Denise Krawczuk believes in spreading joy while playing a part to help the community.
She's the owner of Applauze Productions, which offers vocal coaching and performance theatre classes for all ages. The company frequently holds theatrical performances and singing events to help support several community organizations, such as PRO Kids and the Regional Food Distribution Association.
“What I really love about it is that because we have a collective group of talented people, I always feel like we should share our talents to the community,” she says. “It really draws the community in. It brings the community together.”
“What I find is that everybody goes 100 per cent in when we do these initiatives.”
Krawczuk says that spirit of giving back is key for her and her students.
“I think it’s really important for everybody to do something beyond themselves,” she says. “I find that gives them the extra confidence to perform well, because they’re not doing it just for themselves.”
Recently, the company’s carolling for charity group went out to spread holiday cheer, raising $1,300 and collecting food items for the Dew Drop Inn.
"Those people that are there at the Dew Drop Inn are working endlessly to make other people's lives better. I think they're the heroes. I just did a little thing, but they're doing so much. It warms my heart," she says.
"We know that the community is in need right now, so anything we can do to help is important."
Krawczuk says one of her favourite things about teaching is seeing the growth in her students.
“It’s not just the singing or the performance aspect, it carries them through life,” she says. “It gives them confidence to be able to go in front of people to speak, to be comfortable in their own skin."
Now going into 28th year of teaching with Applauze Productions, she says everyone involved becomes like family.
“A lot of these students end up being lifelong friends as well, and when I see them get to do what they love, I’m very grateful that I was a little piece of that,” she says.
