Two musicians from Shred Kelly took the stage for a free dance party at the Arts Station last Thursday morning to a crowd of very youthful and excited fans. Over seventy children age six and younger practiced their dance moves on Nov. 7 thanks to the Fernie Early Years (FEY) team. FEY coordinator Jodie Parker helped organize the concert to celebrate the 10 years Success By 6 has been in the Elk Valley.
Keyboardist and vocalist Sage McBride and lead singer and banjo plucker Tim Newton soon had the hopping crowd spinning like tops and singing out farm animal sounds. As a preschool teacher, McBride has taught many Fernie children so Shred Kelly’s fan base includes an abundance of young children.
A peacock feather headband and a red felt cowboy hat worn by McBride and Newton inspired the children to sing along to animal noises including creating a sound for a fox. The imaginative crowd fed into Shred Kelly’s lively stage presence.
The Fernie Early Years Team assists families in accessing information that supports healthy child development and addresses the importance of the first six years of a child's life.
Success By 6 builds and enhances community through engaging citizens in early childhood development, and funding programs that strengthen services for young children and their families. Funded programs include literacy, nutrition, and children’s play, parenting and family skills development. The organization helps to ensure that children ages zero to six develop the emotional, social, cognitive, and physical skills they need as they enter school.
For more information visit www.facebook.com/FernieEarlyYears or www.ekkids.ca.