The first North American tour of Moulin Rouge! The Musical hit the stage in Edmonton on Tuesday, and a local high school got a special visit from one of the show’s performers. Katie Lombardo is a dance captain and swing for the national tour of Moulin Rouge, presented by Broadway Across Canada, and has credits on both Broadway and television. On Thursday morning, she shared her experience with senior theatre students at Strathcona High School. Lombardo describes working with students as one of her “favourite things.” “We get to teach all over the country, and it’s really great to share what we get to do with the students, and they always have such a good time,” she said. “It also just shares the gift of art and dance throughout the country.” The theatre students got to interact with Lombardo and learn new choreography. Nife Ogunkoya was one of the students who took part in the musical workshop, saying it was a “super exciting” experience. “I get to learn lots of new steps and moves in a different genre of dance,” Ogunkoya said while learning choreography. “I really enjoy that.” Lombardo also offered advice for the next generation of theatre students, saying self-confidence, personality and work ethic are all key factors for “longevity in the career.” “I know it sounds so corny, but the best advice is truly just to be yourself because that’s what makes people want to work with you,” Lombardo said. Moulin Rouge! The Musical runs until Sunday at the Northern Alberta Jubilee Auditorium. Tickets can be purchased online at broadwayacrosscanada.ca and ticketmaster.ca. The show is in its third and final year of the tour, with upcoming stops in Canadian cities including Vancouver and Ottawa. The tour ends in August. With files from CTV News Edmonton’s Dave Mitchell
