Lethbridge Weddings & Portrait Photography by Tanya Plonka

Cam once again rocked his Lethbridge dance performance photos of Ammena Dance Company’s 2020 show An Explosion of World Dance & Music. It’s so great to have him involved in my hobbies!

If you saw the poster from the show, you already knew there would be a bunch of retro elements going on. This year we had an American Bandstand theme with our show’s host, Gary, interviewing various dancers between each piece.

Everyone did an amazing job, especially the show’s creator and choreographer Lise-Anne, and the Yates Memorial Theatre’s lighting tech Rob.

p.s. I make a few appearances in this post. Can you spot me?

Lethbridge’s local theatre scene saw a standout production in 2019 with A Streetcar Named Desire. The production was done by Theatre Outré, whose intimate performance space at Didi’s Playhaus really added to the rawness of the play.

I was thrilled to be asked to photograph the show on its dress rehearsal night, allowing me to move freely around the U-shaped audience space. Every performer was outstanding, and I’m not ashamed to admit I jumped many times during Stanley’s outbursts, despite the detachment that comes from being behind a camera! (The only thing I am embarrassed about is that my only previous knowledge of the play was from the Simpsons!)

It was truly a privilege to be able to photograph Lethbridge Diva Cabaret for a second year in a row! Once again the event was held at Pure Casino Lethbridge and sold out both of its Friday and Saturday shows. Many of the performers from previous years returned and we joined by new queens, hyper queens, and a few performers from Calgary.

This year marked the 5th anniversary of the Diva Cabaret’s start in Lethbridge. All proceeds went to support the 2019
Lethbridge Pride Fest. Each year the show continues to promote its themes of inclusion and body positivity.

I even spotted a few of my group’s former dance costumes among the performers!

p.s. If you missed the photos from last year’s show, you can check them out here!

Viewer discretion advised: this post contains some burlesque images (without full nudity), so may not be appropriate while you are at work.

Cam is usually more of an important background figure in my business. He’s the sneaky candid photographer at weddings, handles ordering sessions once the camera is put away, and spends hours behind a computer editing.

However, there is one area he gets to shine… I can’t photograph a dance show when I’m in it so that duty falls on him! Cam has really excelled at his Lethbridge dance photography.

He has photographed Ammena Dance Company‘s annual show, An Explosion of World Dance and Music, for several years now and I always love seeing what he captures. Especially because I have no idea what’s going on when I’m so involved in it myself!

(If this show sounds familar, you may remember the photos for the show poster I recently shared. And because I talk about it every year.)

After a year off, we had another show this March at the Yates. Here are a few highlights. Great work, Cam!

p.s. Yes, that’s me with the vertical hair!

After a couple years of watching as an audience member, this year I had the privilege of photographing the Diva Cabaret drag show. Each spring the event is held at the Lethbridge Casino in support of Lethbridge Pride Fest and has grown in popularity so much that this year they added two additional performances for a total of four shows (two back to back shows each night). Even with the extra shows, the event was still almost entirely sold out!

The extra drag shows this year allowed for variations in performances and outfits each night. Friday and Saturday each offered a different experience, making it extra fun to photograph throughout the weekend. They even added a few drag kings this time around! I was especially excited to hear two songs that my own dance group has performed, including an intense group performance of “Cell Block Tango” by several of the drag queens.

The show explored ideas of race, diverse relationships, body positivity, and self-expression with lots of comedy mixed in. Everyone involved, both on stage and behind the scenes, did an amazing job!

Viewer discretion advised: this post contains some sexual images.

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Rockuronium had a special live music performance at a party for many of their friends and peers, and their guitar player treated them to some live band photography! I love how the band gives all the members a time to shine. Despite there being so many people on stage, they frequently took turns singing and rotating members to the front. The band is totally made up of doctors and health care workers and their name is a medical pun – I always appreciate a good pun! :) I loved being able to crash the party and watch them perform.

Be sure to check out Rockuronium on Facebook to see when they’re performing next!

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