oo pee en NEWS photo Mike Wakefield THESE DAYS Deep Cove choreographer Norman Leggatt spends most of his time travelling to and from Lower Mainland schools instructing aspiring performers on the fine art of dancing. HIS HARD days and nights as backup singer and dancer with the Beatles ended more than 20 years ago, but today Deep Cove’s Norman Leggatt is busy teaching Vancouver performers how to ‘‘twist and shout.” Leggatt, 53, a stage veteran who also appeared in the Beatles’ film Heip! spends much of his time teaching dance and voice to bud- ding Vancouver high school per- formers. Leggatt’s the sort of guy who looks like he just walked off the stage as the prince in Swan Lake — not someone who entertained screaming teenagers in the early ‘60s. ‘4 got a role as an extra in Help! when I was living in the west end of London,”’ Leggatt recalls, crossing his graceful, slender legs with the elegance of a ballet dancer. “It was fun but movies are a very boring experi- ence —- you just sit around.” It isn’t hard to tell that Leggatt teaches voice after listening to him speak slowly and carefully, pro- nouncing each word with precise elocution. Boring is something he tries to avoid, and of his 30 years ~ You sing spent in the performing arts, Leg- gatt has worked on three conti- nents as a dancer and worked as an arts instructor, producer, direc- tor, choreographer and arts ad- ministrator. EVELYN JACOB feature writer His stint with the Beatles in the mid-sixties was part of an 82-year adventure with dance that landed hin the role of a Jet in Jerome Robbins’ West Side Story and various roles in Fiddler On the Roof. Trained in classical ballet, Leggatt has also worked with the Scottish, Norwegian and Belgian Ballets. But for the past eight years, Leg- gatt has carved out a comfortable YO See “Awe supply the “band”. You select your song and sing along to a music video complete with orchestration, lyrics and back-up singers. EVERY SATURDAY NIGHT PEMBERTON STATION % 135 Pemberton Ave. North ) Nerth shore chorecore Still kicking after 20 years niche for himself teaching Lower Mainland school students. He says he loves what he does despite the hours — an average day begins in the late morning and lasts until 11 p.m., seven nights a week. “1 find high schoo! students have more to offer than most people expect,’’ says Leggatt. “There's a lot of dance talent in Vancouver.” A late beginner by most stand- ards -- he started dancing at age 20 — at first Leggatt’s father did not approve of his son’s new ca- reer, “My father always believed that it was an insecure life, that you really had to love it if you’re going to be in it professionally.” That Jove has kept Leggatt in- volved in dance for three decades. Since returning to B.C. from Lon- don in 1967, he has worked as guest teacher with the Royal Win- nipeg Ballet, and for almost every professional and semi-professional performing arts company in Van- couver. See Teacher Page 23 U’RE THE STAR! Tn Van. 984-3558 ff YUSA WELCOMES YOU SUSH! BUFFET Thursday, mnareh 30th TEMPURA YAKISOBA CHICKEN TERIYAKI Adults $18.50 7 11-14 yrs. $11.50 HOURS: 7 DAYS A WEEK 6-10 yrs. $8.50 MON.-SAT. 5-11 RESERVATIONS REQUIRED. SUN. & HOLIDAYS 5-10 JAPANESE . AZUMA testaurant 347 East Hastings St. 689-7351 |g It’s time to go to The Metro! , ee "THIS WEEK - HELLS BELLS March 6 - March 11 Downtown Vancouver 1136 W. Georgia 687-5566/684-2944