How we Can Cultivate the Spark in Today's Young People through the Performing Arts

Making a positive impact on the world by inspiring and helping others to evolve and thrive is my why behind what I do as a psychologist, podcast host, mentor, volunteer, advocate, and author.  Today’s young people are struggling with record mental health challenges, self-confidence, sense of purpose, polarization, fear, and global uncertainty.  Truly, this world is a challenging one, yet one full of opportunities, beauty, and love - if you look for it.

When I first heard about the book Being a Better Human Teenager, co-authored by four professionals and community leaders I truly respect, I was intrigued and grateful.  As a mother of three teenagers myself, I’m trying to inspire them to make a positive impact through their talents and passions.  I believe today’s teens get a bad reputation, yet can make such a difference in the world if they are given the right opportunities and mentorship.  Keeping them busy and engaged in what they find meaningful builds lifelong skills and networks, as well as resiliency in the face of life’s challenges.              

In this article I focus on the power of the performing arts in cultivating a spark.  As Vice-Chair of the Board for the Youth Singers of Calgary, I have worked closely for the past five years with this 40-year performing arts organization that has also helped thousands of young people develop their spark and grow into resilient adults. Following are my thoughts on how the performing arts is an important outlet that often gets overshadowed by sport, yet develops equally important competencies and experiences for our young people.

The Performing Arts

Sports tend to be the focus in many families as a way to build teamwork skills in their young people.  Yet sports are not the only avenue, and in fact, not everyone is naturally athletic and physically competitive.  I was never well coordinated and was always one of the last picked in physed class. Where I thrived and built confidence was the creative arts. I firmly believe that the performing arts, using song, movement, and dance to express oneself and to work with others, is fundamentally important to consider and support in today’s young people.

Exposure to the performing arts is an incredible way to ignite a spark in our young people.  Having my daughter in the Youth Singers of Calgary for the past six years (she's at the top left of the above photo), and being a Board Member for the past five, has taught me so much about what show choirs do for young people.  Performing as a group to sing and dance in a coordinated way is great for practicing teamwork, reducing stress and anxiety, expressing creativity, and feeling a sense of pride and greater purpose through an inclusive community. 

The program started 40 years ago as a single choir, founded by visionary Shirley Penner, and has grown to become a community of 500 singers, with multiple choirs for all ages from toddlers through seniors and young people with cognitive delays.  The children and youth divisions that form the main competitive choirs are non-auditioned yet train these young people to high levels of performance, winning numerous international competitions and instilling a sense of pride in their achievements.

People ask whether graduates from the Youth Singers of Calgary go on to Broadway or Professional music careers.  The answer is yes, but that’s the minority.  Most go on to a diversity of career paths, and bring with them confidence, resilience, communication and public speaking skills, and an ability to work well with others.  Many credit their time in Youth Singers to helping build them into the confident humans they are today.

Conclusion

I will continue helping young people, whether it’s through finding purposeful careers or developing as a performer in the show choirs I support.  When it comes to my own children, I continue to help each of them discover what they care about, and then open doors and support them to experience these things.  This world can be a tricky one, but the more sparks we can ignite in today’s young people, the more brains and souls will be focused on making it a better world.

Dr. Laura Hambley Lovett is an organizational psychologist, author, keynote speaker, and podcast host of the widely followed podcast Where Work Meets Life TM. With 25 years of experience consulting with organizations in Canada and internationally, she has founded several psychology practices, including Calgary Career Counselling in 2009. The success of this practice led to the creation of Canada Career Counselling in 2014, which now serves thousands of Canadians annually coast-to-coast. Dr. Laura’s research on remote leadership and team effectiveness has been published dozens of times since 2003, and she is considered a trailblazer on the future of work, advocating for flexible and hybrid organizations.

For more information on Dr. Laura, visit drlaura.live