landed him small television roles. Further auditions landed an 18-year-old Hibbard in his first of many big- screen movie roles, which include parts in musical film classics such as Hello Dolly and Gypsy. To his credit are performances in six Elvis movies including Kissin’ Cousins and Harum Scarum as well as the choreography credits for two Elvis movies. The King’s trademark moves forced Hibbard’s choreography to keep to the star's special style. ‘‘If you gave him a dance step he’d look silly,’’ he remembers. Hibbard and Elvis would often find a quiet moment to talk, where in his smooth southern drawl the Tennessee singer remembered a simpler time before his fame. “When it was simpler — he always wanted to talk about that,"’ recalls the dancer. “‘it was getting to where he couldn’t go out without being mobbed.’’ Dancing was ‘‘always something { wanted to do,"’ Hibbard recalls. “These were idols (such as Gene Kelly) that I had as a child that I was working with." Just returned from a New Zealand show with Theatre Under the Stars organizer Cliff Cox, Hibbard starts teaching a. the new dancing school next week. A ballet, classical, tap and jazz dancer, Hibbard will be teaching advanced classes ‘‘for the hoofers who are ready to expand past the advanced level, ‘*What this does is provide all aspects of musical comedy per- forming for movies, theatre and television. You can learn ail aspects at one school.” ‘*He’s a hoofer, a film hoofer,”” said Maureen Verkaar, spokesman for the new Singin’, Dancin’ & Ac- tin’ Studio. ‘“He’s been on a stage all his life.’” PARENTS, CARRIERS AND ZONE MANAGERS DATE: APRIL 10, 1987 The North Shore News fulfills several important functions in the com- munity of North and West Vancouver. Many talented, hardworking people are careful to make the newspaper informative, interesting and timely. _ The entire system of ne:s gathering, ad writing, composing, printing, assembly arid advertising sales goes for'nothing if the papers and the flyers within are not delivered with thought, care, and on time. 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