Pharrell's "Happy" boomed through the Humboldt Collegiate Institute lobby Friday morning as the Sask Express musical tour taught a dance routine to about 50 students.

"It was a really good opportunity to showcase some local talent and give the students a really cool idea of what opportunities are out there for the performing arts," music and arts teacher Amanda Brochu said.

"I hope they learn the performing arts is awesome and that there are great opportunities and that some of them may even audition for the summer group with Sask Express."

Unbeknownst to them, the students would be performing their new moves to more than 100 of their peers to close out Sask Express' matinee performance.

Grade 12 student Brooke McInnes said she signed up for the dancing, but also learned about harmony and how to sing in larger groups.

"I didn't know what to expect at first. I didn't know there would be as much acting or singing, but it was fun."

Sask Express travels to schools across the province, performer Miranda Sheepwash said.

Kids with prior performing arts experience may feel more comfortable at the start of a workshop, but by the end everyone can swing their arms around and sing and feel happy about it, she said.

"We're just trying to teach kids about music and about musical theatre and dancing and letting them know that it's OK to like things like that, and it's even cool sometimes and that it's really fun.

"And a lot of the time, if you just let yourself go and have fun and engage yourself in what's going on, you'll find that you really enjoy brand new things you never thought you would before."