Megan Doyle, 12, from West Sechelt Elementary has been selected for the largest and most prestigious of all dance competitions – the International Dance Organization’s World Dance Championships.
Megan will dance with other 12 to 15 year olds in the World Show Dance Championships, hosted by Germany with events held in Riesa from Nov. 21 to 26.
This format is Olympic style with only one gold, silver and bronze being presented on the podium with the World Champions National Anthem being played as the top three medalists’ flags are raised.
Team Canada Dance National Director Bonnie Dyer has selected Danielle Gardner to choreograph the Canadian National Show Dance Team in western Canada. Gardner comes to the team with a wealth of experience as a successful choreographer who will be taking her fourth team to Europe in competition where she has seen dancers make it to the medal podium.
Dyer states that Canada has been quite successful in all dance disciplines at the World Championships and this is mainly due to the high standard of training that local studios offer. In this case, Megan studied all disciplines of dance at the Coast Academy of Dance in Sechelt. To make the team, the dancers, who came from all over B.C., were required to audition in the Lower Mainland and were judged on their dance ability, technique and stage presence.
While most teens are doing other activities during the summer, this talented group gave up summer holidays and weekends to train for a chance to represent Canada on the world stage. Since there is no government support for Team Canada Dance, each member must raise their own funds to attend. The dancers have held hot dog sales, car washes, bottle drives and pub nights, and will be holding more events through October and November.
You can help support this young person from the Sunshine Coast community by getting in touch with Megan’s mother, Tara Doyle, at tdoyle@telus.net or log in to a Go Fund Me page: gofund.me/MeganD
More information can be found on www.teamcanadadance.com
